# verses

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There at the threshing place Araunah and his four sons were threshing wheat, and when they saw the angel, the sons ran and hid.


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Araunah saw King David approaching. He left the threshing place and bowed low with his face touching the ground.


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David said to him: »Sell me your threshing place so that I can build an altar to Jehovah, to stop the epidemic. I will give you the full price.«


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»Take it, Your Majesty,« Araunah said, »and do whatever you wish. Here are these bulls to burn as an offering on the altar. Here are the threshing boards to use as fuel and wheat to give as an offering. I give it all to you.«


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The king answered: »No, I will pay you the full price. I will not give as an offering to Jehovah something that belongs to you, something that costs me nothing.«


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David built an altar to Jehovah there and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He prayed, and Jehovah answered him by sending fire from heaven to burn the sacrifices on the altar.


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David saw by this that Jehovah answered his prayer. So he offered sacrifices on the altar at Araunahs threshing place.


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Jehovahs tent that Moses made in the desert and the altar for burnt offerings were at the worship site at Gibeon.


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David said: »The house of Jehovah God is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel.«


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So David gave orders to assemble the foreigners living in Israel. He appointed stonecutters from among them to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God.


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He provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more copper than could be weighed.


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He also provided more cedar logs than could be counted. The Sidonians and Tyrians had brought large numbers of them to David.


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David said: »My son Solomon is young and inexperienced. The house to be built for Jehovah should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it. So David made extensive preparations before his death.«


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David said to Solomon: »My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of Jehovah my God.


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»The word of Jehovah came to me, saying: You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my name. This is because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.


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»You will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon <i>peace</i> , and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign.


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»He is the one who will build a house for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for a very ong time.«


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»Now, my son, Jehovah is with you, and may you have success and build the house of Jehovah your God, as he said you would.


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


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»You will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that Jehovah gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.


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»I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of Jehovah three thousand seven hundred and fifty tons of gold, about thirty-seven thousand five hundred tons of silver, quantities of copper and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.


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»You have many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in every kind of work


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in gold and silver, copper and iron, craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and Jehovah will be with you.«


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He said to them: »Is not Jehovah your God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has handed the inhabitants of the land over to me, and the land is subject to Jehovah and to his people.


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»Devote your mind and heart to seek Jehovah your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of Jehovah God. That way you may bring the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah and the sacred articles belonging to God into the Temple that will be built for the name of Jehovah.«


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The Levites thirty years old or older were counted, and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand.


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


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Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise Jehovah with musical instruments I have provided for that purpose.


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David divided the Levites into groups corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.


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The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel and Haran, three in all. These were the heads of the families of Ladan.


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Jahath was the first and Ziza the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons so they were counted as one family with one assignment.


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The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart, he and his descendants from generation to generation, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before Jehovah, to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in his name as long as they live.


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The descendants of Eliezer: Rehabiah was the first. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.


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The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.


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Eleazar died without having sons: he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.


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These were the descendants of Levi by their families, the heads of families as they were registered under their names and counted individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more who served in the Temple of Jehovah.


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For David had said: »Since Jehovah, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem from generation to generation,


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According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more.


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The duty of the Levites was to help Aarons descendants in the service of the Temple of Jehovah: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the House of God.


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They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened wafers, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.


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They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise Jehovah. They were to do the same in the evening


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and whenever burnt offerings were presented to Jehovah on Sabbaths and at New Moon festivals and at appointed feasts. They were to serve before Jehovah regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them.


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So the Levites carried out their responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting, for the Holy Place and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the Temple of Jehovah.


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The divisions of Aarons descendants were as follows: Aarons sons were Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.


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Nadab and Abihu died before their father died, and neither had any children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.


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David, Eleazars descendant Zadok, and Ithamars descendant Ahimelech divided Aarons descendants into groups for service.


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Since Eleazars descendants had more men who were family heads than Ithamars descendants, they were divided so that Eleazars descendants had sixteen family leaders and Ithamars descendants had eight family leaders.


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Both groups were divided impartially by drawing lots so that there were officers for the holy place and officers for God among both Eleazars and Ithamars descendants.


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The scribe Shemaiah was a son of Nethanel and a descendant of Levi. Shemaiah recorded their names in the presence of the king, the princes, the priest Zadok, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. One family was chosen for Eleazar, another for Ithamar.


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These were their priestly groups when they went to serve at Jehovahs temple. Their ancestor Aaron made these rules for them, as Jehovah God of Israel had commanded him.


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The following men were leaders for Levis descendants from Kohath: Jehdeiah for Amrams descendants through Shubael,


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Jeriah for Hebrons descendants, Amariah the second of Hebrons descendants, Jahaziel the third of Hebrons descendants, Jekameam the fourth of Hebrons descendants,


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The following men were leaders from Levis descendants from Merari: Mahli, Mushi, and Meraris son Jaaziah,


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Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth for Mushis descendants. These were Levis descendants according to their families.


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They drew lots as their relatives, Aarons descendants, had done. They drew them in front of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the leaders of the families of the priests and Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same way as those of the youngest.


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David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals; and the number of those who performed their service was:


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Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asharelah the sons of Asaph under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.


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Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Jehovah.


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Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.


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All these the sons of Heman the kings seer to exalt him according to the words of God, for God gave fourteen sons and three daughters to Heman.


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All these were under the direction of their father to sing in the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, harps and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman under the direction of the king.


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Their number who were trained in singing to Jehovah, with their relatives, all who were skillful, two hundred eighty-eight.


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They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil.


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Now the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph, the second for Gedaliah, he with his relatives and sons were twelve.


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The divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.


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Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,


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Obed-Edom also had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,


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His son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders in their fathers family because they were very capable men.


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The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also able men.


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All these were descendants of Obed-Edom; they and their sons and their relatives were capable men with the strength to do the work, descendants of Obed-Edom, sixty-two in all.


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Hosah the Merarite had sons: Shimri the first although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him the first,


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Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and relatives of Hosah were thirteen in all.


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These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their chief men, had duties for ministering in the Temple of Jehovah, just as their relatives had.


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The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him.


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The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah. Guard was alongside of guard:


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There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse.


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Their fellow Levites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the dedicated things.


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The descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladan and who were heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli,


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the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries of the temple of Jehovah.


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His relatives through Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zicri his son and Shelomith his son.


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Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and by the other army commanders.


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And everything dedicated by Samuel the seer and by Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner and Joab son of Zeruiah, and all the other dedicated things were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.


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From the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were assigned duties away from the temple, as officials and judges over Israel.


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From the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives, seventeen hundred able men, were responsible in Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of Jehovah and for the kings service.


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As for the Hebronites, Jeriah was their chief according to the genealogical records of their families. In the fortieth year of Davids reign a search was made in the records, and capable men among the Hebronites were found at Jazer in Gilead.


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Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives, who were able men and heads of families, and King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.


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This is a list of Israelite family heads, regiment and battalion commanders, and officers who were serving the king in all the armys units. Throughout each year they came for a month at a time and then left. Each unit consisted of twenty-four thousand men.


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Jashobeam, son of Zabdiel, was in charge of the first unit, the one during the first month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand.


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Dodai, Ahohs descendant, was in charge of the unit during the second month. It was his unit. Mikloth was one of its leaders. In Dodais unit there were twenty-four thousand.


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The third commander of the army during the third month was Benaiah, son of the priest Jehoiada. He was the head, and in his unit there were twenty-four thousand.


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This Benaiah was one of the thirty fighting men and commander of the thirty as well as his own unit. His son was Ammizabad.


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Asahel, Joabs brother, was in charge of the fourth unit during the fourth month, and after him was his son Zebadiah. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand.


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Shamhuth, Izrahs descendant, was commander of the fifth unit during the fifth month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand.


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Ira, the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, was in charge of the sixth unit during the sixth month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand.


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Helez, a Pelonite from the descendants of Ephraim, was in charge of the seventh unit during the seventh month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand.


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Sibbecai, a descendant of Zerah from Hushah, was in charge of the eighth unit during the eighth month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand.


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Abiezer, a member of the tribe of Benjamin from Anathoth, was in charge of the ninth unit during the ninth month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand.


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Mahrai, a descendant of Zerah from Netophah, was in charge of the tenth unit during the tenth month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand.


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Benaiah, a member of the tribe of Ephraim from Pirathon, was in charge of the eleventh unit during the eleventh month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand.


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During the twelfth month, the twelfth unit was commanded by Heldai from Netophah. He was Othniels descendant. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand.


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The following officers were in charge of the tribes of Israel: for the tribe of Reuben- Eliezer, son of Zichri for the tribe of Simeo, Shephatiah, son of Maacah


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for the tribe of Judah, Elihu, one of Davids brothers for the tribe of Issachar, Omri, son of Michael


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for the tribe of Zebulun, Ishmaiah, son of Obadiah for the tribe of Naphtali, Jerimoth, son of Azriel


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for the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea, son of Azaziah for half of the tribe of Manasseh, Joel, son of Pedaiah


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for the half of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo, son of Zechariah for the tribe of Benjamin- Jaasiel, son of Abner


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David did not count those less than twenty years old, because Jehovah promised that the people of Israel would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.


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Joab, son of Zeruiah, started to count them but did not finish. God was angry with Israel because of this, and the report from it was never included in the official records of King David.


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These were all the commanders in charge of King Davids property: for the royal treasuries, Azmaveth, son of Adiel for the goods in the fields, cities, villages, and watchtowers- Jonathan, son of Uzziah


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for the vineyards, Shimei from Ramah for storing wine that came from the vineyards- Zabdi from Shepham


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for the herds grazing in Sharon, Shitrai from Sharon for the herds in the valleys- Shaphat, son of Adlai


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Davids uncle Jonathan, an educated man who possessed insight, was Davids adviser. Jonathan and Jehiel, son of Hachmoni, were in charge of the kings sons.


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Jehoiada son of Benaiah and Abiathar succeeded Ahithophel. Joab was the commander of the royal army.


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David held a meeting in Jerusalem for all the leaders of Israel, the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the army units that served the king, the commanders of regiments and battalions, the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, the palace officials, the soldiers, and the fighting men.


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King David stood there and said: »Listen to me relatives <i>brothers and sisters</i> and subjects. I had my heart set on building the Temple where the Ark of Jehovahs Covenant could be placed. This Temple will be a stool for our Gods feet, and I have made preparations to build it.«


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»However God told me: You must not build the Temple for my name because you have fought wars and caused bloodshed.«


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»Yet, from my entire family Jehovah God of Israel chose me to be king of Israel for as long as I live. He had chosen the tribe of Judah to lead Israel. From the families of Judah he chose my fathers family. From among my fathers sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.


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»Of all my sons, for Jehovah has given me many sons, he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of Jehovahs kingdom to rule Israel.


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»He told me: Your son Solomon will build my Temple and my courtyards because I have chosen him to be my son. I will be his father.


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»I will establish his kingdom for a very long time if he will remain determined to obey my commands and laws, as he is doing today.«


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»I order you in the sight of Israel, Jehovahs congregation. And as our God listens dedicate your lives to doing everything Jehovah your God has commanded. Then you will be able to possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance for your descendants.


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»You my son Solomon, learn to know your fathers God. Serve Jehovah wholeheartedly and willingly because he searches every heart and understands every thought we have. If you dedicate your life to serving him, he will accept you. On the other hand if you abandon him, he will reject you from then on.


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»So be careful, because Jehovah has chosen you to build the Temple as his holy place. Be strong, and do it.«


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Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the entrance hall and the Temple, the storerooms, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the throne of mercy.


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He gave him plans for the courtyards of Jehovahs Temple and for all the rooms around it. These rooms served as treasuries for Gods Temple and the gifts dedicated to God.


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He determined the divisions of the priests and Levites. He planned all the work done for worship in Jehovahs Temple. He designed all the utensils for worship in Jehovahs Temple.


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the weight of the gold lamp stands and their gold lamps that is, the weight of gold for each lamp stand and its lamps, the weight of silver for each silver lamp stand and its lamps according to the use of each lamp stand for worship,


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the pure gold for the forks, bowls, and pitchers, the weight of each gold bowl, the weight of each silver bowl,


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and the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave Solomon the plans for the chariot, that is, the gold angels with their wings spread to cover the Ark of Jehovahs Covenant.


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David said: »All this was written for me by Jehovahs hand. He made all the details of the plan clear to me.«


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David also told his son Solomon: Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do no be afraid or terrified. Jehovah God, my God, will be with you. He will not abandon you until all the work on Jehovahs Temple is finished.


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Here are the divisions of the priests and Levites for every type of worship in Gods Temple. You have with you every skilled worker to do the work. In addition, all the leaders and people are at your command.


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King David announced to the entire assembly: »God has chosen my son Solomon. He is however young and lacks experience. The work to be done is enormous, because this is not a palace for people but a Temple for Jehovah God.


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»I have made every effort to prepare materials for the Temple: gold, silver, bronze, iron, timber, precious stones and gems, stones for mosaics, and quantities of marble.


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»Over and above all this that I have provided, I have given silver and gold from my personal property because of my love for Gods Temple.


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»I have given one hundred and fifteen tons of the finest gold and two hundred and sixty five tons of pure silver for decorating the walls of the Temple


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and for all the objects which the skilled workers are to make. Now who else is willing to give a generous offering to Jehovah?«


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Then the heads of the clans, the officials of the tribes, the commanders of the army, and the administrators of the royal property volunteered to give.


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They gave the following for the work on the Temple: one hundred and ninety tons of gold, three hundred and eighty tons of silver, six hundred and seventy five tons of bronze, and three thousand seven hundred and fifty tons of iron.


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Those who had precious stones gave them to the Temple treasury, which was administered by Jehiel of the Levite clan of Gershon.


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The people gave willingly to Jehovah and were happy that so much had been given. King David also was extremely happy.


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»There in front of the whole assembly King David praised Jehovah. He said: Jehovah, God of our father <i>ancester</i> Israel. May you be praised forever and ever!


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»You are great and powerful, glorious, splendid, and majestic. Everything in heaven and earth is yours, and you, O Jehovah, are king, supreme ruler over all.


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»All riches and wealth come from you. You rule everything by your strength and power. You are able to make anyone great and strong.


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»Yet my people and I cannot really give you anything. This is because everything is a gift from you, and we have only given back what is yours already.


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»You know, O Jehovah that we pass through life like exiles and strangers, as our ancestors did. Our days are like a passing shadow, and we cannot escape death.


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»O Jehovah, our God, we have brought together all this wealth to build a Temple to honor your holy name. It all came from you and all belongs to you.


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»I well know, O my God, that you test everyones heart and are pleased with people of integrity. In honesty and sincerity I have willingly given all this to you. I have seen how your people who are gathered here have been happy to bring offerings to you.


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»Jehovah, God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep such devotion always strong in your peoples hearts and keep them always faithful to you.


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»Give my son Solomon a wholehearted desire to obey everything that you command and to build the Temple for which I have made these preparations.«


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


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The following day they killed animals as sacrifices, dedicating them to Jehovah. Then they gave them to the people to eat. In addition, they sacrificed a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, which they burned whole on the altar. They also brought the offerings of wine.


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


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So Solomon succeeded his father David on the throne Jehovah had established. He was a successful king, and the whole nation of Israel obeyed him.


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All the officials and soldiers, and even all of Davids other sons, promised to be loyal to Solomon as king.


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Jehovah made the whole nation stand in awe of Solomon. He made him more glorious than any other king that had ruled Israel.


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The history of King David from beginning to end is recorded in the records of the three prophets, Samuel, Nathan, and Gad.


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The records tell how he ruled, how powerful he was, and all the things that happened to him, to Israel, and to the surrounding kingdoms.


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Solomon, son of David, strengthened his position over the kingdom. Jehovah, his God, was with him and made him very powerful.


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Solomon spoke to all Israel. He spoke to the commanders of regiments and battalions, judges, every prince, and to the heads of Israels families.


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Then Solomon and the entire assembly went to the place of worship in Gibeon because Gods Tent of Meeting was there. Jehovahs servant Moses pitched the tent in the desert.


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David already brought Gods Ark from Kiriath Jearim to a place he had prepared for it. He pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.


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The copper altar that Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur built was in front of Jehovahs Tent. There Solomon and the assembly worshiped Jehovah.


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Solomon went to the copper altar in front of the Tent of Meeting and in Jehovahs presence sacrificed one thousand burnt offerings on it.


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Solomon answered: »You always showed great love for my father David. Now you have allowed me to succeed him as king.


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»O Jehovah my God, fulfill the promise you made to my father David. You have made me king over a people, who are so many that they cannot be counted.


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»Please give me the wisdom and knowledge I need to rule over them. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?«


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God replied to Solomon: »You have made the right choice. Instead of asking for wealth, treasure, fame or the death of your enemies or even for long life for yourself, you have asked for wisdom and knowledge so that you can rule my people, over whom I have made you king.


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»For this reason I will give you wisdom and knowledge. And in addition, I will give you more wealth, treasure, and fame than any king has ever had before or will ever have again.«


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So Solomon left the place of worship at Gibeon, where the Tent of Jehovahs presence was, and returned to Jerusalem. There he ruled over Israel.


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Solomon assembled a force of fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand cavalry horses. Some of them he kept in Jerusalem. The rest he stationed in various other cities.


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During his reign silver and gold became as common in Jerusalem as stone, and cedar was as plentiful as ordinary sycamore in the foothills of Judah.


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They imported each chariot from Egypt for fifteen pounds of silver and each horse for six ounces of silver. For the same price they obtained horses to export to all the Hittite and Syrian kings.


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He drafted seventy thousand men to carry heavy loads, eighty thousand to quarry stones in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred foremen.


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Solomon sent a message to King Hiram of Tyre: »Do business with me as you did with my father, King David, when you sold him cedar logs for building his palace.


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»I am building a Temple to honor Jehovah my God. It will be a holy place where my people and I will worship him by burning incense of fragrant spices. We will present offerings of sacred bread to him continuously, and we will offer burnt offerings every morning and evening, as well as on Sabbaths, New Moon Festivals, and other holy days honoring Jehovah our God. He has commanded Israel to do this from generation to generation.


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»No one can really build a Temple for God. This is because even all the vastness of heaven cannot contain him. How then can I build a Temple that would be anything more than a place to burn incense to God?


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»Send me a man with skill in engraving, in working gold, silver, copper, and iron, and in making blue, purple, and red cloth. He will work with the craftsmen of Judah and Jerusalem whom my father David selected.


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»I know how skillful your lumbermen are, so send me cedar, cypress, and juniper logs from Lebanon. I am ready to send my men to assist yours.


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»Prepare large quantities of timber, because this Temple I intend to build will be large and magnificent.


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»As provisions for your lumbermen, I will send you one hundred thousand bushels of wheat, one hundred thousand bushels of barley, one hundred and ten thousand gallons of wine, and one hundred and ten thousand gallons of olive oil.«


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King Hiram sent Solomon a letter in reply. He wrote: »Jehovah made you their king because he loves his people.«


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»Praise Jehovah the God of Israel, Creator of heaven and earth! He has given King David a wise son, full of understanding and skill. He now plans to build a Temple for Jehovah and a palace for himself.


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»He was the son of a woman from the tribe of Dan. His father is a native of Tyre. Huram knows how to work with gold, silver, copper, iron, stone, wood, purple, violet, and dark red cloth, and linen. He also knows how to make all kinds of engravings and follow any set of plans that will be given to him. He can work with your skilled workmen and the skilled workmen of His Majesty David, your father.


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»We will cut all the trees for lumber you need in Lebanon. Then we will make rafts out of it and send them to you in Joppa by sea. You can take it from there to Jerusalem.«


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Solomon counted all the men who were foreigners in the land of Israel, as his father David had counted them. Solomon counted one hundred and fifty-three thousand and six hundred foreigners.


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He directed seventy thousand of them carry heavy loads, eighty thousand of them quarry stone in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred of them supervise the work as foremen.


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Solomon began to build Jehovahs Temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah. That is where Jehovah appeared to his father David. David had prepared the site on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.


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He began to build on the second day in the second month of the fourth year of his reign. It was in the place David had povided.


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This is how Solomon laid the foundation to build Gods Temple. It was ninety feet long and thirty feet wide. <i>They used the old standard measurement.</i>


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The entrance hall in front of the main room was thirty feet wide <i>the same as the width of the temple</i> and thirty feet high. He covered its inside walls with pure gold.


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He paneled the larger building with cypress. Then he overlaid it with fine gold. It was decorated with designs in the form of palm trees and chains.


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He also overlaid the building, the rafters, the threshold, the walls, and the doors with gold. He carved cherubim <i>angels</i> on the walls.


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He made the most holy place. It was as long as the Temple was wide, thirty feet long. It was also thirty feet wide. He overlaid it with forty-five thousand pounds of fine gold.


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The combined length of the cherubim wings was thirty feet. A wing of one of the cherub was seven and one half feet long and touched the wall of the building. Its other wing was seven and one half feet long and touched one wing of the other cherub.


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The wing of the other one of the cherub <i>angels</i> was seven and one half feet long and touched the other wall of the building. Its other wing was seven and one half feet long and touched the wing of the first cherub. So the cherubs combined wingspan was thirty feet.


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Solomon made the canopy of violet, purple, and dark red cloth and of linen and decorated it with cherubim.


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He made two pillars for the front of the Temple. They were fifty-three feet long, and the crown on each pillar was seven and one half feet high.


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He made chains for the inner room and also put them on the crowns. He made one hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains.


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He set up the pillars in front of the Temple, one on the right and the other on the left. He named the one on the right Jachin <i>He Establishes</i> and the one on the left Boaz <i>In Him Is Strength</i> .


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He also made a round tank <i>molten sea</i> of copper. It was seven and one half feet deep, fifteen feet in diameter, and forty-five feet in circumference.


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All around the outer edge of the rim of the tank were two rows of decorations, one above the other. The decorations were in the shape of bulls. They had been cast all in one piece with the rest of the tank.


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The tank rested on the backs of twelve copper bulls that faced outward. Three faced in each direction, north, west, south and east.


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The sides of the tank were three inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup, curving outward like the petals of a flower. The tank held about fifteen thousand gallons.


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They also made ten basins, five to be placed on the south side of the Temple and five on the north side. They were to be used to rinse the parts of the animals that were burned as sacrifices. The water in the large tank was for the priests to use for washing.


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They made ten gold lamp stands according to the usual pattern, and ten tables, and placed them in the main room of the Temple.


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He made ten tables and put them in the temple. Five were on the south side and five on the north side. And he made one hundred gold bowls.


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He also made the priests courtyard and the large courtyard and its doors. He covered the doors with copper.


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Huram also made the pots, shovels, and bowls. So Huram finished the work for King Solomon in Gods Temple:


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Two pillars, bowl-shaped crowns on top of the two pillars, and two sets of filigree to cover the two bowl-shaped crowns on top of the pillars,


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four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of filigree <i>two rows of pomegranates for each filigree to cover the two bowl-shaped crowns on the pillars</i> ,


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pots, shovels, and three-pronged forks. Huram <i>Hiram-abiv</i> made all of them out of polished copper for Jehovahs Temple at King Solomons request.


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Solomon made all the furnishings for Gods Temple: the gold altar, the gold tables on which the bread of the presence was placed,


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snuffers, basins, dishes, incense burners of pure gold, the gold entrance to the temple, the gold doors of the most holy place, and the gold doors of the Temple.


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The work Solomon did on Jehovahs Temple was finished. He brought the holy things that had belonged to his father David, the silver, gold, and all the utensils. He put them in the storerooms of Gods Temple.


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Then Solomon assembled the respected leaders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, and the leaders of the Israelite families. They came to Jerusalem to take the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah from the City of David, which is Zion.


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They brought the Ark, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy utensils in it to the Temple. The priests and the Levites carried them


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while King Solomon and the whole assembly from Israel were offering countless sheep and cattle sacrifices in front of the Ark.


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The priests brought Jehovahs Ark of the Covenant to its place in the inner room of the Temple, the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim <i>angels</i> .


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The cherubim <i>angels</i> outstretched wings were over the place where the Ark rested so that the cherubim became a covering above the Ark and its poles.


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The poles were so long that their ends could be seen in the holy place by anyone standing in front of the inner room. However they could not be seen outside. They are still there today.


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There was nothing in the Ark except the two tablets Moses placed there at Horeb, where Jehovah made a covenant with the Israelites after they left Egypt.


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All the priests who were present had performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy to God without regard to staying in their divisions.


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All the Levites who were musicians: Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, their sons, and their relatives were dressed in fine linen and stood east of the altar with cymbals, harps, and lyres. With the musicians were one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets. When the priests left the holy place,


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the trumpeters and singers praised and thanked Jehovah in unison. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments, they sang in praise to Jehovah: »He is good; his mercy <i>lovingkindness</i> endures forever.« Then Jehovahs Temple was filled with a cloud.


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


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»Since I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I did not choose any city from the tribes of Israel as a place to build a Temple for my name. And I did not choose any man to be prince over my people Israel.


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»Now I have chosen Jerusalem to be a place for my name. I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.


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»However, Jehovah said to my father David: Since you had your heart set on building a Temple for my name, your intentions were good.


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»Jehovah has kept the promise he made. I have taken my father Davids place. I sit on the throne of Israel as Jehovah promised. I have built the Temple for the name of Jehovah God of Israel.


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In the presence of the entire assembly of Israel, Solomon stood in front of Jehovahs altar. He stretched out his hands to pray.


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Solomon had made a copper platform seven and one half feet long, seven and one half feet wide, and four and one half feet high. He put it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on the platform, knelt in front of the entire assembly, and stretched out his hands toward heaven.


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He said: »Jehovah God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth. You keep your promise of mercy to your servants, who obey you wholeheartedly.


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»You have kept your promise to my father David, your servant. With your mouth you promised it. With your hand you carried it out as it is today.


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»Now then, O Jehovah, God of Israel, keep your promise to my father David, your servant. You said: You will never fail to have an heir sitting in front of me on the throne of Israel if your descendants are faithful to me as you have been faithful to me.


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»Does God really live on earth with people? If heaven and the highest heaven cannot hold you, then how can this Temple that I have built?


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»Nevertheless, O Jehovah my God, please pay attention to my prayer for mercy. Listen to my cry for help as I pray to you.


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»Day and night may your eyes be on this Temple, the place where you said your name will be. Listen to me as I pray toward this place.


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»Hear the plea for mercy that your people Israel and I pray toward this place. Hear us in heaven, the place where you live. Hear and forgive.


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»If anyone sins against another person and is required to take an oath and comes to take the oath in front of your altar in this temple,


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then hear that person in heaven, take action, and make a decision. Repay the guilty person with the proper punishment, but declare the innocent person innocent.


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»An enemy may defeat your people Israel because they have sinned against you. But when your people return, praise your name, pray, and plead with you in this Temple,


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then hear them in heaven, forgive the sins of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land that you gave to them and their ancestors.


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»When the sky is shut and there is no rain because they are sinning against you and they pray toward this place, praise your name, and turn away from their sin because you made them suffer,


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then hear them in heaven. Forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the proper way to live. Then send rain on the land, which you gave to your people as an inheritance.


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»There may be famine in the land. Plant diseases, heat waves, funguses, locusts, or grasshoppers may destroy crops. Enemies may blockade Israels city gates. During every plague or sickness


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hear every prayer for mercy made by one person or by all the people in Israel, all who know suffering or pain, who stretch out their hands toward this Temple.


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»Hear them in heaven, where you live. Forgive them and give people the proper reply. You know what is in their hearts, because you alone can read hearts.


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as long as they live in the land that you gave to our ancestors, they will reverence you and follow you.


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»People who are not Israelites will come from distant countries because of your great name, mighty hand, and powerful arm. When they come to pray facing this Temple,


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then hear them in heaven, the place where you live. Do everything they ask so that all the people of the world may know your name and respect you like your people Israel and learn that this Temple that I built bears your name.


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»When your people go to war against their enemies, you send them and they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the Temple I built for your name,


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»They may sin against you. There is no man who is without sin. You may become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy who takes them to another country as captives, whether it is far or near.


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»If they come to their senses, are sorry for what theyve done, and plead with you in the land where they are captives, saying: We have sinned. We have done wrong. We have been wicked.


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»If they change their attitude toward you in the land where they are captives. If they pray to you toward the land that you gave their ancestors, and the city you have chosen, and the Temple I have built for your name,


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then in heaven, the place where you live, hear their prayer for mercy. Do what is right for them. Forgive your people, who have sinned against you.


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»Finally, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.


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»Now arise, and come to your resting place, Jehovah our God, you and the ark of your power. Clothe your priests, Jehovah God, with salvation. Let your godly ones rejoice in what is good.


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When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices, and Jehovahs glory filled the Temple.


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When all the Israelites saw the fire come down and Jehovahs glory on the Temple, they knelt down with their faces on the pavement. They worshiped and praised Jehovah. They said: »He is good; his mercy <i>lovingkindness</i> endures forever.«


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King Solomon offered twenty-two thousand cattle and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep as sacrifices to Jehovah. Thus the king and all the people dedicated Gods Temple.


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The priests were standing at their posts. So were the Levites who had Jehovahs musical instruments that King David made for praising Jehovah. They were saying: »his mercy endures forever.« This he used to offer praise. The priests were opposite the Levites blowing trumpets while all Israel was standing there.


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Solomon designated the courtyard in front of Jehovahs Temple as a holy place. He sacrificed the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat because the copper altar that he had made and that was in front of Jehovah was not able to hold all of them.


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Then Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Booths. A very large crowd came from the territory between the border of Hamath and the River of Egypt.


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There was an assembly on the eighth day. They observed the dedication of the altar for seven days and celebrated the festival for another seven days.


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Solomon dismissed the people to their tents on the twenty-third day of the seventh month. They rejoiced with cheerful hearts for all the blessings Jehovah had given David, Solomon, and his people Israel.


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Solomon finished Jehovahs Temple and the royal palace and completed everything he had in mind for Jehovahs Temple and his own palace.


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JEHOVAH APPEARED TO SOLOMON THAT NIGHT. He said to Solomon: »I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a Temple for sacrifices.


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»I may shut the sky so that there is no rain, or command grasshoppers to devour the countryside, or send an epidemic among my people.


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»However, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country.


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»I have chosen and declared this Temple holy so that my name may be placed there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.


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»If you will be faithful to me as your father David was, do everything I command, and obey my laws and rules,


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»I will establish your royal dynasty just as I said in a promise to your father David, when I said: You will never fail to have an heir ruling over Israel.«


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»On the other hand, if you and your descendants turn away from me and abandon my commandments and laws that I gave you, and follow and serve other gods and worship them,


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»I will uproot Israel from the land I gave them. I will reject this Temple that I declared holy for my name. I will make it an example and an object of ridicule for all the people of the world.


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»Everyone passing by this impressive Temple will be appalled. They will ask: Why did Jehovah do these things to this land and to this Temple?


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»They will answer their own question: They abandoned Jehovah the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt. They adopted other gods, worshiped, and served them. That is why he brought this disaster on them.«


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He also rebuilt Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon into cities fortified with walls, double-door gates, and bars.


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He also rebuilt Baalath and all the storage cities that he owned. He built all the cities for his chariots, all the cities for his warhorses, and whatever else he wanted to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, or the entire territory that he governed.


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The Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites had been left in the land because the Israelites had not been able to destroy them. They were not Israelites.


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They had descendants who were still in the land. Solomon drafted them for slave labor. They are still Israels slaves today.


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Solomon did not make any of the Israelites slaves for his projects. Instead, they were the soldiers, officers, generals, and commanders of his chariot and cavalry units.


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These were the officers in charge of King Solomons projects: two hundred and fifty foremen for the people who did the work.


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Then Solomon brought Pharaohs daughter up from the city of David to the house he had built for her. He said: »My wife must not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy where the Ark of Jehovahs Covenant has entered.«


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


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As Solomons father David had directed, he set up the divisions of priests for their service and the divisions of Levites for their appointed places. The Levites were to lead in praising Jehovah and to serve beside the priests by doing whatever needed to be done each day. Solomon also set up divisions of doorkeepers at every gate because this was what David, the man of God, had commanded.


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No one neglected the kings orders to the priests or the Levites in any matter, including the Temples finances.


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All of Solomons work was carried out from the day the foundation of Jehovahs Temple was laid until it was completed. Jehovahs Temple was now complete.


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Huram sent his own servants and his experienced sailors with ships to Solomon. They went with Solomons servants to Ophir. There they procured thirty three thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds of gold, and brought it to King Solomon.


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The QUEEN OF SHEBA heard about Solomons reputation. So she came to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions. She arrived with a large group of servants. They had camels carrying spices, a large quantity of gold, and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she talked with him about everything she had on her mind.


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the food on his table, his officers seating arrangement, the organization of his officials and the uniforms they wore, his cupbearers and their uniforms, and the burnt offerings that he sacrificed at Jehovahs Temple, she was breathless.


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»I did not believe the reports until I came and saw it with my own eyes. I was not even told about half of the extent of your wisdom. You have surpassed the stories I heard.


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»Your men are indeed blessed! Your servants are truly blessed. It is because they are always stationed near you and listen to your wisdom!


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»I thank Jehovah your God, who is pleased with you. He has put you on his throne to be king on behalf of Jehovah your God. Because of your Gods love for the people of Israel, he has established them permanently and made you king over them so that you would maintain justice and righteousness.«


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The queen gave the king nine thousand pounds of gold, a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never was there such a large quantity of spices in Israel as those that the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.


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Hurams servants and Solomons servants who brought gold from Ophir also brought sandalwood and precious stones.


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With the sandalwood the king made gateways to Jehovahs Temple and the royal palace. They also made lyres and harps for the singers. No one had ever seen anything like them in Judah.


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King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba anything she wanted. Whatever she asked for, more than what she had brought him. Then she and her servants went back to her country.


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The gold that came to Solomon in one year weighed forty nine thousand nine hundred and fifty pounds,


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not counting the gold that the merchants and traders brought. All the Arab kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.


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King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold, using fifteen pounds of gold on each shield.


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He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold, using seven and one half pounds of gold on each shield. The king put them in the hall named the Forest of Lebanon.


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Six steps led to the throne. It had a gold footstool attached to it. There were armrests on both sides of the seat. Two lions stood beside the armrests.


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Twelve lions stood on six steps, one on each side. Nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.


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All King Solomons cups were gold. All the utensils for the hall named the Forest of Lebanon were fine gold. Silver was not considered valuable in Solomons time.


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The king had ships going to Tarshish with Hurams sailors. Once every three years the Tarshish ships would bring gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.


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Everyone who came brought him gifts such as articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. This happened year after year.


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Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand war horses. He stationed some in chariot cities and others with himself in Jerusalem.


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He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the country of the Philistines and as far as the Egyptian border.


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The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones. He made cedars as plentiful as fig trees in the foothills.


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The rest of the acts of Solomon from first to last are written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah from Shiloh, and in Iddo the seers visions about Jeroboam son of Nebat.


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Solomon lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Rehoboam succeeded him as king.


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Jeroboam, Nebats son, was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon. When he heard about Rehoboam, he returned from Egypt.


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Israel sent for Jeroboam and invited him back. Jeroboam and all Israel went to speak to Rehoboam. They said:


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»Your father made us carry a heavy burden. Reduce the hard work and lighten the heavy burden he put on us. We will serve you.«


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King Rehoboam sought advice from the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked: »What do you advise? How should I respond to these people?«


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They told him: »If you are good to these people and try to please them by speaking gently to them, then they will always be your servants.«


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He ignored the advice the elders gave him. He sought advice from the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.


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He asked: »What is your advice? How should we respond to these people who are asking me to lighten the burden my father put on them?«


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The young men who had grown up with him answered: »This is what you should tell them: My little finger is heavier than my fathers whole body.


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»If my father put a heavy burden on you, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions.«


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So Jeroboam and all the people came back to Rehoboam two days later, as the king had instructed them.


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He spoke to them as the young men advised. He said: »If my father made your burden heavy, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will use scorpions.«


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The king refused to listen to the people because Jehovah was directing these events to carry out the promise he had made to Jeroboam, Nebats son through Ahijah from Shiloh.


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When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king: »What share do we have in Davids kingdom? We will not receive an inheritance from Jesses son. Everyone to his own tent, Israel! Now look after your own house, David!« So all Israel went home to their tents.


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King Rehoboam sent Hadoram to the Israelites. He was in charge of forced labor, but they stoned him to death. So King Rehoboam got on his chariot as fast as he could and fled to Jerusalem.


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Rehoboam came to Jerusalem and gathered the people of Judah and Benjamin. There were one hundred and eighty thousand of the best soldiers, to fight against Israel and return the kingdom to Rehoboam.


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Jehovah says: »Do not wage war against your relatives. Everyone, go home. What has happened is my doing.« So they obeyed the word of Jehovah. They turned back from their attack on Jeroboam.


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He strengthened the cities and put army officers with reserves of food, olive oil, and wine in them.


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He stored shields and spears in each city. He made the cities very secure. Rehoboam held on to Judah and Benjamin.


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The priests abandoned their land and property and went to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his descendants rejected them as Jehovahs priests.


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As an alternative, Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the illegal worship sites and the goat and calf statues he had made as idols.


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People from every tribe of Israel who were determined to seek Jehovah the true God of Israel followed the Levitical priests to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Jehovah God of their ancestors.


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So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah by supporting Rehoboam, son of Solomon, for three years. During those three years they lived the way David and Solomon had lived.


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Rehoboam married Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth. Jerimoth was the son of David and Abihail. Abihail was the daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse.


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After marrying Mahalath, he married Maacah, Absaloms granddaughter. She gave birth to Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.


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Rehoboam loved Maacah, Absaloms granddaughter, more than all his other wives and concubines. He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines. He fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.


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Rehoboam appointed Abijah, son of Maacah, as family head and prince among his brothers. By doing this, Rehoboam could make him king.


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He wisely placed his sons in every region of Judah and Benjamin, in every fortified city. He gave them allowances and obtained many wives for them.


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Rehoboam established his kingdom and made himself strong. He and all Israel abandoned Jehovahs teachings.


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King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. This took place in the fifth year of Rehoboams reign. It happened because all Israel was not loyal to Jehovah.


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Shishak had twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horses, and an army of countless Libyans, Sukkites, and Sudanese from Egypt.


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Shemaiah the prophet approached Rehoboam and the princes of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them: »Jehovah says: You have forsaken me, so I also have forsaken you to Shishak.«


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Jehovah saw that they humbled themselves. The word of Jehovah came to Shemaiah. He said: »They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them. I will grant them deliverance. I will not use Shishak to pour out my anger on Jerusalem.


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»However, they will become his servants. They must learn the difference between serving me and serving foreign kings.«


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King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and took away the treasures from Jehovahs temple and the royal palace. He took them all! He even took the gold shields Solomon had made.


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As a result King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them. He put them by the entrance to the royal palace, where the captains of the guards were stationed.


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When the king went into Jehovahs Temple, guards carried the shields and then returned them to the guardroom.


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When Rehoboam humbled himself, the anger of Jehovah turned from him. He did not completely destroy him. So things went well in Judah.«


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King Rehoboam strengthened his position in Jerusalem and ruled. He was forty-one years old when he began to rule. He ruled for seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that Jehovah chose from all the tribes of Israel, and the city where Jehovah put his name. Rehoboams mother was an Ammonite woman named Naamah.


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The events concerning Rehoboam from first to last are written in the records of the prophet Shemaiah and the records of the seer Iddo in the genealogies? There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam as long as they lived.


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Rehoboam lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Abijah succeeded him as king.


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His mother was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. He ruled from Jerusalem for three years when war broke out between Abijah of Judah and Jeroboam of Israel.


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Abijah raised an army of four hundred thousand soldiers. Jeroboam opposed him with an army of eight hundred thousand soldiers.


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The armies met in the hill country of Ephraim. King Abijah went up Mount Zemaraim and called out to Jeroboam and the Israelites: »Listen to me!« He shouted.


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»Do you not know that Jehovah, the God of Israel, made an unbreakable covenant with David, giving him and his descendants kingship over Israel from generation to generation?


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»Later he organized a group of worthless scoundrels. They forced their will on Rehoboam son of Solomon, who was too young and inexperienced to resist them.


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»Now you plan to fight against the royal authority Jehovah gave to Davids descendants. You have a huge army! You have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods.


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»You drove out Jehovahs priests! You evicted the descendants of Aaron and the Levites. In their place you appointed priests in the same way that other nations do. Anybody who comes along with a bull or seven sheep can get himself consecrated as a priest of those so-called gods of yours.


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»We still serve Jehovah our God! We have not abandoned him. Priests descended from Aaron perform their duties, and Levites assist them.


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»Every morning and every evening they offer him incense and animal sacrifices burned whole. They present the offerings of bread on a table that is ritually clean, and every evening they light the lamps on the gold lamp stand. We do what Jehovah has commanded! But you have abandoned him!


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»God is with us as our leader. His priests will sound their trumpets to call the army to fight you. Men of Israel do not wage war against Jehovah the God of your ancestors. You will not succeed.«


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Jeroboam set an ambush to attack them from behind. So Jeroboams army was in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.


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Judahs soldiers looked around and found the battle was in front of them and behind them. They cried out to Jehovah! The priests blew the trumpets,


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The men of Judah shouted! When they shouted God attacked Jeroboam and all Israel in front of Abijah and Judah.


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Abijah and his men defeated them decisively. Five hundred thousand of the best men of Israel were killed.


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The Israelites were humbled at that time. The people of Judah won because they trusted Jehovah God of their ancestors.


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Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some of his cities: Bethel and its villages, Jeshanah and its villages, and Ephron and its villages.


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Jeroboam never regained power during Abijahs time. Jehovah caused Jeroboam to become sick, and Jeroboam died.


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Abijah slept in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Asa succeeded him as king. In Asas time the land had peace for ten years.


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He got rid of the altars of foreign gods. He broke down the sacred stones. He cut down the poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah.


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He told the people of Judah to dedicate their lives to Jehovah. They were to serve the God of their ancestors and observe <i>obey</i> his teachings and commandments.


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He got rid of the illegal places of worship and destroyed the altars for incense in all the cities of Judah. The kingdom was at peace during his reign.


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He built fortified cities in Judah and the land had peace. There was no war during those years because Jehovah gave him a time of peace.


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Asa told Judah: »Let us build these cities and make walls around them with towers and doors that can be barred. The country is still ours because we have dedicated our lives to serve Jehovah our God. We have dedicated our lives to him. He has surrounded us with peace.« So they built the cities, and everything went well.


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Asa had an army of three hundred thousand Judeans who were armed with large shields and spears and two hundred and eighty thousand Benjaminites who were armed with small shields and bows. All of these men were strong fighting men.


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Zerah from Ethiopia led an army of a million soldiers and three hundred chariots to the town of Mareshah in Judah.


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Asa prayed: »Jehovah, only you can help a powerless army defeat a stronger one. We depend on you to help us. We will fight against this powerful army to honor your name! We know that you will not be defeated. You are Jehovah our God. Do not let man prevail against you.«


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Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. It was a total defeat! The Ethiopians could not even fight back! The soldiers from Judah took everything that had belonged to the Ethiopians.


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Asa and his army attacked all the cities around Gerar because the cities were in dread of Jehovah. The army looted all the cities because there were many things to take.


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They also attacked those who were letting their cattle graze and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.


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Azariah went to Asa and said: »Listen to me Asa and all you men from Judah and Benjamin. Jehovah is with you when you are with him. If you will dedicate your lives to serve him, he will accept you. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.


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


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»When they were in trouble they turned to Jehovah the God of Israel. When they searched for him, he let them find him.


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»No one could come and go in peace at that time. This is because everyone living in the land had a lot of turmoil.


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»One nation crushed another nation. One city crushed another. God tormented them with every kind of trouble.


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Asa heard the prophet Odeds words of prophecy. He was encouraged and put away the detestable idols from all of Judah, Benjamin, and the cities he had captured in the mountains of Ephraim. He also repaired Jehovahs altar in front of Jehovahs entrance hall.


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Then Asa gathered all the people from Judah and Benjamin and the foreigners who had come from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon. Many of them had come to him from Israel when they saw that Asas God, Jehovah, was with him.


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They sacrificed to Jehovah a part of the loot they brought with them: seven hundred cattle and seven thousand sheep.


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They made an agreement with one another to dedicate their lives to serve the true God Jehovah, the God of their ancestors with all their heart and all their being.


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All people, young and old, male and female, who refused to dedicate their lives to the true God Jehovah the God of Israel were to be killed.


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Asa and the people swore their oath to Jehovah with shouts, singing, and the blowing of trumpets and rams horns.


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All the people of Judah were overjoyed because of the oath. They took the oath wholeheartedly. They took great pleasure in looking for Jehovah. And he let them find him. So Jehovah surrounded them with rest and peace.


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King Asa also removed his grandmother Maacah from the position of queen mother. She made a statue of the repulsive goddess Asherah. Asa immediately cut the statue down, crushed it, and burned it in the Kidron Valley.


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Although the illegal worship sites in Israel were not taken down, Asa remained committed to Jehovah his entire life.


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He brought into Gods Temple the silver, the gold, and the utensils he and his father had set apart as holy.


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It was the thirty-sixth year of Asas reign. King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and built fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from going to or coming from King Asa of Judah.


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Then Asa brought out all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of Jehovahs Temple and the royal palace. He sent them to Damascus to King Benhadad.


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He said: »There is a treaty between you and me as there was between your father and my father. I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone.«


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Benhadad agreed to do what King Asa requested. He sent his generals and their armies to attack the cities of Israel. He conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities in the territory of Naphtali.


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King Asa gathered men from throughout Judah and had them carry off the stones and timbers that Baasha had been using at Ramah. They used them to fortify the cities of Geba and Mizpah.


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Then the prophet Hanani went to King Asa. He said: »Because you relied on the king of Syria instead of relying on Jehovah your God, the army of the king of Israel has escaped from you.


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»The Ethiopians and the Libyans, did they have large armies with many chariots and cavalry troops? But because you relied on Jehovah he gave you victory over them.


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»The eyes of Jehovah keep close watch over the entire world. He gives strength <i>shows His strength</i> to <i>in behalf of</i> those whose hearts are loyal to him. You have acted foolishly! Therefore from now on you will always be at war.«


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Asa was so angry with the prophet that he had him put in chains. It was at this same time that Asa began treating some of the people cruelly.


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All the events of Asas reign from beginning to end are recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


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In the thirty-ninth year that Asa was king a severe foot disease crippled him. Even then he did not turn to Jehovah for help, but to doctors.


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Asa was buried in the rock tomb that he had carved out for himself in Davids City. They used spices and perfumed oils to prepare his body for burial. They built a huge bonfire to mourn his death.


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He stationed troops in the fortified cities of Judah. He also put troops in the Judean countryside, and in the cities that Asa had captured in the territory of Ephraim.


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Jehovah blessed Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his fathers early life and did not worship Baal.


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He served his fathers God. He obeyed Gods commandments, and did not act the way the kings of Israel did.


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Jehovah gave Jehoshaphat firm control over the kingdom of Judah. The people brought him gifts, so that he became wealthy and highly honored.


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His heart was devoted to the ways of Jehovah. He destroyed all the pagan places of worship and the symbols of the goddess Asherah in Judah.


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In the third year of his reign he sent out the following officials to teach in the cities of Judah: Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.


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With them were the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, Tob Adonijah, and the priests Elishama and Jehoram.


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They taught in Judah. They had the Book of Torah <i>the Law Jehovahs Teachings</i> with them when they taught the people in all the cities of Judah.


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All the kingdoms around Judah were afraid of Jehovah. As a result, they did not wage war against Jehoshaphat.


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Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as taxes. The Arabs also brought him flocks: seven thousand and seven hundred rams and seven thousand and seven hundred male goats.


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Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful. He built fortresses and cities where supplies were stored in Judah.


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He stored large supplies of food in the cities of Judah and an army of professional soldiers served him in Jerusalem.


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The following is a breakdown of these soldiers. They are listed by families. Judahs regimental commanders were Commander Adnah with three hundred thousand fighting men,


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There was Amasiah, Zichris son, who volunteered to serve Jehovah with two hundred thousand fighting men.


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From Benjamin there was the fighting man Eliada with two hundred thousand armed men with bows and shields.


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These were the men who served the king in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout Judah.


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After that he went to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for a banquet in honor of Jehoshaphat and the people who were with him. Ahab persuaded Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth in Gilead with him.


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He asked: »Will you go with me to attack Ramoth?« Jehoshaphat replied: »I am ready when you are. My army is ready. We will join you.«


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Ahab called in about four hundred prophets. He asked them: »Should I go and attack Ramoth, or not?« »Attack it,« they answered. »God will give you victory.«


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Ahab answered: »There is one more. He is Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me. It is always something bad.« Jehoshaphat replied: »You should not say that.«


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The two kings, dressed in their royal robes, sat on their thrones at the threshing place just outside the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were prophesying in front of them.


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One of them, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said to Ahab: This is what Jehovah says: »With these you will fight the Syrians and totally defeat them.«


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All the other prophets said the same thing. »March against Ramoth and you will win,« they said. Jehovah will give you victory.


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The official who had gone to get Micaiah said to him: All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king. You had better do the same.


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When he appeared before King Ahab, the king asked him: »Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not?« »Attack!« Micaiah answered. »You will win! Jehovah will give you victory.«


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Ahab replied: »When you speak to me in the name of Jehovah, tell the truth! How many times do I have to tell you that?«


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Ahab said to Jehoshaphat: »I told you that he never prophesies anything good for me. It is always something bad!«


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Micaiah continued: »Now listen to what Jehovah says! I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne in heaven. All his angels were standing beside him.«


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Jehovah asked: »Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and get killed at Ramoth? Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else,


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until a spirit stepped forward, approached Jehovah,« and said: »I will deceive him.« »How?« Jehovah asked.


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The spirit replied: »I will go and make all of Ahabs prophets tell lies.« Jehovah said: »Go and deceive him. You will succeed.«


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Micaiah concluded: »This is what has happened. Jehovah made these prophets of yours lie to you. But he has decreed that you will meet with disaster!«


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Then the prophet Zedekiah went up to Micaiah and slapped his face. He asked: »Since when did Jehovahs spirit leave me and speak to you?«


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Then King Ahab ordered one of his officers: »Arrest Micaiah and take him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Prince Joash.«


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Say: »This is what the king says: Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I return home safely.«


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Micaiah said: »If you really do come back safely, then Jehovah was not speaking through me. Pay attention to this, everyone!«


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The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat: »I will disguise myself and go into battle. You, however, should wear your royal robes.« So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.


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The king of Aram gave orders to the chariot commanders. He said: »Do not fight anyone except the king of Israel.«


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When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said: »He must be the king of Israel.« So they surrounded him in order to fight him. When Jehoshaphat cried out Jehovah helped him. God drew them away from him.


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Soon the chariot commanders realized that Jehoshaphat was not the king of Israel. Then they turned away from him.


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One man aimed his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between his scale armor and his breastplate. Ahab told the chariot driver: »Turn around, and get me away from these troops for I am badly wounded.«


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The battle raged on and King Ahab remained propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians. At sunset he died.


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A prophet, Jehu son of Hanani, went to meet the king. He said to him: »Do you think it is right to help those who are wicked and to take the side of those who hate Jehovah? What you have done has brought Jehovahs anger upon you.


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»Regardless of this, there is some good in you. You have removed all the symbols of the goddess Asherah that people worshiped. You have tried to follow Gods will.«


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While Jehoshaphat was living in Jerusalem, he regularly went to the people between Beersheba and the mountains of Ephraim. He brought the people back to Jehovah the God of their ancestors.


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He told the judges: »Be careful when you make your decisions in court. Remember these are Jehovahs people. He will know the judgements you decide.


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»Do your work in honor of him and know that he will not allow you to be unfair to anyone or to take bribes.«


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Jehoshaphat also appointed some Levites, some priests, and some of the family leaders to serve as judges in Jerusalem.


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»Warn your relatives living in other cities about every case they bring to you, even if the case involves bloodshed or commandments, rules, or regulations derived from the law. Then your relatives will not become guilty in front of Jehovah. Otherwise, he will become angry with you and your relatives. Do this and you will not be guilty of anything.


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»The chief priest Amariah will be in charge of you in every matter involving Jehovah. Zebadiah, who is the son of Ishmael and the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be in charge of every matter involving the king. The Levites will serve as officers of the court. Be strong and do your job. May Jehovah be with those who do right.«


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Shortly after that the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.


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Some men reported to Jehoshaphat: »A large crowd is coming against you from the other side of the Dead Sea, from Edom. The crowd is already in Hazazon Tamar <i>En Gedi</i> .«


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Jehoshaphat was frightened and decided to ask for Jehovahs help. He announced a fast throughout Judah.


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He prayed aloud: »O Jehovah, God of our ancestors, you rule in heaven over all the nations of the world. You are powerful and mighty. No one can oppose you.


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»You are our God. When your people Israel moved into this land, you drove out the people who were living here and gave the land to the descendants of Abraham, your friend, to be theirs from generation to generation.


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»They believed that whenever this land is struck by war, judgement, disease, or famine, your people can pray to you at the Temple. You will hear their prayer and save them.


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»You can see that the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Edom are attacking us! Those are the nations you would not let our ancestors invade on their way from Egypt. Consequently these nations were not destroyed.


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»You are our God. Will you judge them? We do not have the strength to face this large crowd that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, so we are looking to you.«


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Then Jehovahs Spirit came to Jahaziel. He was the son of Zechariah, grandson of Benaiah, great-grandson of Jeiel, whose father was Mattaniah, a Levite descended from Asaph.


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Jahaziel said: »Pay attention to me, everyone from Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what Jehovah says to you: Do not be frightened or terrified by this large crowd. The battle is not yours. It is Gods.


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»Attack them tomorrow as they come up the pass at Ziz. Meet them at the end of the valley that leads to the wild country near Jeruel.


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»You will not have to fight this battle. Just take up your positions and wait. You will see Jehovah give you victory. People of Judah and Jerusalem, do not hesitate or be afraid. Go out to battle. Jehovah will be with you!


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


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»The members of the Levite clans of Kohath and Korah stood up and with a loud shout praised Jehovah, the God of Israel.


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»Early the next morning the people went out to the wild country near Tekoa. Before they began Jehoshaphat addressed them with these words: People of Judah and Jerusalem! Put your trust in Jehovah your God. You will stand your ground. Believe what his prophets tell you, and you will succeed.


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»After consulting with the people, the king ordered some musicians to put on the robes they wore on sacred occasions and to march ahead of the army. They sang: Praise Jehovah! His love is eternal!«


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The Ammonite and Moabite troops attacked and completely destroyed those from Edom. Then they turned against each other and fought until the entire camp was wiped out!


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Judahs army reached the tower that overlooked the desert. They saw that every soldier in the enemys army was lying dead on the ground.


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Jehoshaphat and his troops came to take the loot. They found among them a lot of goods, clothes, and valuables. They found more than they could carry. They spent three days collecting the loot.


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They gathered in the valley of Beracah on the fourth day. Because they thanked Jehovah there, that place is still called the »Valley of Beracah« <i>Thanks</i> today.


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All the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned to Jerusalem. They rejoiced while Jehoshaphat led them. Jehovah gave them a reason to rejoice about what had happened to their enemies.


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Deep respect for Jehovah came over the kingdoms in that area when they heard how Jehovah waged war against Israels enemies.


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Jehoshaphat ruled as king of Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to rule. He ruled for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mothers name was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi.


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Jehoshaphat carefully followed the example his father Asa had set and did what Jehovah considered right.


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However the illegal worship sites on the hills were not torn down. The people still did not have their hearts set on the God of their ancestors.


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Everything else about Jehoshaphat from first to last is written in the records of Jehu, son of Hanani, which is included in the Book of the Kings of Israel.


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After this, King Jehoshaphat of Judah allied himself with King Ahaziah of Israel, who led him to do evil.


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Eliezer was the son of Dodavahu from Mareshah. He prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said: »Jehovah will destroy your work because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah.« The ships were wrecked and could not go to Tarshish.


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Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the royal tombs in Davids City and his son Jehoram succeeded him as king.


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Jehoram son of King Jehoshaphat of Judah had six brothers: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah.


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Their father gave them large amounts of gold, silver, and other valuable possessions, and placed each one in charge of one of the fortified cities of Judah. But because Jehoram was the oldest, Jehoshaphat made him his successor.


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Jehoram was in firm control of the kingdom. He had all his brothers killed, and also some Israelite officials.


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He followed the wicked example of King Ahab and the other kings of Israel. He married one of Ahabs daughters. He sinned against Jehovah.


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Jehovah was not willing to destroy the dynasty of David. This is because he made a covenant with David and promised that his descendants would always continue to rule.


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Jehoram took all his chariot commanders to attack. The Edomites and their chariot commanders surrounded him. He got up during the night and broke through their lines.


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So Edom rebelled against Judahs rule and is still independent today. At the same time Edom rebelled, Libnah rebelled because Jehoram had abandoned Jehovah the God of his ancestors.


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Jehoram made illegal places of worship in the hills of Judah. This caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to chase after foreign gods as if they were prostitutes. So he led Judah astray.


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A letter came to him from the prophet Elijah. It read: This is what Jehovah the God of your ancestor David says: You have not followed the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or the ways of King Asa of Judah.


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Instead, you have followed the ways of the kings of Israel. You, like Ahabs family, have caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to chase after foreign gods as if they were prostitutes. You have killed your brothers, your fathers family. Your brothers were better than you.


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Jehovah will strike a great blow to your people, your sons, your wives, and all your property because you did this.


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Later Jehovah caused the Philistines and the Arabs who lived near the Ethiopians to become angry with Jehoram.


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They invaded Judah and stole the royal property from the palace. They led Jehorams wives and sons away as prisoners. The only one left behind was Ahaziah, his youngest son.


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Two years later Jehoram died in terrible pain. No bonfire was built to honor him. The people had done this for his ancestors, but not him.


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Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king. He ruled eight years from Jerusalem. He died, and no one even felt sad. He was buried in Jerusalem, but not in the royal tombs.


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The people of Jerusalem made Jehorams youngest son Ahaziah king in his place, because the raiders who came to the camp with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Jehorams son Ahaziah became king of Judah.


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Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to rule. He ruled for one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.


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Ahaziah also followed the ways of Ahabs family, because his mother gave him advice that led him to sin.


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He did what Jehovah considered evil the same as Ahabs family had done. After his father died, they advised him to do what Ahabs family had done. They did this to destroy him.


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He followed their advice. He joined King Joram of Israel in a war against King Hazael of Syria. The armies clashed at Ramoth in Gilead, and Joram was wounded in battle.


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God used this visit to Joram to bring about Ahaziahs downfall. While Ahaziah was there, a man named Jehu confronted him and Joram. Jehu was the son of Nimshi, whom Jehovah chose to destroy the dynasty of Ahab.


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Jehu carried out Gods sentence on the dynasty. He came across a group made up of Judean leaders and of Ahaziahs nephews that had accompanied Ahaziah on his visit. Jehu killed them all.


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A search was made for Ahaziah. He was found hiding in Samaria. They took him to Jehu and put him to death. But they did bury his body out of respect for his grandfather King Jehoshaphat, who had done all he could to serve Jehovah. No member of Ahaziahs family was left who could rule the kingdom.


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When King Ahaziahs mother Athaliah learned of her sons murder, she gave orders for all the members of the royal family of Judah to be killed.


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Ahaziah had a half sister, Jehosheba, who was married to a priest named Jehoiada. She secretly rescued one of Ahaziahs sons, Joash, took him away from the other princes who were about to be murdered. She hid him and a nurse in a bedroom at the Temple. By keeping him hidden, she saved him from death at the hands of Athaliah.


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After a six-year wait Jehoiada the priest decided that it was time to take action. He made a pact with five army officers: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.


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They went around Judah, gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah and the leaders of the families of Israel, and came to Jerusalem.


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The entire assembly made an agreement with the king in Gods Temple. Then Jehoiada said to them: Here is the kings son. He should be king, as Jehovah said about Davids descendants.


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You must do this: One third of you, the priests and Levites who are on duty on the day of worship, must guard the gates.


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Another third must be at the royal palace. And another third must be at Foundation Gate. All the people must be in the courtyards of Jehovahs Temple.


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Only the priests and Levites who are on duty should come into Jehovahs Temple. They may enter because they are holy. The other people should follow Jehovahs regulations.


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The Levites should surround the king. Each man should have his weapon in his hand. Kill anyone who tries to come into the Temple. Stay with the king wherever he goes.


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The Levites and all the Judeans did what the priest Jehoiada had ordered them. Each took his men who were coming on duty on the day of worship as well as those who were about to go off duty. Jehoiada did not dismiss the priestly divisions.


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Jehoiada gave the commanders the spears and the small and large shields. They once belonged to King David but were now in Gods Temple.


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The troops stood with their weapons drawn. They were stationed around the king, the altar and the Temple. They were located from the south side to the north side of the Temple.


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Then they brought out the kings son and put the crown on him. They gave him the testimony and made him king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him. They said: »Long live the king!«


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Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king. She entered into the house of Jehovah to the people.


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She saw the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance. The captains and the trumpeters were beside the king. All the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets. The singers with their musical instruments lead the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said: »This is treason! Treason!«


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Jehoiada did not want Athaliah killed in the Temple area. He called out the army officers and said: »Take her out between the rows of guards. Kill anyone who tries to rescue her.«


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The priest Jehoiada had King Joash and the people join him. They made a covenant that they would be Jehovahs people.


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Then they all went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols. Then they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.


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Jehoiada put the priests and Levites in charge of the work of the Temple. They were to carry out the duties assigned to them by King David. This included burning the sacrifices offered to Jehovah in accordance with the Law of Moses. They were also in charge of the music and the celebrations.


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Jehoiada appointed gatekeepers for the gates of Jehovahs temple. That way no one who was unclean for any reason could enter.


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He took the company commanders, the nobles, the peoples governors, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from Jehovahs Temple. They went through Upper Gate to the royal palace and seated the king on the royal throne. The nobles, the governors of the people, and


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all the people of the land celebrated. The city was quiet because they had killed Athaliah with a sword.


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Joash began to rule when he was seven years old. He ruled for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba.


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He gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them: »Go to the cities of Judah, and collect money throughout Israel to repair the Temple of your God every year. Do it immediately!« But the Levites did not do it immediately.


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The king called for the chief priest Jehoiada and asked him: »Why have you not required the Levites to bring the contributions from Judah and Jerusalem? Jehovahs servant Moses and the assembly required Israel to give contributions for the use of the Tent of Testimony of Gods promise.«


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The sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into Gods Temple and used all the holy things of Jehovahs Temple to worship other gods, the Baals.


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They issued a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem that the contributions should be brought to Jehovah. Moses required Israel to make contributions while they were in the desert.


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All the officials and all the people were filled with joy. They brought money and dropped it into the box until it was full.


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When the Levites brought the box to the kings officers and they saw a lot of money. The kings scribe and the chief priests officer would empty the box and put it back in its place. They would do this every day. They collected a lot of money.


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The king and Jehoiada gave the money to the foremen who were working on Jehovahs Temple. They hired masons and carpenters to renovate Jehovahs Temple. They also hired men who worked with iron and bronze to repair Jehovahs Temple.


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The men worked and the project progressed under the foremens guidance. They restored Gods Temple to its proper condition and reinforced it.


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When the repairs were finished, the remaining gold and silver was given to the king and Jehoiada. They used it to have bowls and other utensils made for the Temple. As long as Jehoiada was alive, sacrifices were offered regularly at the Temple.


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He was buried in the royal tombs in Jerusalem. This was because he had done so much good for the people of Israel, for God, and for the Temple.


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After the death of Jehoiada the priest, the leaders of Judah went to Joash and talked him into doing what they wanted.


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The people of Judah stopped worshiping in the Temple of Jehovah God. They started worshiping idols and the symbols of the goddess Asherah. These sinful things made Jehovah God angry with the people of Judah and Jerusalem,


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Gods Spirit spoke to Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. Zechariah told everyone that God was saying: »Why are you disobeying me and my Laws? This will only bring punishment! You have deserted me, so now I will desert you.«


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They plotted against Zechariah. Then they followed the kings order and stoned him to death in the courtyard of Jehovahs Temple.


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King Joash forgot that Zechariahs father had always been a loyal friend. So when the people of Judah plotted to kill Zechariah, Joash joined them and gave orders for them to stone him to death in the courtyard of the Temple. As Zechariah was dying, he said: »I pray that Jehovah will see this and punish all of you.«


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The Aramean army attacked Joash at years end. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the peoples leaders. The Arameans sent all the loot they took from Judah and Jerusalem to the king of Damascus.


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The Aramean army came with a small number of men. Jehovah handed Joashs large army over to them because Joashs soldiers had abandoned Jehovah the God of their ancestors. So the Arameans carried out Jehovahs judgment on Joash.


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The Arameans withdrew. They left him suffering from many wounds. His own officials plotted against him for murdering the son of the priest Jehoiada. They killed Joash in his bed and buried him in the City of David. But they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.


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These were the men who conspired against him: Zabad, son of an Ammonite woman named Shimeath, and Jehozabad, son of a Moabite woman named Shimrith.


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The record about his sons, the many divine revelations against him, and the rebuilding of Gods Temple is in the notes made in the Book of the Kings. His son Amaziah succeeded him as king.


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Amaziah began to rule at age twenty-five. He ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddan from Jerusalem.


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Once he had firm control over the kingdom, he executed the officials who killed his father, the former king.


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He did not execute their children. He obeyed Jehovahs command written in the Book of Moses Teachings: »Parents must never be put to death for the crimes of their children, and children must never be put to death for the crimes of their parents. Each person must be put to death for his own crime.«


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Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them by families to regiment and battalion commanders for all of Judah and Benjamin. He organized those who were at least twenty years old. He had three hundred thousand of the best men for the army, those who could handle a spear and a shield.


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He also hired one hundred thousand soldiers from Israel for seven thousand and five hundred pounds of silver.


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A man of God approached him and said: »Your Majesty, Israels army must not go with you. This is because Jehovah is not with Israel. He is not with these men from Ephraim.


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»If you go into battle with them God will use the enemy to defeat you. It does not matter how courageous you are because God has the power to help you or to defeat you.«


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Amaziah asked the man of God: »What should I do about the seven thousand and five hundred pounds of silver I gave the troops from Israel?« The man of God answered: »Jehovah can give you much more than that.«


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Amaziah dismissed the troops that had come to him from Ephraim. They became furious with Judah and returned home.


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Amaziah courageously led his troops. When he came to the Dead Sea region, he killed ten thousand men from Seir.


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The Judeans captured another ten thousand alive. They took them to the top of a cliff, and threw them off the top of the cliff so that they were dismembered.


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The troops that Amaziah sent back so that they couldnt go with him into battle raided the towns in Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed three thousand people and took a lot of goods.


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After Amaziah came back from defeating the Edomites, he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down to them, and burned sacrifices to them.


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Jehovah became angry with Amaziah. He sent him a prophet who asked: »Why do you dedicate your life to serving the gods of those people? Those gods could not save their own people from you!«


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The king asked him: »Did we make you an adviser to the king? Stop! Do you want me to have you killed?« The prophet stopped. He said: »I know that God has decided to destroy you because you did this. Yet you refuse to listen to my advice.«


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After receiving counsel from his advisers, King Amaziah of Judah sent messengers to King Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu of Israel, to declare war on Israel.


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King Jehoash of Israel sent this message to King Amaziah of Judah: »A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon. It said: Let your daughter marry my son, but a wild animal from Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.


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»You say you defeated Edom. Now you have become arrogant enough to look for more fame. Stay home! Why must you invite disaster and your own defeat and take Judah with you?«


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But Amaziah would not listen. God made this happen because he wanted to hand over the Judeans to Jehoash because they had sought help from Edoms gods.


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Thus King Jehoash of Israel attacked. King Amaziah of Judah met him in battle at Beth Shemesh in Judah.


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King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah, son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah of Judah, at Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. He tore down a six hundred foot section of the wall around Jerusalem from Ephraim Gate to Corner Gate.


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He took all the gold, silver, and all the utensils he found in Gods temple with Obed Edom and in the royal palace treasury. He also took hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.


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Joashs son King Amaziah of Judah lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoahazs son King Jehoash of Israel.


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Everything else about Amaziah, from beginning to end, is written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


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Amaziah turned away from Jehovah. So conspirators in Jerusalem plotted against him. Amaziah fled to Lachish, but they sent men to Lachish after him and killed him there.


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Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to rule. He ruled for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem.


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He dedicated his life to serving God in the days of Zechariah. Zechariah taught him to respect God. As long as he dedicated his life to serve God, Jehovah gave him success.


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Uzziah went to wage war against the Philistines. He tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. He built cities near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines.


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The Ammonites paid taxes to Uzziah. His fame spread to the border of Egypt because he became very powerful.


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Uzziah strengthened the fortifications of Jerusalem. He built towers at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and where the wall turned.


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He also built fortified towers in the open country and dug many cisterns, because he had large herds of livestock in the western foothills and plains. Because he loved farming, he encouraged the people to plant vineyards in the hill country and to farm the fertile land.


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He had a large army ready for battle. Its records were kept by his secretaries Jeiel and Maaseiah under the supervision of Hananiah, a member of the kings staff.


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They commanded an army of three hundred seven thousand and five hundred soldiers. They were a powerful force that could support the king against the enemy.


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In Jerusalem he manufactured machines designed by inventive people. The machines were placed on the towers and corners to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. Uzziahs fame spread far and wide because he had strong support until he became powerful.


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However when he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He was unfaithful to Jehovah his God. He went into Jehovahs Temple to burn incense on the incense altar.


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They opposed King Uzziah. They said to him: »Uzziah, you have no right to burn incense as an offering to Jehovah. That right belongs to the priests, Aarons descendants, who have been given the holy task of burning incense. Get out of the holy place because you have been unfaithful. Jehovah God will not honor you for this.«


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Uzziah held an incense burner in his hand. He became angry. As his anger with the priests grew, a skin disease broke out on his forehead. This happened in front of the priests in Jehovahs Temple as Uzziah was at the incense altar.


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When the chief priest Azariah and all the priests turned toward him, a skin disease was on his forehead. They rushed him away. Uzziah was in a hurry to get out because Jehovah had inflicted him with the disease.


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King Uzziah had a skin disease until the day he died. Since he had a skin disease, he lived in a separate house and was barred from Jehovahs Temple. His son Jotham was in charge of the royal palace and governed the country.


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Uzziah lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in a field containing tombs that belonged to the kings. People said: »He has a skin disease.« His son Jotham succeeded him as king.


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Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to rule. He ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerushah, daughter of Zadok.


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He did what Jehovah considered right, as his father Uzziah had done. Unlike his father, he did not illegally enter Jehovahs Temple. The people continued their corrupt ways.


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Jotham built the Upper Gate of Jehovahs Temple and did extensive building of the wall at the Ophel.


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He fought with the king of the Ammonites and conquered them. That year the Ammonites gave him seven thousand and five hundred pounds of silver, sixty thousand bushels of wheat, and sixty thousand bushels of barley. The Ammonites gave him the same amount for two more years.


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Everything else about Jotham, all his wars and his life, is written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.


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He was twenty-five years old when he began to rule as king. He ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem.


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Jotham lay down in death with his ancestors. They buried him in the City of David. His son Ahaz succeeded him as king.


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Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to rule. He ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what Jehovah considered right, as his ancestor David had done.


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He followed the example of the kings of Israel. He even made metal idols for worshiping other gods such as the Baals.


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He burned sacrifices in the valley of Ben Hinnom. He sacrificed his son by burning him alive. This was one of the disgusting things done by the nations that Jehovah had driven out from the land Israel possessed.


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He offered sacrifices and burned incense as an offering at the illegal worship sites on hills and under every large tree.


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Jehovah his God handed him over to the king of Aram, who defeated him, captured many prisoners, and brought them to Damascus. He also handed him over to the king of Israel, who decisively defeated him.


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In one day Pekah, son of Remaliah, killed one hundred and twenty thousand soldiers in Judah because they had abandoned Jehovah the God of their ancestors.


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Zichri, a fighting man from Ephraim, killed Maaseiah, who was the kings son, Azrikam, who was in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, who was the kings second-in-command.


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The Israelites captured two hundred thousand women, boys, and girls from their relatives the Judeans. They also took a lot of goods from Judah and brought them to Samaria.


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A prophet of Jehovah named Oded was there. He went to meet the army coming home to Samaria. He said: »Jehovah the God of your ancestors handed Judah over to you in his anger. You killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.


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»Now you intend to enslave the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem. But are you not also guilty of sinning against Jehovah your God?


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»Listen to me. Return the prisoners you have captured from your relatives, because Jehovah is very angry with you.«


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Then Azariah, son of Jehohan, Berechiah, son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah, son of Shallum, and Amasa, son of Hadlai, some leaders of Ephraim, opposed those coming home from the army.


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They said to the army: »Do not bring the prisoners here. You will make us responsible for this sin against Jehovah. Do you intend to add to all our sins? Jehovah is very angry at Israel because we have already sinned.«


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Then the men who were mentioned by name took charge of the prisoners and gave clothes from the loot to all the prisoners who were naked. They provided clothes for them, gave them sandals, gave them something to eat and drink, and let them bathe. They put everyone who was exhausted on donkeys and brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms, near their own people. Then they returned to Samaria.


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The Philistines raided the foothills and the Negev in Judah. They captured and began living in Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its villages, Timnah and its villages, and Gimzo and its villages.


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Jehovah humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel. Ahaz had spread sin throughout Judah and was unfaithful to Jehovah.


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King Tillegath Pilneser of Assyria attacked Ahaz. Instead of strengthening Ahaz, Tillegath Pilneser made trouble for him.


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Ahaz took some of the things from Jehovahs temple, the royal palace, and the princes. He gave them to the king of Assyria. But that did not help him.


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He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus. These were the gods who had defeated him. He thought: »The gods of the kings of Aram are helping them. I will sacrifice to them so that they will help me. But they ruined him and all Israel.«


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Ahaz collected the utensils in Gods Temple. He cut them up and closed the doors to Jehovahs Temple. He made altars for himself on every corner in Jerusalem.


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And in each city of Judah, he made places of worship to sacrifice to other gods. He angered Jehovah the God of his ancestors.


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Everything else about him from beginning to end is written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


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Ahaz slept in death with his ancestors. He was buried in the city of Jerusalem because they did not put him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah succeeded him as king.


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Hezekiah began to rule as king when he was twenty-five years old. He ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Abijah, daughter of Zechariah.


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In the first month of his first year as king, he opened the doors of Jehovahs temple and repaired them.


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He said: »Listen to me, Levites. Perform the ceremonies to make the temple of Jehovah the God of your ancestors holy. Remove anything that has been corrupted from the holy place.


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»Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what Jehovah our God considered evil. They deserted him. They turned away from Jehovahs tent and turned their backs on him.


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»They also shut the doors of the temples entrance hall. They extinguished the lamps, and did not burn incense or sacrifice burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.


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»Jehovah was angry with Judah and Jerusalem. He made them something that shocks and terrifies people and that people ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes.


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»Now I intend to make a pledge to Jehovah the God of Israel so that he may turn his burning anger away from us.


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»Do not be negligent, my sons. Jehovah has chosen you to stand in front of him, serve him, be his servants, and burn sacrifices.«


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So the Levites started to work. From Kohaths descendants were Mahath, son of Amasai, and Joel, son of Azariah. From Meraris descendants were Kish, son of Abdi, and Azariah, son of Jehallelel. From Gershons descendants were Joah, son of Zimmah, and Eden, son of Joah.


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From Elizaphans descendants were Shimri and Jeiel. From Asaphs descendants were Zechariah and Mattaniah.


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From Hemans descendants were Jehiel and Shimei. From Jeduthuns descendants were Shemaiah and Uzziel.


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These men gathered their relatives and performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy. They obeyed the kings order from Jehovahs word and entered the Temple to make it clean.


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The priests entered Jehovahs temple to make it clean. They carried into the courtyard every unclean thing that they found in Jehovahs Temple. Then the Levites took the unclean items outside the city to the Kidron Brook.


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They started on the first day of the first month. On the eighth day they went into Jehovahs entrance hall. For eight days they performed the ceremonies to make Jehovahs Temple holy. They finished on the sixteenth day of the first month.


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Then they went to King Hezekiah. They said: »We have made Jehovahs entire temple clean. This includes the altar for burnt offerings, all its utensils, the table for the rows of bread and all its utensils,


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and all the utensils King Ahaz refused to use during his reign when he was unfaithful. We have restored them and made them holy. They are in front of Jehovahs altar.«


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They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as an offering for sin for the kingdom, the holy place, and Judah. Hezekiah told the priests, Aarons descendants, to sacrifice the animals on Jehovahs altar.


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So they slaughtered the bulls. The priests sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. After that, they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar.


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Then they brought the male goats for the offering for sin in front of the king and the assembly, who laid their hands on them.


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The priests killed the goats and poured their blood on the altar as a sacrifice to take away the sin of all the people. The king commanded that burnt offerings and sin offerings be made for all Israel.


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The king followed the instructions Jehovah gave to King David through Gad, the kings prophet, and through the prophet Nathan. He stationed Levites in the Temple, with harps and cymbals,


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Hezekiah gave the order for the burnt offering to be presented. The offering began and the people sang praise to Jehovah. The musicians began to play the trumpets and all the other instruments.


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Everyone there joined in worship. The singing and the rest of the music continued until all the sacrifices were burned.


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


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Hezekiah said to the people: »Now that you are ritually clean, bring sacrifices as offerings of thanksgiving to Jehovah.« They obeyed, and some of them also voluntarily brought animals to be sacrificed as burnt offerings.


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They brought seventy bulls, one hundred sheep, and two hundred lambs as burnt offerings for Jehovah.


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Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were.


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In addition to offering the sacrifices that were burned whole, the priests were responsible for burning the fat that was offered from the sacrifices the people ate, and for pouring out the wine that was presented with the burnt offerings. Thus worship in the Temple began again.


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Hezekiah sent a message to all Israel and Judah. He wrote letters to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. He invited them to come to Jehovahs Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of Jehovah the God of Israel.


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The king, his officials, and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month.


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They could not celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy and the people had not gathered in Jerusalem.


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


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Messengers carried letters from the king and his officials throughout Israel and Judah. The kings order said: »Israelites should return to Jehovah the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Then he will return to the few of you who escaped from the power of the kings of Assyria.


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»Do not be like your ancestors and your relatives who were unfaithful to Jehovah the God of their ancestors. He made them something that shocks people, as you have seen.


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»Do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to Jehovah and enter his sanctuary that he has consecrated from generation to generation. Serve Jehovah your God that His burning anger may turn away from you.


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»If you return to Jehovah, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. Jehovah your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face away from you if you return to him.«


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So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.


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The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of Jehovah.


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Many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month. It was a very large assembly.


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They arose and removed the altars in Jerusalem. They also removed all the incense altars and cast them into the Kidron Brook.


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They slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves. They consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of Jehovah.


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They stood in their regular places as instructed by the law of Moses. Moses was a man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood they received from the Levites.


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Many people in the assembly had not made themselves holy. So the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all who were not clean and could not make their lambs holy for Jehovah.


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Many people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not made themselves clean. So they ate the Passover, but not in the way the written instructions said they should. Hezekiah prayed for them: »May Jehovah forgive everyone


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who have their hearts set on dedicating their lives to serve God. May Jehovah the God of their ancestors do this for those who are not clean as required for the holy place.«


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Thus the Israelites in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. Each day the Levites and priests praised Jehovah in song. They played Jehovahs instruments loudly.


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Hezekiah spoke encouraging words to all the Levites who had the skills to serve Jehovah. They ate the festival meals for seven days, sacrificed fellowship offerings, and confessed their sins to Jehovah the God of their ancestors.


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


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Hezekiah king of Judah contributed one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep to the assembly. The princes contributed one thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep to the assembly. A large number of priests consecrated themselves.


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The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced with the priests and the Levites. The entire assembly that came from Israel, both the sojourners who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah rejoiced.


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


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The Levitical priests arose and blessed the people. Their voice was heard and their prayer came to Gods holy dwelling place, to heaven.


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When this ended, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherim and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh. They destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned to their cities, each to his possession.


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Hezekiah assigned the priests and the Levites to divisions. Each priest or Levite was put in a division based on the service he performed. The services included: sacrificing burnt offerings, sacrificing fellowship offerings, serving, giving thanks, or praising within the gates of Jehovahs camp.


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He set aside part of the kings property for burnt offerings, the morning and evening offerings, burnt offerings on the weekly worship days, the New Moon Festivals, and the annual festivals, as it is written in Jehovahs Law.


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He told the people living in Jerusalem to give the priests and Levites the portions they were due so that they could devote themselves to Jehovahs Law.


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As soon as the order was given, the people of Israel brought gifts of their finest grain, wine, olive oil, honey, and other farm produce, and they also brought the tithes of everything they had.


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All the people who lived in the cities of Judah brought tithes of their cattle and sheep. They also brought large quantities of gifts they dedicated to Jehovah their God.


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King Hezekiah and his officials saw how much had been given. They praised Jehovah and praised his people Israel.


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and Azariah the High Priest, a descendant of Zadok, said to him: Since the people started bringing their gifts to the temple, there has been enough to eat and a large surplus besides. We have all this because Jehovah has blessed his people.


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and put all the gifts and tithes in them for safekeeping. They placed a Levite named Conaniah in charge and made his brother Shimei his assistant.


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Ten Levites were assigned to work under them: Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah. This was done by authority of King Hezekiah and Azariah the High Priest.


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Kore son of Imnah, a Levite who was chief guard at the East Gate of the temple, was in charge of receiving the gifts offered to Jehovah and of distributing them.


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In the other cities where priests lived, he was faithfully assisted in this by other Levites: Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah. They distributed the food equally to their fellow Levites according to what their duties were.


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They were appointed to distribute them to males who were at least three years old. The way they were enrolled in the genealogical records did not matter. The six men who served under Kore were to distribute the offerings to everyone who went to Jehovahs Temple to perform the daily service that each division was responsible for.


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They were to distribute offerings to the priests who were enrolled by families and to the Levites who were at least twenty years old. Distribution was based on the way they served in their divisions.


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The priests and Levites were enrolled with their wives, sons, daughters, and other people who depended on them in the community. The priests and Levites had to be faithful in keeping themselves holy for the holy work.


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Men were appointed to give a portion of the offerings to all the males in the priestly families and to everyone listed in the genealogies of the Levites. These men were Aarons descendants, priests who lived in the pasturelands of every Levite city.


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This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and right and true to Jehovah his God.


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Hezekiah incorporated Moses teachings and commands into worship and dedicated his life to serving God. Whatever he did for the worship in Gods Temple, he did wholeheartedly, and he succeeded.


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After everything Hezekiah had done so faithfully, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to invade Judah. He set up camp to attack the fortified cities. He intended to conquer them himself.


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He and his officers and military staff made plans to stop the water from flowing out of the springs outside the city. They helped him do it.


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A large crowd gathered as they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land. They said: Why should the kings of Assyria find plenty of water?


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Hezekiah worked hard. He rebuilt all the broken sections of the wall. He built the towers taller and built another wall outside the city wall. He strengthened the Millo in the City of David, and made plenty of weapons and shields.


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He appointed military commanders over the troops and gathered the commanders in the square by the city gate. He spoke these words of encouragement:


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Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or terrified by the king of Assyria or the crowd with him. Someone greater is on our side.


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Jehovah our God fights on our side. The Assyrians must rely on human power alone. These words encouraged the army of Judah.


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Sennacherib and his troops were camped at the town of Lachish. He sent a message to Hezekiah and the people in Jerusalem. It said:


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»I am King Sennacherib of Assyria. I have Jerusalem surrounded. Do you think you can survive my attack?


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»Hezekiah your king is telling you that Jehovah your God will save you from me. But he is lying! You will die of hunger and thirst.«


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»Did Hezekiah not tear down all except one of Jehovahs altars and places of worship? And did he not tell you people of Jerusalem and Judah to worship at that one place?


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»You have heard what my ancestors and I have done to other nations. Were the gods of those nations able to defend their land against us?


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»None of those gods kept their people safe from the kings of Assyria. Do you really think your God can do any better?


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»Do not be fooled by Hezekiah! No god of any nation has been able to stand up to Assyria. Believe me, your God cannot keep you safe!«


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Sennacherib wrote letters cursing Jehovah the God of Israel. These letters said: The gods of the nations in other countries could not rescue their people from me. Hezekiahs God cannot rescue his people from me.


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Sennacheribs officers shouted loudly in the Judean language to the troops who were on the wall of Jerusalem. They tried to frighten and terrify the troops so that they could capture the city.


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They spoke against the God of Jerusalem as if he were one of the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of the hands of man.


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Jehovah sent an angel who exterminated all the soldiers, officials, and commanders in the Assyrian kings camp. Sennacherib was humiliated and returned to his own country. When he went into the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him with a sword.


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So Jehovah saved Hezekiah and the people living in Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from everyone else. Jehovah gave them peace with all their neighbors.


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Many people still went to Jerusalem to bring gifts to Jehovah and expensive presents to King Hezekiah of Judah. From that point in history he was considered important by all the nations.


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Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. He prayed to Jehovah, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.


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But Hezekiah was conceited. So he did not repay Jehovah for his kindness. Jehovah became angry with him, with Judah, and with Jerusalem.


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Hezekiah and the people living in Jerusalem humbled themselves when they realized they had become conceited. Thus Jehovah did not vent his anger on them during Hezekiahs time.


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Hezekiah became richer and was highly honored. He prepared storehouses for himself to hold silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuables.


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He built storehouses for the produce of grain and wine and oil; and buildings for all sorts of beasts and flocks.


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He made towns for himself. He gathered much property in flocks and herds: for God had given him great wealth.


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It was Hezekiah who had the higher spring of the water of Gihon stopped, and the water taken down on the west side of the town of David. Hezekiah did well in everything he tried.


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When the leaders of Babylon sent ambassadors to ask him about the miraculous sign that had happened in the land, God left him. God did this to test him, to find out everything that was in Hezekiahs heart.


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Everything else about Hezekiah, including his devotion to God, is written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, and in the records of the kings of Judah and Israel.


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Hezekiah slept in death with his ancestors. He was buried in the upper tombs of Davids descendants. When Hezekiah died, all of Judah and the people in Jerusalem honored him. His son Manasseh succeeded him as king.


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He did what Jehovah considered evil by copying the disgusting things done by the nations that Jehovah dispossessed from before the Israelites.


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He rebuilt the illegal places of worship that his father Hezekiah had torn down. He set up altars dedicated to other gods such as the Baals. He erected a pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah as King Ahab of Israel had done. Manasseh, like Ahab, worshiped and served the entire army of heaven.


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He built altars in Jehovahs Temple, of which Jehovah said: »My name will be in Jerusalem from generation to generation.«


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He burned his son as a sacrifice in the valley of Ben Hinnom, he consulted fortunetellers, and he cast evil spells. He also practiced witchcraft, and appointed royal mediums and psychics. He did many things that made Jehovah furious.


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Manasseh had a carved idol made. Then he set it up in Gods Temple, where God had said to David and his son Solomon: »I have chosen this temple and Jerusalem from all the tribes of Israel. I will put my name here from generation to generation.


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»I will never again remove Israel from the land that I set aside for their ancestors if they will obey all the commandments, all the teachings, the ordinances, and the regulations I gave through Moses.«


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Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that they did more evil things than the nations that Jehovah destroyed when the Israelites arrived in the land.


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So Jehovah made the army commanders of the king of Assyria invade Judah. They took Manasseh captive, put a hook in his nose, put him in bronze shackles, and brought him to Babylon.


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When he experienced distress, he begged Jehovah his God to be kind and humbled himself in front of the God of his ancestors.


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He prayed to Jehovah. And Jehovah accepted his prayer and listened to his request. Jehovah brought him back to his kingdom in Jerusalem. Then Manasseh knew that Jehovah is God.


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Then Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David from west of Gihon Spring in the valley to the entrance of Fish Gate. He made the wall go around the Ophel. He built it very high. He put army commanders in every fortified city in Judah.


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Manasseh also removed the foreign gods and the idol in Jehovahs Temple. He eliminated the altars he had built in the Temple on Jehovahs mountain and in Jerusalem.


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He built Jehovahs altar and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it. And he told Judah to serve Jehovah the God of Israel.


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However the people continued to sacrifice at the illegal places of worship. But they sacrificed only to Jehovah their God.


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Everything else about Manasseh, including his prayer to his God and the words that the seers spoke to him in the name of Jehovah the God of Israel are in the records of the kings of Israel.


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His prayer and how God accepted it are written in the records of Hozai. The things he did before he humbled himself are also written there. This includes all his sins and unfaithfulness and the places where he built illegal worship sites and set up idols and poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah.


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Manasseh lay down in death with his ancestors. They buried him in his own palace. His son Amon succeeded him as king.


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He did what Jehovah considered evil, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon sacrificed to all the idols his father Manasseh had made, and he worshiped them.


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He did not humble himself in front of Jehovah as his father Manasseh had humbled himself. Instead, Amon continued to sin.


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The people of the land killed everyone who conspired against King Amon. They made his son Josiah king in his place.


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He did what Jehovah considered right. He lived in the ways of his ancestor David and never stopped living this way.


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It was the eighth year of his reign. He was still a boy when he dedicated his life to service of the God of his ancestor David. In his twelfth year as king he purged Judah and Jerusalem by destroying the illegal places of worship, poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah, carved idols, and metal idols.


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He tore down the altars of the Baal gods. He cut down the incense altars that were above them. He destroyed the Asherah poles, carved idols, and metal idols. He ground them into powder and scattered the powder over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them.


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Then he tore down the altars, beat the Asherah poles and idols into powder, and cut down all the incense altars everywhere in Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.


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In his eighteenth year as king as he was making the land and the temple clean, Josiah sent Shaphan, son of Azaliah, Maaseiah, the mayor of the city, and Joah, the royal historian and son of Joahaz, to repair the Temple of Jehovah his God.


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They came to the chief priest Hilkiah and gave him the money that had been brought into Gods Temple. It was the money that the Levite doorkeepers had collected from the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all who were left in Israel, from everyone in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


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They gave the money to the foremen who were in charge of Jehovahs Temple. These foremen gave it to the workmen who were restoring and repairing the Temple.


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These workers included carpenters and builders. They were to buy quarried stones and wood for the fittings and beams of the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to become run-down.


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The men did their work faithfully under the supervision of Jahath and Obadiah; Levites descended from Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam descendants of Kohath. The Levites, who were skilled musicians,


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also supervised the workers and directed all the workmen on the various jobs. Some of the Levites served as scribes, officials, or gatekeepers.


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At the time they brought out the money that had been deposited in Jehovahs Temple, the priest Hilkiah found the book of Jehovahs Law written by Moses.


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Hilkiah told the scribe Shaphan: »I have found the book of the Law in Jehovahs Temple.« Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.


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»We took the money that was donated in Jehovahs Temple and gave it to the supervisors and the workmen.«


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The scribe Shaphan told the king: »The priest Hilkiah has given me a book.« Shaphan read it to the king.


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Then the king gave an order to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, the scribe Shaphan, and the royal official Asaiah. He said:


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


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Hilkiah and the kings officials went to talk to the prophet Huldah about this matter. She was the wife of Shallum, son of Tokhath and grandson of Hasrah. Shallum was in charge of the royal wardrobe. Huldah was living in the Second Part of Jerusalem.


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»This is what Jehovah says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and on the people living here. This is according to the curses written in the book that was read to the king of Judah.


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»I will do this because they have abandoned me. They have sacrificed to other gods in order to make me furious. Therefore, my anger will be poured on this place and it will not be extinguished.«


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Huldah continued: »Tell Judahs king who sent you to me to ask Jehovah a question: This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says about the words you heard:


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»»You had a change of heart and humbled yourself in front of God when you heard my words against this place and those who live here. You humbled yourself, tore your clothes in distress, and cried in front of me. So I will listen to you, proclaims Jehovah.


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»That is why I am going to bring you to your ancestors. I am going to bring you to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see any of the disaster I am going to bring on this place and those who live here.« « They reported this to the king.


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The king, everyone in Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, young and old, went up to Jehovahs Temple. He read everything written in the Book of the Covenant found in Jehovahs Temple so that they could hear it.


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The king stood in his place and made a promise to Jehovah that he would follow Jehovah and obey his commandments, instructions, and laws with his entire heart and being. He said he would live by the terms of the covenant <i>promise</i> written in this book.


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He also made all those found in Jerusalem and Benjamin join with him in the covenant. Then the people of Jerusalem lived according to the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.


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Josiah got rid of all the disgusting idols throughout Israelite territory. He required all people in Israel to serve Jehovah their God. As long as he lived, they did not stop following Jehovah the God of their ancestors.


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Josiah celebrated the Passover to Jehovah in Jerusalem. The Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month.


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


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Get yourselves ready with the family groups of your divisions, which are listed in the records of King David of Israel and the records of his son Solomon.


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»Divide yourselves into groups. Then spread out throughout the Temple so that each family of worshipers will be able to get help from one of you.


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»When the people bring you their Passover lamb, you must slaughter it and prepare it to be sacrificed to Jehovah. Make sure the people celebrate according to the instructions Jehovah gave Moses. Do not do anything to become unclean and unacceptable.«


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Josiah donated thirty thousand sheep and goats, and three thousand bulls from his own flocks and herds for the people to offer as sacrifices.


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Josiahs officials also voluntarily gave some of their animals to the people, the priests, and the Levites as sacrifices. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, who were the officials in charge of the Temple, gave the priests twenty-six hundred sheep and lambs and three hundred bulls to sacrifice during the Passover celebration.


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Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, and Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the leaders of the Levites, gave the Levites five thousand sheep and goats and five hundred bulls as Passover sacrifices.


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Thus the service was prepared. The priests took their positions with the Levites according to their divisions, as the king had ordered.


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They slaughtered the Passover lambs. The priests sprinkled the blood with their hands while the Levites skinned the lambs.


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They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the people according to their family divisions. The people could then present them to Jehovah as is written in the Book of Moses. The Levites did the same with the bulls.


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The Levites roasted the Passover sacrifices over the fire, according to the regulations. They boiled the sacred offerings in pots, kettles, and pans, and quickly distributed the meat to the people.


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After this was done, the Levites provided meat for themselves and for the priests descended from Aaron. Since the priests were kept busy until night, burning the animals that were burned whole and the fat of the sacrifices.


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The following musicians of the Levite clan of Asaph were in the places assigned to them by King Davids instructions: Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the kings prophet. The guards at the Temple gates did not need to leave their posts, because the other Levites prepared the Passover for them.


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Everything was done that day as King Josiah commanded for the worship of Jehovah. This included the keeping of the Passover Festival, and the offering of burnt offerings on the altar.


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All the people of Israel who were present celebrated the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days.


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


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Later, when Josiah had repaired the Temple, King Necho of Egypt came to fight a battle at Carchemish at the Euphrates River. Josiah went to attack him.


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Neco sent messengers to Josiah. He said: »What is your quarrel with me, king of Judah? I am not attacking you. I have come to fight those who are at war with me. God told me to hurry. God is with me, so stop now or he will destroy you.«


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But Josiah would not stop his attack. He disguised himself as he went into battle. He refused to listen to Nechos words, which came from God. He went to fight in the valley of Megiddo.


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Some archers shot King Josiah. The king told his officers: »Take me away because I am badly wounded.«


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His officers took him out of the chariot and brought him to Jerusalem in his other chariot. He died and was buried in the tombs of his ancestors. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.


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Then Jeremiah chanted a lament for Josiah. All the male and female singers speak about Josiah in their lamentations <i>dirges</i> to this day. They made them an ordinance in Israel. They are also written in the Lamentations.


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The people of the land crowned Josiahs son Jehoahaz as their new king in Jerusalem in place of his father.


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The king of Egypt removed him from office in Jerusalem and fined the country seven thousand five hundred pounds of silver and seventy-five pounds of gold.


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The king of Egypt made Jehoahazs brother Eliakim king of Judah and Jerusalem and changed Eliakims name to Jehoiakim. Necho took Jehoahaz away to Egypt.


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Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king. He ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what Jehovah his God considered evil.


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Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked Jehoiakim and put him in bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.


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Nebuchadnezzar also brought some of the utensils of Jehovahs Temple to Babylon. He put them in his palace <i>temple</i> in Babylon.


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Everything about Jehoiakim, the disgusting things he did and all the charges against him are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. His son Jehoiakin succeeded him as king.


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Jehoiakin was eight years old when he began to rule as king. He was king for three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what Jehovah considered evil.


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In the spring King Nebuchadnezzar sent for Jehoiakin and brought him to Babylon with the valuable utensils from Jehovahs Temple. Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiakins uncle Zedekiah king of Judah and Jerusalem.


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He did what Jehovah his God considered evil. He did not humble himself in front of the prophet Jeremiah, who spoke Jehovahs word.


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Zedekiah also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah swear an oath of allegiance to him in Gods name. But Zedekiah became so stubborn and so impossible to deal with that he refused to turn back to Jehovah the God of Israel.


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All the officials, the priests, and the people became increasingly unfaithful and followed all the disgusting practices of the nations. Although Jehovah made the Temple in Jerusalem holy, they made the Temple unclean.


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Jehovah the God of their ancestors repeatedly sent messages through his prophets because he wanted to spare his people and his dwelling place.


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They mocked Gods messengers. They despised his words, and made fun of his prophets until Jehovah became angry with his people. He could no longer heal them.


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So he had the Babylonian king attack them and execute their best young men in their holy temple. He did not spare the best men or the unmarried women, the old people or the sick people. God handed all of them over to him.


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He brought to Babylon each of the utensils from Gods temple, the treasures from Jehovahs Temple, and the treasures of the king and his officials.


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He burned down the Temple and the city, with all its palaces and its wealth, and broke down the city wall.


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The survivors were taken to Babylonia as prisoners. They served as slaves of the king and his sons, until Persia became a powerful nation.


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This fulfilled the word of Jehovah that was spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept Sabbath until seventy years were complete.


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In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia. He sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing. He said:


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Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: »Jehovah, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, may Jehovah his God be with him, and let him go up!«


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It was the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia. In order that the word of Jehovah given by the mouth of Jeremiah might come true, Jehovah moved the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia. He made a public statement through all his kingdom, and put it in writing, saying:


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»These are the words of Cyrus, king of Persia: Jehovah the God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has made me responsible for building a house for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.


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»May your God be with you and let you go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah. There you are to build the house of Jehovah the God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem.


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»If any of his people in exile need help to return, their neighbors should give them help. They are to provide them with silver and gold, supplies and pack animals, as well as offerings to present in the Temple of God in Jerusalem.«


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The heads of the clans of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and Levites, and everyone else whose heart God had moved got ready to go and rebuild Jehovahs Temple in Jerusalem.


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Their neighbors helped by giving many things: silver utensils, gold, supplies, pack animals, other valuables, and offerings for the Temple.


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King Cyrus gave back the bowls and cups that King Nebuchadnezzar took from the Temple in Jerusalem and put in the temple of his god.


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And King Cyrus turned them over to Mithredath, chief of the royal treasury, who made an inventory of them for Sheshbazzar, the governor of Judah,


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All the articles of gold and silver numbered 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought all of them along with the exiles who traveled from Babylon to Jerusalem.


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These are the people of the divisions of the kingdom. Included were those who had been made prisoners by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and taken away to Babylon, who went back to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his town.


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Who went with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah, The number of the men of the people of Israel:


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The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand, eight hundred and twelve.


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The children of the door-keepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred and thirty-nine.


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The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda,


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The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Ami.


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And these were the people who went up from Telmelah, Telharsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer. But having no knowledge of their fathers' families or offspring, it was not certain that they were Israelites.


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Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who was married to one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and took their name.


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They made search for their record among the lists of families. Their names were nowhere to be found. So they were looked on as unclean and no longer priests.


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


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As well as their men-servants and their women-servants, of whom there were seven thousand, three hundred and thirty-seven: and they had two hundred men and women to make music.


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And some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem, gave freely of their wealth for the building up of the house of God in its place:


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Every one, as he was able, gave for the work sixty-one thousand drachmas of gold, five thousand pounds of silver and a hundred priests' robes.


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So the priests and the Levites, the people and the music-makers, the doorkeepers and the Nethinim, took their places in their towns.


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When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people came together like one man to Jerusalem.


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Then Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, with his brothers, got up and built the altar of the God of Israel for burned offerings. This was according to the Law of Moses, the man of God.


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The returning exiles were afraid of the people who were living in the land. Regardless of that, they rebuilt the altar where it had stood before. Then they began once again to burn on it the regular morning and evening sacrifices.


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They celebrated the Festival of Booths according to what is written. Each day they offered the sacrifices required for that day.


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They also offered the regular sacrifices to be burned whole and those to be offered at the New Moon Festival and at all the other Festivals of Jehovah, as well as all the offerings that were given to Jehovah voluntarily.


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The people had not yet started to rebuild the Temple. Yet they began on the first day of the seventh month to burn sacrifices to Jehovah.


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They gave money to the stoneworkers and woodworkers. Meat and drink and oil were given to the people of Zidon and of Tyre, for the transport of cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, as Cyrus, king of Persia, had given them authority to do.


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The second year and third month of their coming to the house of God in Jerusalem Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, took charge of the construction. Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come from the land where they were prisoners to Jerusalem: and the Levites, of twenty years or older, were responsible for overseeing the work of the house of Jehovah.


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Then Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, the sons of Hodaviah, together took up the work of overseeing the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad with their sons and their brothers, the Levites.


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When the builders laid the foundation of the Temple of Jehovah, the priests, dressed in their robes, took their places with horns, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with brass instruments, to give praise to Jehovah in the way ordered by David, king of Israel.


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They praised Jehovah and thanked him, saying: »He is good; his loving kindness to Israel is for all generations.« All the people gave a joyful cry. They praised Jehovah because the foundation of Jehovahs house was in place.


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Some of the priests, Levites, heads of families and old men who had seen the first house were present. When the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes they were overcome with weeping; and a number were crying out with joy:


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So that in the ears of the people the cry of joy was mixed with the sound of weeping. The cries of the people were loud and came to the ears of those who were a long way off.


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News came to the enemies of Judah and Benjamin that the people who had come back were building a Temple to Jehovah, the God of Israel.


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They approached Zerubbabel and the heads of families and said: »Let us help you build for we are servants of your God, the same as you. We have been making offerings to him from the days of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, who sent us here.«


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But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of families in Israel said to them: »You have no part with us in the building of a house for our God. We will do the work for Jehovah, the God of Israel, as Cyrus, king of Persia, has given us orders.«


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The people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and tried to make them afraid to go on building.


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They hired men to work against them and kept them from accomplishing their plans during the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia, till Darius became king.


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When Ahasuerus first became king, they put on record a statement against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.


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In the time of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his friends, sent a letter to Artaxerxes, king of Persia, writing it in the Aramaic language.


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Rehum, the chief ruler, and Shimshai the scribe, sent a letter against Jerusalem, to Artaxerxes the king as follows:


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The letter was sent by Rehum, the chief ruler, and Shimshai the scribe and their friends; the Dinaites and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites <i>people of Susa</i> , the Dehaites, the Elamites,


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The rest of the nations the great and noble Osnappar took over and put in Samaria and the rest of the country over the river:


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»This is a copy of the letter that they sent to Artaxerxes the king: Your servants living across the river send these words:


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»We give news to the king that the Jews who came from you have come to us at Jerusalem. They are again building that uncontrolled and evil town. The walls are complete and they are repairing the bases.


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»The king may be certain that when the town and its wall are completely rebuilt they will pay no tax or payment in goods or forced payments, and in the end it will be a cause of loss to the kings.


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»Because we are responsible to the king, and it is not right for us to see the king's honor damaged, we have sent to give the king word of these things.


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»That way a search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records that this town has been uncontrolled. It has been a cause of trouble to kings and countries. There were outbursts against authority in the past. That is the reason the town was laid waste.


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»We give you word, that if this town and its walls is completely rebuilt, your power in the country across the river will end.«


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The king sent an answer to Rehum, the chief ruler, and Shimshai the scribe, and their friends living in Samaria, and to the rest of those across the river, saying, »Peace to you:


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»I gave orders for a search to be made, and it is certain that in the past this town has made trouble for kings, and that outbursts against authority have taken place there.


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»Further, there have been great kings in Jerusalem. They ruled over all the country across the river. Taxes and tribute was paid to them.


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»Give an order now that these men are to do no more work and that the building of the town is to be stopped till I give an order.


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Then, after reading the king's letter, Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their friends went quickly to Jerusalem, to the Jews to compel them by force to stop.


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So the work of the house of God at Jerusalem was stopped, till the second year of the rule of Darius, king of Persia.


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The prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the son of Iddo, were preaching to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel.


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Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, went to work building the house of God at Jerusalem. The prophets of God were with them, helping them.


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At the same time, Tattenai, ruler of the land across the river, and Shethar-bozenai, and their men, came to them and said, »Who gave you orders to go on building this house and this wall?«


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Then they said these words to them: »What are the names of the men who are at work on this building?«


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The eye of their God was on the chiefs of the Jews, and they did not make them give up working till the question had been put before Darius and an answer came by letter about it.


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This is a copy of the letter Tattenai, the ruler of the land across the river, and Shethar-bozenai and his friends the Apharsachites, from across the river, sent to Darius the king.


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»This is to give the king word that we went to the land of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is made of large stones and has its walls supported with wood. The work is going on with diligence and they are making rapid progress.


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»Then we asked the men responsible: Who gave you authority for the building of this house and these walls?


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»We requested their names, so that we might send you word, and give you the names of the men in charge.


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»Their answer was: We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are building the house which was put up in times long past and was designed and made complete by a great king of Israel.


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»But when our fathers moved the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them up into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, the Chaldaean. He sent destruction on this house and took the people away to Babylon.


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»In the first year of Cyrus, king of Babylon, Cyrus the king gave an order for the building of this house of God.


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»The gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the Temple in Jerusalem, were put into the house of his god in Babylon. Cyrus the king took these from the house of his god in Babylon, and gave them to Sheshbazzar, whom he had made ruler.


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He said to him: »Go, take these vessels, and put them in the Temple in Jerusalem. Let the house of God be constructed again in its place.«


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»Then this same Sheshbazzar came and put the house of God in Jerusalem on its foundations. From that time until now the building has been going on, but it is still not complete.«


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»If it seems good to the king, let search be made in the king's storehouse at Babylon. See if it is true that an order was given by Cyrus the king for the building of this house of God at Jerusalem. Let the king send us word of his pleasure in connection with this business.«


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Then Darius the king gave an order and a search was made in the house of the records. This is where the things of value were stored in Babylon.


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In the great house of the king in the land of Media, at Achmetha they came across a roll. This statement was put on record:


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»In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made an order: In connection with the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be constructed as the place where they make offerings. Let them brake ground for the foundation. Let it be 90 feet high and 90 feet wide,


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»with three lines of large stones and one line of new wood supports. Let the necessary money be given out of the king's storehouse.


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»And let the gold and silver vessels from the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the Temple at Jerusalem to Babylon, be given back and taken again to the Temple at Jerusalem, every one in its place, and put them in the house of God.


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»Tattenai, ruler of the land across the river, and Shethar-bozenai and your people the Apharsachites across the river, keep far from that place:


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»Let the work of this house of God continue. Let the ruler of the Jews and their responsible men construct this house of God in its place.


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»Further, I give orders as to what you are to do for the responsible men of the Jews in connection with the building of this house of God: That from the king's wealth, that is, from the taxes got together in the land over the river, the money needed is to be given to these men readily, so that their work may not be stopped.


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»When they need young bulls and sheep and lambs, for burned offerings to the God of heaven and grain, salt, wine, and oil, whatever the priests in Jerusalem say is necessary, is to be given to them day by day regularly:


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»That they may make offerings of a sweet smell to the God of heaven, with prayers for the life of the king and of his sons.


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»I further give orders that if anyone makes any change in this word; one of the supports is to be pulled out of his house. He is to be lifted up and fixed to it and his house is to be destroyed.


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»May the God who has made it a resting-place for his name send destruction on all kings and peoples whose hands are outstretched to make any change in this or to do damage to this house of God at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have given this order. Let it be done with all care.«


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Then Tattenai, the ruler across the river, and Shethar-bozenai and their people, because of the order given by King Darius, did as he said with all care.


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The responsible men of the Jews went on with their building and progressed rapidly. The teaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, the son of Iddo, helped them. They went on building till it was complete. They kept the word of the God of Israel, and the orders of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes, king of Persia.


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The construction of this house was complete on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the rule of Darius the king.


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The children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of those who had come back, kept the feast of the opening of this house of God with joy.


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They gave a hundred oxen, two hundred sheep and four hundred lambs as offerings at the opening of this house of God. They gave twelve he goats as a sin offering for all of Israel. Twelve is the number of the tribes of Israel.


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They put the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their order, for the worship of God at Jerusalem. This is recorded in the book of Moses.


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And the children of Israel who came back kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.


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the priests and the Levites made themselves clean together. They were all clean when they put the Passover lamb to death for all those who had come back, and for their brothers the priests and for themselves.


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The children of Israel, who had come back, and all those who were joined to them, after separating themselves from the evil ways of the people of the land to become the servants of Jehovah, the God of Israel, ate together.


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They joyfully kept the feast of unleavened bread for seven days. Jehovah filled them with joy by turning the heart of the king of Assyria to them to give them help in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.


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Now after these things, when Artaxerxes was king of Persia, Ezra, the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,


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


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Some of the children of Israel went with some of the priests and Levites and the music-makers and the doorkeepers and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.


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


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


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


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»It is my order that all the people of Israel, including their priests and Levites in my kingdom, who are ready and have a desire to go to Jerusalem, are to go with you.


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»The king and his seven wise men send you to get knowledge about Judah and Jerusalem. The Law of your God orders you.


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»You are to take with you the silver and gold freely offered by the king and his wise men to the God of Israel, whos Temple is in Jerusalem,


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»As well as all the silver and gold which you get from the land of Babylon, together with the offering of the people and of the priests, freely given for the house of their God in Jerusalem.


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»Use this money to buy bulls, sheep, and lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, to be offered on the altar of the house of your God, which is in Jerusalem.


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»Whatever seems right to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, that do, as may be pleasing to your God.


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»The vessels that have been given to you for the uses of the house of your God, you are to give to the God of Jerusalem.


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»Whatever is needed for the house of your God, and which you may have to give, take it from the king's storehouse.


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»And I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, now give orders to all keepers of the king's money across the river, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may have need of from you, is to be done with all care,


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»Up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred measures of grain, a hundred measures of wine, and a hundred measures of oil, and salt without measure.


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»Whatever the God of heaven orders let it be done completely for the house of the God of heaven. Let there not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons.


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»In addition, we make it clear to you, that it will be against the law to put any tax or payment in goods or forced payment on any of the priests or Levites, the music-makers, doorkeepers, Nethinim, or any servants of this house of God.


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»And you, Ezra, by the wisdom of your God which is in you, are to put rulers and judges to have authority over all the people across the river who have knowledge of the laws of your God. You are to teach any who have no knowledge of them.


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»If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, take care that punishment is given to him. This is by death or by driving him from his country or by taking away his goods or by putting him in prison.«


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Praise be to Jehovah, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing into the heart of the king, to make fair the house of Jehovah that is in Jerusalem.


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He has given mercy to me before the king and his government and before all the king's great captains. I was made strong by the hand of Jehovah my God which was on me, and I got together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.


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These are the heads of families who were listed of those who went up with me from Babylon, when Artaxerxes was king.


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Of the sons of Shecaniah; of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were listed a hundred and fifty males.


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And of the sons of Adonikam, the last, whose names were Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them sixty males.


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I made them come together by the river flowing to Ahava. We were there in tents for three days. And after viewing the people and the priests I saw that no sons of Levi were there.


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Then I sent for Eliezer and Ariel and Shemaiah and Elnathan Jarib and Elnathan and Nathan and Zechariah and Meshullam, all responsible men; and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were wise men.


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I sent them to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and gave them orders what to say to Iddo and his brothers the Nethinim at the place Casiphia, so that they might come back to us with men to do the work of the house of our God.


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


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Of the Nethinim, to whom David and the captains had given the work of helping the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim, all of them specially named.


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Then I gave orders for a time of going without food, there by the Ahava River, so that we might make ourselves low before our God in prayer, requesting from him a safe journey for us and for our little ones and for all our substance.


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I would not make request to the king for a band of armed men and horsemen to give us help against those who might attack us on the way. We said to the king: »The hand <i>power protection</i> of our God is on his servants for good, but his power and his wrath are against all those who have turned away from him.«


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I put on one side twelve of the chiefs of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them,


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I gave to them by weight the silver and the gold and the vessels, all the offering for the house of our God that the king and his wise men and his captains and all Israel there present had given:


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Measuring into their hands six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels, a hundred talents' weight, and a hundred talents of gold,


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And twenty gold basins, of a thousand darics, and two vessels of the best bright brass, equal in value to gold.


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I said to them: »You are holy to Jehovah and the vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are an offering freely given to Jehovah, the God of your fathers.


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»Take care of them and keep them, till you put them on the scales before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites and the chiefs of the families of Israel, in Jerusalem, in the rooms of the house of Jehovah.«


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So the priests and the Levites took the weight of silver and gold and the vessels, to take them to Jerusalem into the house of our God.


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Then we went away from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us. He gave us salvation from our enemies and those who were waiting to attack us on the way.


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On the fourth day, the silver and the gold and the vessels were measured out by weight in the house of our God into the hands of Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the priest; and with him was Eleazar, the son of Phinehas; and with them were Jozabad, the son of Jeshua, and Obadiah, the son of Binnui, the Levites.


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Those who had been prisoners, who had come back from a strange land, made burned offerings to the God of Israel, twelve oxen for all Israel, ninety-six male sheep, seventy-seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin-offering: all this was a burned offering to Jehovah.


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They gave the king's orders to the king's captains and the rulers across the river. They gave the people and the house of God the help that was needed.


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After these things were done, the captains came to me and said: »The people of Israel and the priests and Levites have not kept themselves separate from the people of the lands. They have taken part in the disgusting ways of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.


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»They have taken their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons. They have mingled the holy race with peoples around them. In fact the leaders and officials were first to do this evil.«


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Hearing this, with signs of grief and pulling out the hair of my head and my chin, I took my seat on the earth deeply troubled.


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Then everyone who respected the word of the God of Israel were overcome with grief because of the sin of those who came back. They gathered with me until the evening offering.


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I humbled myself before God at the evening offering. I got up, with signs of grief, and fell on my knees with my hands stretched out to Jehovah my God,


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I said, »O my God, shame keeps me from lifting up my face <i>praying</i> to you <i>being in your presence</i> , my God: for our sins have increased higher than our heads and our evil-doing has come up to heaven.


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»From the days of our fathers till this day we have been great sinners. Because of our sins, the kings of the lands captured us. We were given to the sword and to prison and to loss of goods and to shame of face, as it is this day.


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»Now for a little time grace <i>favour</i> has come to us from Jehovah our God, to let a small band of us go free and to give us a nail in his holy place. Our God gives light to our eyes and a measure of new life in our prison chains.


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»We are servants. Our God has not been turned away from us in our prison. He had mercy on us before the eyes of the kings of Persia, to give us new strength, to put up again the house of our God and to restore its desolate places, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.


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»Which you gave to your servants the prophets, saying: The land where you are going, you should take for a heritage. It is an unclean land, because of the evil lives of the peoples of the land and their disgusting ways, which have made the land unclean from end to end.


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»Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons or do anything for their peace or well being for a very long time. That way you may be strong, living on the good of the land, and handing it on to your children for a heritage for as long as they live.


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»After all this and because of our evil-doing and our great sin, and seeing that the punishment that you, O God, have given us, is less than the measure of our sins, and that you have kept from death those of us who are here;


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»Are we again to go against your orders, taking wives from among the people who do these disgusting things? Would you not be angry with us till our destruction was complete, till there was not one who got away safe?


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»O Jehovah, God of Israel, righteousness is yours. We are only a small band that has been kept from death this day. See, we are before you in our sin. For no one may keep his place before you because of this.«


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While Ezra was saying his prayer and his confession of wrongdoing he wept and fell down before the house of God. A very great number of men and women and children out of Israel came together around him, for the people were weeping bitterly.


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Shecaniah, the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answering, said to Ezra, We have done evil against our God, and have taken as our wives strange women of the peoples of the land. But still there is hope for Israel in this question.


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»Let us make an agreement with our God to put away all the wives and all their children, if it seems right to my lord and to those who go in fear of the words of our God. Let it be done in keeping with the law.


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Then Ezra got up, and made the chiefs of the priests and the Levites and all Israel take an oath that they would do this. So they took an oath.


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Then Ezra got up from before the house of God and went into the room of Jehohanan, the son of Eliashib. When he arrived there, he took no food or drink, for he was sorrowing for the sin of those who had come back.


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They made a public statement to all Judah and Jerusalem, to all those who came back, that they were to come together to Jerusalem.


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And that if anyone did not come before three days were past, as ordered by the rulers and the responsible men, all his goods would be put under the curse. He himself would be cut off from the meeting of the people who had come back.


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Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin came together to Jerusalem before three days were past. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people were seated in the wide square in front of the house of God. They shook with fear because of this business of this business and because of the great rain.


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Ezra the priest got to his feet and said to them: »You have done wrong and taken strange women for your wives, thus increasing the sin of Israel.


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« Give praise to Jehovah, the God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the strange women.«


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»The number of people is great, and it is a time of much rain; it is not possible for us to go on waiting outside. This is not a thing that may be done in one day or even two: for our sin in this business is great.


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»So now let our rulers be representatives for all the people. Let all those in our towns who are married to strange women come at fixed times, and with them the responsible men and the judges of every town, till the burning wrath of our God is turned away from us, and this has been done.«


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Only Jonathan, the son of Asahel, and Jahzeiah, the son of Tikvah, were against this, Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supporting them.


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So those who had come back did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of families, by their fathers' families, all of them by their names, were marked out. On the first day of the tenth month they took their places to go into the question with care.


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they reached the end of all the men who were married to strange women by the first day of the first month.


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Among the sons of the priests who were married to strange women were these: of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak and his brothers, Maaseiah and Eliezer and Jarib and Gedaliah.


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They gave their word that they would put away their wives; and for their sin, they gave an offering of a male sheep of the flock.


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Of Israel, the sons of Parosh, Ramiah and Izziah and Malchijah and Mijamin and Eleazar and Malchijah and Benaiah.


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And of the sons of Pahath-moab, Adna and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel and Binnui and Manasseh.


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The history of Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. Now it came about, in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, when I was in Shushan, the castle,


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Hanani, one of my brothers, came with men from Judah. This was in answer to my request for news about the Jews who had been prisoners and escaped from captivity and about Jerusalem.


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They said to me: »The small band of Jews now living there in the land is in deep trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem has been broken down, and its doorways burned with fire.«


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After I heard these words I sat down on the ground and cried for days. I ate no food and offered prayer to the God of heaven.


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I said: »O Jehovah, the God of heaven, the great God, greatly to be respected, keeping faith and mercy with those who have love for him and are true to his laws:


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»Let your ear now take note and let your eyes be open. Please give ear to the prayer of your servant. At this time, day and night I pray for the children of Israel, your servants. I put before you the sins of the children of Israel that we have done against you: truly, my fathers people and I are sinners.


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»We have done great wrong against you. We have not obeyed the orders, the rules, and the decisions, which you gave to your servant Moses.


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»Keep in mind, O Jehovah, the order you gave your servant Moses, saying: If you do wrong I will send you wandering among the peoples:


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»If you come back to me and obey my orders, even if you have been forced out and are living in the farthest horizons, I will gather you from there, and bring you to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my name.


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»These are your servants and your people, whom you have made yours by your great power and by your strong hand.


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»O Jehovah, let your ear take note of the prayer of your servant. Of the prayers of all your servants, who take delight in worshipping your name: give help, O Jehovah, to your servant this day, and let him have mercy in the eyes of this man.« Now I was the king's wine-servant.


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In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him. I served the wine to the king. Never before had I been sad when the king was present.


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The king said to me: »Why is your face sad, seeing that you are not ill? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.« Then I was full of fear.


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I said to the king: »May the king live a very long time. My face should look sad for the town where my fathers are buried is devastated. It has been destroyed by fire.«


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I said to the king: »If it is the king's will, and if your servant has your approval, send me to Judah, to the town where the bodies of my fathers are buried, so that I may rebuild it.«


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The queen sat by him when the king said: »How long will your journey take? When will you come back? So the king was pleased to send me, and I gave him a fixed time.


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Further, I said to the king: »If it is the king's pleasure, let letters be given to me for the rulers across the river so that they may let me go through till I come to Judah.


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»I need a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's park, so that he may give me wood to make boards for the doors of the tower of the house, and for the wall of the town, and for the house which is to be mine.« The king gave me this, for the hand of my God was on me.


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Then I came to the rulers of the lands across the river and gave them the king's letters. Now the king sent with me captains of the army and horsemen.


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Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard I was coming. They were greatly troubled because a man came to help from the children of Israel.


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I got up in the night and took a small band of men with me. I said nothing to any man of what God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem, I had no beast with me but the one on which I was seated.


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I went in the dark through the gateway of the valley past the Fountain of the Snake <i>Serpents Well</i> as far as the place where waste material was stored. From there I viewed the broken down walls of Jerusalem and the gateways that were burned with fire.


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Then I went on to the door of the fountain and to the king's pool: but there was no room for my beast to get through.


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Then in the night I went up by the stream, viewed the wall and then turned back. I went in by the valley gate.


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The chiefs had no knowledge of where I had been or what I was doing. I had not then said anything to the Jews or to the priests or the great ones or the chiefs or the rest of those who were doing the work.


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Then I said to them: »You see what a bad condition we are in. How Jerusalem is a waste. Its gateways burned with fire. Come; let us get to work, building up the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may no longer be put to shame.«


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Then I gave them an account of how the hand of my God was on me, helping me. I told them of the king's words he said to me. They said: »Let us get to work on the building.« So they made their hands strong for the good work.


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But Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, hearing of it, made sport of us. They laughed at us and said: »What are you doing? Will you go against the king?«


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I answered them: »The God of heaven will be our help; so we, his servants, will go on with our building. But you have no part or right or any name in Jerusalem.«


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The high priest Eliashib worked with his brother priest to rebuild the Sheep Gateway. They made it holy and put its doors in position. They sanctified everything as far as the tower of Hammeah including to the tower of Hananel.


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The sons of Hassenaah were the builders of the fish doorway. They put its boards in place and put up its doors, with their locks and rods.


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By their side Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, was making good the walls. There was Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel; and by him, Zadok, the son of Baana.


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Near them, the Tekoites were at work; but their chiefs did not put their necks to the work of their masters.


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Joiada, the son of Paseah, and Meshullam, the son of Besodeiah, repaired the old doorway. They put its boards in place and put up its doors, with their locks and rods.


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Working by their side included: Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah from the seat of the ruler across the river.


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Near them was working Uzziel, the son of Harhaiah, the gold-worker. And by him was Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, building up Jerusalem as far as the wide wall.


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By his side was Jedaiah, the son of Harumaph, opposite his house. And by him was Hattush, the son of Hashabneiah.


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Malchijah, the son of Harim, and Hasshub, the son of Pahath-moab, were working on another part, and the tower of the ovens.


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Hanun and the people of Zanoah were working on the doorway of the valley. They put it up and put up its doors, with their locks and rods, and fifteen hundred feet of the wall as far as the doorway where the waste material was placed.


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And Malchijah, the son of Rechab, the ruler of the division of Beth-haccherem, made good the repair of the doorway with their locks and rods.


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And Shallun, the son of Col-hozeh, the ruler of the division of Mizpah, made good the doorway of the fountain, building it up and covering it and putting up its doors, with their locks and rods, with the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king's garden, as far as the steps which go down from the town of David.


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By his side was working Nehemiah, the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the division of Beth-zur, as far as the place opposite the last resting-places of David's family and as far as the pool that had been made and the house of the men of war.


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


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After him were working their brothers, Bavvai, the son of Henadad, ruler of half the division of Keilah.


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


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After him Baruch, the son of Zabbai, was hard at work on another part, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib, the chief priest.


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After him Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, was working on another part, from the door of the house of Eliashib as far as the end of his house.


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


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After him Binnui, the son of Henadad, was working on another part, from the house of Azariah as far as the turning of the wall and the angle.


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Palal, the son of Uzai, made good the wall opposite the angle and the tower which comes out from the higher part of the king's house, by the open space of the watch. After him was Pedaiah, the son of Parosh.


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


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After him the Tekoites were making good another part, opposite the great tower that comes out, and up to the wall of the Ophel.


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After them Zadok, the son of Immer, was working opposite his house. And after him was Shemaiah, the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east door.


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After him Hananiah, the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, were making good another part. After him Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, made good the wall opposite his room.


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After him Malchijah, one of the gold-workers to the Nethinim and the traders, made good the wall opposite the doorway of Hammiphkad and as far as the way up to the angle.


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And between the way up to the angle and the Sheep Gate, the gold-workers and the traders made good the wall.


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Now, Sanballat, hearing that we were building the wall, was very angry, and in his wrath made sport of the Jews.


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And in the hearing of his countrymen and the army of Samaria he said: »What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they make themselves strong? Will they make offerings? Will they get the work done in a day? Will they make the stones that have been burned come again out of the dust?«


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Now Tobiah the Ammonite was with him, and he said: Such is their building that if a fox climbs to the top of it, their stonewall will be broken down.


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Give ear, O our God, for we are ridiculed. Let their words of shame be turned back upon them, and let them be given up to plunder in a land where they are prisoners.


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Do not let their wrongdoing be covered or their sin be washed away from before you: for they have made you angry before the builders.


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So we went on building the wall. The entire wall was joined together halfway up. The people were working hard.


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When the Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabians and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites, heard that the building of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and the broken places were being made good, they were very angry.


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Judah said: »The strength of the workmen is giving way. There is a lot of rubbish so it is impossible for us to put up the wall.«


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And our adversaries kept saying: »They will not know and they will not see until we come right in among them and put them to death. We will cause the work to cease.«


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When the Jews who were living near them came, they said to us ten times: »From all directions they are coming against us.«


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So in the lowest part of the space at the back of the walls, in the open places, I put the people by families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.


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And after looking, I got up and said to the great ones and to the chiefs and to the rest of the people, »Have no fear of them. Keep in mind Jehovah who is great and greatly to be feared. Take up arms for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives and your houses.«


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When our enemies heard that we had knowledge of their designs and that God had made their purpose come to nothing, we all went back to the wall, everyone to his work.


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From that time, half of my servants were doing their part of the work, and half kept the spears and body-covers and the bows and the metal wardresses. The leaders were in back of the men of Judah.


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Those who were building the wall and those who were moving material did their part. Everyone worked with one hand and with his spear in the other.


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Every builder was working with his sword at his side. By my side was a man for sounding the warning horn.


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I said to the leaders and the rest of the people: »The work is extensive and widely spaced and we are far away from one another on the wall.


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So we went on with the work. Half of them had spears in their hands from the dawn of the morning till the stars were seen.


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At the same time I said to the people: »Let everyone with his servant come inside Jerusalem for the night. At night they may keep watch for us, and go on working by day.«


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Not one of us, I or my brothers or my servants or the watchmen who were with me, changed clothes. Everyone went armed to the water.


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Some said: »We with our sons and our daughters are a great number. Let us get grain, so that we may have food for our needs.«


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There were some who said: »We are giving our fields and our vine-gardens and our houses for debt. Let us get grain because we are in need.«


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Yet others said: »We have given up our fields and our vine-gardens to get money for the king's taxes.


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»But our flesh is the same as the flesh of our countrymen, and our children as their children. Now we give our sons and daughters into the hands of others, to be their servants. Some of our daughters are servants even now. We have no power to stop this. For other men have our fields and our vine-gardens.«


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After giving it much thought, I made a protest to the chiefs and the rulers, and said to them: »Everyone of you is collecting interest from his brothers.« I organized a big meeting of protest.


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I said to them: »We have given whatever we were able to give, to make our brothers the Jews free. They were servants and prisoners of the nations. Would you now give up your brothers for a price? Are they to become our property?« They said nothing. They answered not a word!


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I said: »What you are doing is not good. Is it not necessary for you to walk out of respect for our God, because of the shame the nations put on us?


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»Even I and my servants have been collecting interest <i>Usury</i> for the money and the grain we have let them have. So now, let us give this up.


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»Give back to them this very day their fields, their vine-gardens, their olive-gardens, and their houses, as well as a hundredth part of the money and the grain and the wine and the oil that you have taken from them.«


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They said: »We will give them back, and take nothing for them. We will do as you say.« Then I sent for the priests and made them take an oath that they would keep this agreement.


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


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From the time when I was made ruler of the people in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year till the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, for twelve years, my servants and I have never taken the food that was the right of the ruler.


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Earlier rulers who came before me made the people responsible for their upkeep, and took from them bread and wine at the rate of forty shekels of silver. Even their servants were lords over the people. But I did not do so, out of reverence for God.


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I kept on with the work of this wall. We got no land for ourselves. All my servants helped with the work.


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There is more, a hundred and fifty of the Jews and the rulers were guests at my table, in addition to those who came to us from the nations nearby.


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The food for one day included: one bull and six fat sheep, as well as fowls; and once in ten days a store of all sorts of wine. All the same, I did not take the food to which the ruler had a right, because the people were crushed under a hard yoke.


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Word was given to Sanballat and Tobiah and to Geshem the Arabian and to the rest of our enemies, that I had done the building of the wall and that there were no more broken places in it though even then I had not put up the gates in the gateways.


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Sanballat and Geshem sent to me saying: »Come; let us have a meeting in one of the little towns in the lowland of Ono.« But their purpose was to do me evil.


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I sent men to them saying: »I am doing a great work, so that it is not possible for me to come. Should the work to be stopped while I go away from it and come to you?«


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There was written in it: »It has been heard among the nations what Geshem is saying. / He is saying that you and the Jews are hoping to make yourselves free from the king's authority. That this is why you are building the wall. They say that it is your purpose to be their king.


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»And that you have prophets preaching about you in Jerusalem, and saying: There is a king in Judah. Now an account of these things will be sent to the king. So come now, and let us have a discussion.«


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I responded to him, saying: »No such things as you say are being done. They are only a fiction you have made up yourself.«


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They hoped to put fear in us, saying: »Their hands will become feeble and give up the work so that it may not get done.« But now, O God, make my hands strong.


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And I went to the house of Shemaiah, the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined in his house. He said: »Let us have a meeting in the house of God, inside the Temple, and let the doors be closed for they will come to kill you. Truly, in the night they will come to kill you.«


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I replied: »Am I the sort of man to go in flight? What man, in my position, would go into the Temple to keep safe? I will not go in.«


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Then it became clear to me that God had not sent him. He spoke prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat paid him money to do so.


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For this reason they paid him money, in order that I might be overcome by fear and do what he said and do wrong. Then they would have reason to say evil about me and put shame on me.


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Keep in mind, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat and what they did, and Noadiah, the woman prophet, and the rest of the prophets whose purpose was to frighten me.


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When our enemies had news of this, all the nations round about us were full of fear and were greatly shamed. They saw that our God had done this work.


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For in Judah there were a number of people who had made an agreement by oath with him. For he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah, the son of Arah and his son Jehohanan had taken as his wife the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Berechiah.


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They spoke a good deal about the good he had done in my presence, and reported what I said to him. Tobiah sent letters with the purpose of causing me fear.


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When the building of the wall was complete I put up the doors. The doorkeepers and the music-makers and the Levites had been given their places,


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I appointed my brother Hanani, and Hananiah, the ruler of the tower, responsible for the government of Jerusalem. For he was a man of good faith, respecting God more than most.


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I said to them: »Do not let the doors of Jerusalem be open till the sun is high and when the watchmen are in their places. Shut the doors and lock them. Let the people of Jerusalem be responsible for the watch, every one in his watch near his house.«


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The town was large and spacious. But the people in it were only a small number, and the houses had not been built.


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My God put it into my heart to get together the rulers and the chiefs and the people to list them by families. I came across a record of the names of those who came up at the first, and in it I saw these words:


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These are the people of the divisions of the kingdom, among those who had been made prisoners by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and taken away by him, who went back to Jerusalem and Judah, every one to his town:


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They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:


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The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand, eight hundred and eighteen.


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The gate-keepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred and thirty-eight.


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The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,


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The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Amon.


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All these were the people who went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but because they had no knowledge of their fathers' families or offspring, it was not certain if they were Israelites:


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And of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who was married to one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and took their name.


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They searched for their record among the lists of families, but their names were nowhere to be seen, so they were looked on as unclean and no longer priests.


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


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As well as their men-servants and their women-servants, of whom there were seven thousand, three hundred and thirty-seven. They had two hundred and forty-five men and women to make music.


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


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Some of the heads of families gave to the store for the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand, two hundred pounds of silver.


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That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and sixty-seven priests' robes.


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The priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, some of the people and the Nethinim, and all Israel, were living in their towns. When the seventh months arrived, the sons of Israel were then in their cities.


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When the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their towns. All the people came together like one man into the wide place in front of the Water Gate. They requested Ezra the scribe that he would bring them the book of the Law of Moses that Jehovah gave to Israel.


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Ezra the priest brought the law to the meeting of the people. They were all able to listen to it. It was the first day of the seventh month.


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He read it in the wide place in front of the Water Gate from early morning till the middle of the day. Everyone who could understand it, men and women alike were able to listen to it. All the people got to hear the Book of the Law.


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Ezra the scribe took his place on a tower <i>podium</i> of wood that they had made for the purpose. By his side were placed Mattithiah and Shema and Anaiah and Uriah and Hilkiah and Maaseiah on the right; and on the left, Pedaiah and Mishael and Malchijah and Hashum and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.


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Ezra took the book and opened it before the eyes of all the people for he was higher than the people. When it was open, all the people stood on their feet.


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Ezra praised Jehovah, the great God. And all the people said: »Amen!« With lifted hands and bent heads they worshiped Jehovah. They dropped to their faces on the earth.


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And Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah and Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites made the law clear to the people: and the people kept in their places.


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They read from the book the Law of God making it clear <i>translating it</i> , so that their minds were able to take it in.


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Nehemiah, who was the Tirshatha <i>Governor</i> , and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were the teachers of the people, said to all the people: »This day is holy to Jehovah your God. Let there be no sorrow or weeping.« For all the people were weeping on hearing the words of the law.


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He said to them: »Go away now, and take the fat for your food and the sweet for your drink, and send some to him for whom nothing is made ready. This day is holy to our Lord. Let there be no grief in your hearts. The joy of Jehovah is your strong place.«


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So the Levites made all the people quiet, saying: »Be quiet, for the day is holy; and do not give way to grief.«


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All the people went away to take food and drink, and to send food to others, and to be glad, because the words that were said to them had been clearly communicated.


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The second day the heads of families of all the people and the priests and the Levites came together to Ezra the scribe, to give attention to the words of the law.


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They saw that it was recorded in the law that Jehovah gave orders by Moses, that the children of Israel were to have tents for their living-places in the feast of the seventh month:


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They were to give an order, and make it public in all their towns and in Jerusalem, saying: Go out to the mountain and get olive branches and branches of field olives <i>oil trees</i> and of myrtle, and palm branches and branches of thick trees, to make tents, as it says in the book.


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


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All the people who had been prisoners and had come back, made tents and were living in them. From the time of Jeshua, the son of Nun, till that day, the children of Israel had not done so. There was very great joy!


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Day by day, from the first day till the last, he read from the book of the Law of God. They kept the feast for seven days: and on the eighth day there was a holy meeting, as it is ordered in the law.


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Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel came together, taking no food and putting sackcloth and dust on their bodies.


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The seed of Israel made themselves separate from all the men of other nations. They publicly requested forgiveness for their sins and the wrongdoing of their fathers.


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For a fourth part of the day, upright in their places, they read from the book of the Law of their God. For a fourth part of the day they requested forgiveness and worshipped Jehovah their God.


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


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Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said: »Get up and give praise to Jehovah your God forever and ever. Praise your great name that is lifted up high over all, blessing and praise.


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»You are Jehovah, even you only! You made heaven, the heaven of heavens with all their armies, the earth and all things in it, the seas and everything in them. You keep them from destruction and the armies of heaven are your worshippers.


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»You are Jehovah, the true God, who took Abram and made him yours, guiding him from Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham;


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»You saw that his heart was true to you, and made an agreement with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Jebusite and the Girgashite, even to give it to his seed, and you have done what you said; for righteousness is yours.


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»You did signs and wonders on Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land. You saw how cruel they were to them. So you made a name for yourself as it is today.


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»You parted the sea before them, so that they went through the sea on dry land; and those who went after them went down into the deep, like a stone into great waters.


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»And you went before them by day in a pillar of cloud and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light on the way they were to go.


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»You came down on Mount Sinai, and your voice came to them from heaven, giving them right decisions and true laws, good rules and orders.


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»They received word of your holy Sabbath from you. You gave them orders and rules and a law, by the hand of Moses your servant.


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»They received bread from heaven when they were in need, and you made water come out of the rock for their drink, and gave them orders to go in and take for their heritage the land that your hand give them.


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»But they and our fathers, in their pride, made their necks stiff, and paid no attention to your orders.


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»They would not obey you and gave no thought to the wonders you did among them. They became stubborn and turning away from you. They appointed a leader over themselves to take them back to their prison in Egypt. However, you are a God of forgiveness, full of grace and pity, slow to wrath and great in mercy, and you did not give them up.


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»Even when they made for themselves a bull out of metal, and said: This is your God who took you up out of Egypt, and had done so much to make you angry.


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»Even then, in your great mercy, you did not give them up in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still went before them by day, guiding them on their way, and the pillar of fire by night, to give them light, and make clear the way they were to go.


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»You gave your good Spirit to be their teacher. You did not hold back your manna from their mouths. You gave them water when they had need of it.


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»Truly, for forty years you were their support in the wilderness. They needed nothing. Their clothing did not get old or their feet become tired.


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»You gave them kingdoms and peoples, making distribution to them in every part of the land. They took for their heritage the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og, king of Bashan.


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»You made their children as great in number as the stars of heaven. You took them into the land, of which you had said to their fathers that they were to go in and take it for themselves.


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»So the children went in and took the land. You overcame before them the people of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them up into their hands, with their kings and the people of the land, so that they might do with them whatever it was their pleasure to do.


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»And they took walled towns and a fat land. They became the owners of houses full of all good things, water-holes cut in the rock, vine-gardens and olive-gardens and a wealth of fruit-trees. They had food enough and became fat, and had joy in the good you gave them.


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»But they were hard-hearted, and went against your authority. They turned their backs on your law, and murdered your prophets. These prophets gave witness against them with the purpose of turning them back again to you. They did much to make you angry.


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»So you gave them up into the hands of their enemies who were cruel to them. In the time of their trouble, when they prayed to you, you listened to them from heaven. In your great mercy you gave them saviors, who made them free from the hands of their enemies.


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»When they had rest, they did evil again before you: so you gave them into the hands of their enemies who ruled over them. When they came back and prayed to you, you listened to them from heaven; again and again, in your mercy, you gave them salvation.


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»You admonished them so that you might make them come back again to your law. Their hearts were lifted up, and they paid no attention to your orders. They went against your life giving decisions and turned their backs on you. They were stubborn and did not listen.


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»You put up with them for years. You admonished them by your Spirit through your prophets. Still they did not listen. So you gave them up into the hands of the peoples of the lands.


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»Even then, in your great mercy, you did not put an end to them completely, or give them up; for you are a God of grace <i>loving-kindness</i> and mercy.


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»Now, our God, the great, the strong, the God who is to be respected, who keeps faith and mercy, do not let his trouble seem small to you. It has come on us, and on our kings and our rulers and on our priests and our prophets and our fathers and on all your people from the time of the kings of Assyria till this day.


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»You have been in the right in everything that happened to us. You have been true to us, but we have done evil!


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»Our kings, our rulers, our priests, and our fathers have not obeyed your Law or given attention to your orders and your witness, with which you gave witness against them.


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»They have not been your servants in their kingdom! In all the good things you gave them, and in the great and fat land you gave them they have not turned away from their evil doing.


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»Today, we are servants! As for the land you gave to our fathers, so that the produce of it and the good might be theirs, see, we are servants in it!


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»And it gives much increase to the kings whom you have put over us because of our sins. They have power over our bodies and over our cattle at their pleasure, and we are in great trouble.


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»And because of all this we are making an agreement in good faith, and putting it in writing. Our rulers, our Levites, and our priests are putting their names to it.«


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Now those who put down their names were Nehemiah the Tirshatha <i>Governor</i> , the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,


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And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gate keepers, the music-makers, the Nethinim, and all those who made themselves separate from the peoples of the lands, to keep the Law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and wisdom;


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They were united with their brothers, their rulers, and put themselves under a curse and an oath, to keep their steps in the way of God's law, which was given by Moses, the servant of God, and to keep and do all the orders of the Jehovah, our Lord, and his decisions and his rules.


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That way we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the lands, or take their daughters for our sons;


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If the peoples of the lands come to do trade in goods or food on the Sabbath day, that we would do no trade with them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. In the seventh year we would take no payment from any debtor.


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We made rules for ourselves, taxing ourselves a third of a shekel every year for the upkeep of the House of our God.


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For the holy bread, and for the regular meal offering and the regular burned offering on the Sabbaths and at the new moon and the fixed feasts, and for the sin-offerings to take away the sin of Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.


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And we, the priests and the Levites and the people, made selection, by the decision of Jehovah, of those who were to take the wood offering into the house of God, by families at the regular times, year by year, to be burned on the altar of Jehovah our God, as it is recorded in the law;


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To take the first fruits of our land, and the first fruits of every sort of tree, year by year, into the house of Jehovah.


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As well as the first of our sons and of our cattle, as it is recorded in the law. The first lambs of our herds and of our flocks, which are to be taken to the house of our God, to the priests who are servants in the house of our God:


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That we would take the first of our rough meal, and our lifted offerings, and the fruit of every sort of tree, and wine and oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our God. The tenth of the produce of our land to the Levites for the Levites, take a tenth in all the towns of our ploughed land.


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The priest, the son of Aaron, is to be with the Levites, when the Levites take the tenths. The Levites are to take a tenth of the tenths into the house of our God, to the rooms, into the storehouse.


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The children of Israel and the children of Levi are to take the lifted offering of the grain and wine and oil into the rooms where the vessels of the holy place are. This is together with the priests and the gatekeepers and the makers of music. We will not give up caring for the House of our God.


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The rulers of the people lived in Jerusalem. One out of every ten people was selected by chance to live in Jerusalem, the holy town. The other nine were to go to the other towns.


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These are the chiefs of the divisions of the country who were living in Jerusalem: but in the towns of Judah everyone was living on his heritage in the towns, that is, Israel, the priests, the Levites, the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon's servants.


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Other people of the children of Judah and of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. Of the children of Judah: Athaiah, the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of Perez;


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


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


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Joel, the son of Zichri, was their overseer; and Judah, the son of Hassenuah, was second over the town.


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Seraiah, 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,


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Their brothers who did the work of the house, eight hundred and twenty-two; and Adaiah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,


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His brothers, heads of families, two hundred and forty-two; and Amashsai, the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,


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Their brothers, men of war, a hundred and twenty-eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.


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Of the Levites: Shemaiah, the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni,


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


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And Mattaniah, the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who had to give the first note of the song of praise in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers, and Abda, the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.


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


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And the rest of Israel, of the priests, the Levites, in all the towns of Judah, every one in his heritage.


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The overseer of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi, the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the music-makers, who was over the business of the house of God.


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There was an order from the king about them and a regular amount for the music-makers, for their needs day by day.


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Pethahiah, the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah, the son of Judah, was the king's servant in everything to do with the people.


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And for the villages with their fields, some of the men of Judah were living in Kiriath-arba <i>Hebron</i> and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages,


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And Zanoah, Adullam and their villages, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its villages. So they were living from Beer-sheba to the valley of Hinnom.


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The children of Benjamin were living from Geba, at Michmash and Aija, and at Beth-el and its villages.


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These are the priests and the Levites who went up with Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,


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Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.


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The Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the music-makers, he and his brothers.


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Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, and Joiakim was the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib was the father of Joiada,


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In the days of Joiakim there were priests, heads of families: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;


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The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were listed as heads of families; and the priests, when Darius the Persian was king.


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The sons of Levi, heads of families, were recorded in the book of the histories, even till the days of Johanan, the son of Eliashib.


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The chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua, the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers opposite them, to give blessing and praise as ordered by David, the man of God, watch against watch.


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Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storehouses of the gates.


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


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When the time came for the wall of Jerusalem to be made holy, they sent for the Levites out of all their places to come to Jerusalem, to keep the feast with joy, and with praise and melody, with brass and corded instruments of music.


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The sons of the music-makers came together from the lowland round about Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites,


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From Beth-gilgal and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the music-makers made villages for themselves round about Jerusalem.


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The priests and the Levites made themselves clean; and they made the people clean, and the gateways and the wall.


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Then I made the rulers of Judah come up on the wall, and I put in position two great bands of them who gave praise, walking in ordered lines. One went to the right on the wall toward the gateway where the waste was put.


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Some of the priests' sons with wind instruments; Zechariah, the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,


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His brothers, Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel and Judah, Hanani, with the music-instruments of David, the man of God; and Ezra the scribe was at their head;


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


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The other band of those who gave praise went to the left, and I went after them with half the people, on the wall, over the tower of the ovens, as far as the wide wall,


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


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So the two bands of those who gave praise took up their positions in the house of God, and I and half of the chiefs with me:


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The priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with wind instruments;


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And Maaseiah and Shemaiah and Eleazar and Uzzi and Jehohanan and Malchijah and Elam and Ezer. The makers of melody made their voices loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.


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On that day they made great offerings and were glad. God made them glad with great joy. The women and the children were glad with them. The joy of Jerusalem came to the ears of those who were far off.


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Men were stationed over the houses where the contributions and the first fruits and the tenths were stored. They were to take into them the amounts, from the fields of every town. The law fixed this for the priests and the Levites: Judah was glad on account of the priests and the Levites who were in their places.


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They kept the watch of their God, and were responsible for making things clean. So did the music-makers and the gatekeepers, as David and Solomon his son ordered it.


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For in the days of David and Asaph in the past, there was a master of the music, and songs of blessing and praise to God.


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All Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave what the music-makers and the gatekeepers deeded day by day. They made the offerings holy for the Levites; and the Levites did the same for the sons of Aaron.


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On that day there was a reading from the book of Moses while the people listened. They heard that it said in the book that no Ammonite or Moabite might ever come into the meeting of God at any time.


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This is because they did not give the children of Israel bread and water when they came to them, but got Balaam to put a curse on them. Our God turned the curse into a blessing.


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Before this, Eliashib the priest had been placed over the rooms of the house of our God. He was a friend of Tobiah.


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Had made a great room ready for him. This is where they once kept the meal offerings, the perfume, the vessels and the tenths of the grain and wine and oil. They were given by order to the Levites and the music-makers and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.


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I was not at Jerusalem all this time in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon. I went to the king; and after some days, I got the king to let me go.


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I went to Jerusalem. It was clear to me what evil Eliashib had done for Tobiah by making ready for him a room in the buildings of the house of God.


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Then I gave orders, and they made the rooms clean. I put the vessels of the House of God, along with the meal offerings and the perfume, back in the rooms.


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I saw that the Levites had not been given what was needed for their support. So the Levites and the music-makers, who did the work, had gone away, everyone to his field.


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Then I made protests to the chiefs, and said: »Why has the house of God been given up?« I got them together and put them in their places.


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I made controllers over the storehouses, Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and with them was Hanan, the son of Zaccur the son of Mattaniah. They were taken to be honest men and their business was the distribution of these things to their brothers.


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Nehemiahs prayer: »Keep me in mind, O my God, in connection with this, and do not let the good which I have done for the house of my God and its worship go from your memory completely.«


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In those days, I saw in Judah some who were crushing grapes on the Sabbath, and harvesting grain and putting it on Asses; as well as wine and grapes and figs and all sorts of goods that they took into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. I gave witness against them on the day when they were marketing food.


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There were men of Tyre there. They came with fish and all sorts of goods, trading with the children of Judah and in Jerusalem on the Sabbath.


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Then I made protests to the chiefs of Judah, and said to them: »What is this evil you are doing, not keeping the Sabbath day holy?


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»Did not your fathers do the same, and did not our God send all this evil on us and on this town? You are causing more anger to come on Israel by not keeping the Sabbath holy.«


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When the streets of Jerusalem were getting dark before the Sabbath, I gave orders for the gate to be shut and not to be open again until after the Sabbath. I put some of my servants by the gate so that nothing might be taken in on the Sabbath day.


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Then I gave witness against them and said: »Why are you waiting all night by the wall? If you do so again I will have you taken prisoners.« From that time they did not come again on the Sabbath.


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I gave the Levites orders to make themselves clean and come and keep the gates and make the Sabbath holy. »Keep this in mind to my credit, O my God, and have mercy on me, for great is your mercy.«


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Their children were talking half in the language of Ashdod; they had no knowledge of the Jews' language, but made use of the language of the two peoples.


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I took up the cause against them, cursing them and giving blows to some of them and pulling out their hair. I made them take an oath by God, saying: »You are not to give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.


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»Was it not in these things that Solomon, king of Israel, did wrong? Among a number of nations there was no king like him. He was dear to his God, and God made him king over all Israel. But even he was made to do evil by strange women.


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»Are we then without protest to let you do all this great evil, sinning against our God by taking strange women for your wives?«


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One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib, the chief priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, so I sent him away from me.


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»Keep them in mind, O my God, because they have put shame on the priests' name and on the agreement of the priests and the Levites.«


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I made them clean from all strange people. Regular watches were fixed for the priests and for the Levites, everyone in his work.


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»And for the wood offering, at fixed times, and for the first fruits. Keep me in mind, O my God, for good.«


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Now it came about in the days of Ahasuerus, that Ahasuerus who was ruler of a hundred and twenty-seven divisions of the kingdom, from India as far as Ethiopia:


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In the third year of his rule he gave a feast to all his captains and his servants. The captains of the army of Persia and Media, the great men and the rulers of the divisions of his kingdom, were present before him.


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For a long time, even a hundred and eighty days, he let them see all the wealth and the glory of his kingdom and the great power and honor that was his.


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At the end of that time, the king gave a feast for all the people who were present in Shushan, the king's town, small as well as great, for seven days, in the outer square of the garden of the king's house.


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There were hangings of white and green and blue, fixed with cords of purple and the best <i>cotton</i> linen to silver rings and pillars of polished stone. The seats were of gold and silver on a floor of red and white and yellow and black stone.


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They served drinks in gold vessels. Every vessel was different. The king freely gave wine from the kingdom.


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The drinking was in keeping with the law. No one was forced: for the king gave orders to all the chief servants of his house to do as was pleasing to every man.


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On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was glad with wine, he gave orders to Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presences of King Ahasuerus.


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That Vashti the queen was to come before him, with her royal crown, and let the people and the captains see her beauty: for she was very beautiful.


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But when the servants gave her the king's order, Vashti the queen said she would not come. The king was very angry. His heart was burning with wrath.


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The king spoke to the wise men that were experts with knowledge of the times. It was the king's practice.


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The closest to the king were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven rulers of Persia and Media. They were friends of the king, and had the first places in the kingdom.


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»By law, what is to be done to Vashti the queen? She has not done what King Ahasuerus ordered her to do.«


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Before the king and the captains, Memucan gave his answer: »Vashti the queen has done wrong, not only to the king, but also to all the captains and to all the peoples in all the divisions of the kingdom of King Ahasuerus.


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»For news of what the queen has done will come to the attention of all women. They will no longer give respect to their husbands when it is said to them, King Ahasuerus gave orders for Vashti the queen to come before him and she did not come.


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»The wives of the captains of Persia and Media, hearing what the queen has done, will say the same to all the king's captains. So there will be much shame and anger.


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»If it is pleasing to the king, let an order go out from him. Let it be recorded among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it may never be changed. That Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. Let the king give her place to another who is better than she.


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»When the kings order is made public through all his great kingdom all the wives will give honor to their husbands, great as well as small.«


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He sent letters to all the divisions of the kingdom where their language is used. The letter said that every man was to be the ruler in his house, and that this order was to be given out in the language of his people.


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When the king's rage subsided, the thought of Vashti and what she had done and the order he had made against her came back to his mind.


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Then the servants who were waiting on the king said to him, »Let a search be made for some fair young virgins for the king.


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»Let the king give authority to some men in all the divisions of his kingdom, to get together all the fair young virgins and send them to Shushan, the king's town. Send them to the women's house. This is under the care of Hegai, the king's servant, the keeper of the women. Let the things needed for making them clean be given to them.


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»And let the girl who is pleasing to the king be queen in place of Vashti.« The king was pleased with this suggestion; and he did so.


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There was a Jew in Shushan named Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite.


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He had been taken away from Jerusalem among those who had been made prisoner with Jeconiah, king of Judah, when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had taken him away.


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And he had been a father to Hadassah who is Esther, the daughter of his father's brother: for she had no father or mother. When her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his daughter. She was very beautiful.


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When the order made by the king was made public a number of girls were placed in the care of Hegai in the king's house in Shushan. Esther was taken to the king's house and put in the care of Hegai, the keeper of the women.


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He was pleased with the girl and was kind to her. He quickly provided her with cosmetics and food. He gave her seven choice servant girls who were to be hers from the king's house. He had her and her servant-girls moved to the best place in the women's part of the house.


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Every day Mordecai took his walk before the square of the women's house, to see how Esther was and what would be done to her.


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Now every girl, when her turn came, had to go in to King Ahasuerus. After undergoing, for a space of twelve months, what was ordered by the law for the women for this was the time necessary for making them clean, that is, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet perfumes and such things as are needed for making women clean.


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In this way the girl was presented to the king. Whatever she desired was given to her to take with her from the women's house into the house of the king.


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In the evening she went, and in the morning she would return to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, one of the king's eunuchs who had the care of the king's wives. If the king had delight in her and sent for her by name she would go to him again.


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When the time came for Esther, the daughter of Abihail, his father's brother, whom Mordecai had taken as his daughter, to go in to the king, she made request for nothing but what Hegai, the king's servant and keeper of the women, had given her. And all who saw her looked on Esther kindly.


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Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus in his house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his rule.


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Esther was more pleasing to the king than all the women. To his eyes she was fairer and more full of grace than all the other virgins. So he put his crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.


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The king gave a great feast for all his captains and his servants and Esther. He gave orders through all the divisions of his kingdom for a release <i>amnesty day of rest</i> to the provinces, and gave wealth from his store.


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When the virgins came together in the second house of the women, Mordecai took his seat in the gate of the king's house.


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Esther had still said nothing of her family or her people, as Mordecai had given her orders. Esther did what Mordecai said, as when she was living with him.


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In those days, while Mordecai was seated at the king's gate two of the king's servants, Bigthan and Teresh, keepers of the gate, being angry, looked for a chance to attack King Ahasuerus.


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Mordecai had knowledge of their purpose and sent word of it to Esther the queen. Esther gave the news to the king in Mordecai's name.


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It was investigated and found to be true. The two men were put to death by hanging on a tree: and it was recorded in the records before the king.


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The king ordered that Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, was lifted up and given a position of honor and a higher place than all the other captains who were with him.


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All the king's servants who were in the king's house went down to the earth before Haman and gave him honor just as the king ordered. But Mordecai did not go down before him or give him honor.


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Then the king's servants in the king's house said to Mordecai, »Why do you go against the king's order?«


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Now when they repeatedly said this to him day after day and he gave no attention, they told Haman about it. To see if Mordecai's behavior would be overlooked: for he said to them that he was a Jew.


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But it was not enough for him to attack Mordecai only. They made clear to him who Mordecai's people were. So Haman made it his purpose to put an end to all the Jews, even Mordecai's people, through all the kingdom of Ahasuerus.


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In the first month, the month Nissan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, from day to day and from month to month they went on looking for a sign given by Pur that is chance before Haman, till the sign came out for the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar.


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Haman said to King Ahasuerus, »There is a nation living here and there in small groups among the people in all the divisions of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of any other nation. They do not keep the king's laws. For this reason it is not right for the king to let them be.


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»If it is the king's pleasure, let a statement ordering their destruction be put in writing. I will give to those responsible for the king's business, ten thousand talents of silver for the king's storehouse.«


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The king took his ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the hater of the Jews.


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The king said to Haman: »The money is yours, and the people, to do with them whatever seems right to you.«


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Then on the thirteenth day of the first month, the king's scribes were summoned. They put in writing Haman's orders to all the king's captains and the rulers of every division of his kingdom and the chiefs of every people. It was to be for every division of the kingdom in the writing commonly used there, and to every people in the language which was theirs. It was signed in the name of King Ahasuerus and stamped with the king's ring.


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Runners delivered letters to every division of the kingdom. They ordered the death and destruction of all Jews, young and old, little children and women, on the same day, even the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar, and the taking of all their goods by force.


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A copy of the writing, to be made public in every part of the kingdom, was sent out to all the peoples, so that they might be ready when that day came.


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The runners went out quickly with the king's order. A public statement was made in Shushan. The king and Haman took wine together, but the town of Shushan was troubled.


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When Mordecai learned what had been done, he tore his clothes in anguish. Then he dressed in sackcloth, covered his head with ashes, and walked through the city, wailing loudly and bitterly,


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until he came to the entrance of the palace. He did not go in because no one wearing sackcloth was allowed inside.


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Throughout all the provinces, wherever the king's proclamation was made known, there was loud mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, wailed, and most of them put on sackcloth and lay in ashes.


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Esther's women and her servants came and gave her word of it. The queens grief was great indeed. She sent robes for Mordecai, so that his clothing of haircloth might be taken off; but he would not wear them.


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Then Esther sent for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs whom he had given her to wait on her. She gave him orders to go to Mordecai and see what this was and why it was.


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Mordecai gave him an account of what had taken place. He told about the amount of money that Haman said he would put in the king's store for the destruction of the Jews.


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He gave him the copy of the order that was given in Shushan for their destruction. He ordered him to let Esther see it, and to make it clear to her. To say to her that she was to go in to the king to request his mercy and make prayer for her people.


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»It is common knowledge among all the king's servants and the people of every part of the kingdom, that if anyone, man or woman, comes to the king in his inner room without being sent for, there is only one law for him, that he is to be put to death. Only those to whom the king's rod of gold is stretched out may keep their lives. I have not been sent for to come before the king in the past thirty days.«


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Mordecai sent this answer back to Esther: »Do not have the idea that you in the king's house will be safe from the fate of all the Jews.


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»If at this time you say nothing. Then help and salvation will come to the Jews from some other place. But you and your father's family will come to destruction. Who is to say that you have not come to the kingdom even for such a time as this?«


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»Go assemble all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me. Take no food or drink night or day for three days. My women and I will do the same. Then I will go in to the king even though it is against the law. If death is to be my fate, then let it come.«


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Esther put on her queen's robes on the third day and took her place in the inner room of the king's house, facing the king's house. The king was seated on his high seat in the king's house, facing the doorway of the house.


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When the king saw Esther the queen waiting in the inner room, looking kindly on her he put out the rod of gold in his hand to her. So Esther came near and put her fingers on top of the rod.


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The king said: »What is your desire, Queen Esther, and what is your request? I will give it to you, even to the half of my kingdom.«


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Esther answered him: »If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the feast I have made ready for him.«


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Then the king said, »Let Haman come quickly, so that what Esther said may be done.« So the king and Haman went to the feast Esther prepared.


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While they were drinking wine the king said to Esther: »What is your prayer? For it will be given to you. What is your request? For it will be done, even to the half of my kingdom.«


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»If I have the king's approval, and if it is the king's pleasure to give me my prayer and do my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will make ready for them. Tomorrow I will do as the king has said.«


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Then on that day Haman went out full of joy and glad in heart. When he saw Mordecai in the king's gate and he did not get to his feet or give any sign of fear before him, Haman was full of wrath against Mordecai.


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He gave them an account of the glories of his wealth. The number of children he had. He recalled the ways in which he had been honored by the king. How the king put him over the captains and servants of the king.


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Haman continued: »Truly, Esther the queen let no man but myself come in to the feast she made ready for the king. Tomorrow again I am to be her guest with the king.


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Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him: »Let a pillar, fifty cubits high, be made ready for hanging him. In the morning get the king to give orders for the hanging of Mordecai. Then you will be able to go to the feast with the king with a glad heart.« Haman was pleased with the suggestion, and he had the pillar made.


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That night the king was unable to get any sleep. He sent for the books of the records and had some one was read them to him.


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It was recorded in the book how Mordecai had given word of the designs of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's servants, keepers of the gate who conspired to kill the king.


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The king said: »What honor and reward have been given to Mordecai for this?« The servants waiting on the king said: »Nothing has been done for him.«


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The king asked: »Who is in the outer room?« Haman came into the outer room to get the king's authority for the hanging of Mordecai on the pillar that he made ready for him.


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So Haman came in. And the king said to him: »What is to be done to the man whom the king has delight in honoring?« Then the thought came into Haman's mind, whom, more than myself, would the king have pleasure in honoring?


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»Let them take the robes that the king generally puts on, and the horse on which the king goes, and the crown that is on his head:


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»And let the robes and the horse be given to one of the king's most noble captains, so that they may put them on the man whom the king has delight in honoring. Let him go on horseback through the streets of the town, with men crying out before him. So let it be done to the man whom the king has delight in honoring.«


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Then the king said to Haman: »Go quickly, and take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, who is seated at the king's gate. See that you do everything as you have said.«


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Haman took the robes and the horse, and dressing Mordecai in the robes, he made him go on horseback through the streets of the town, crying out before him: »So let it be done to the man whom the king has delight in honoring.«


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Mordecai came back to the king's gate. But Haman went quickly back to his house, sad and with his head covered.


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And Haman gave his wife Zeresh and all his friends an account of what took place. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, »If Mordecai, who is starting to get the better of you, is of the seed of the Jews, you will not be able to do anything against him, but you will certainly go down before him.«


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While they were still talking, the king's servants came to take Haman to the feast that Esther made ready.


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The king said to Esther again on the second day, while they were drinking: »What is your petition, Queen Esther? For it will be given to you. What is your request? For it will be done, even to the half of my kingdom.«


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Esther the queen, answered: »If I have your approval, O king, and if it is the king's pleasure, let my life be given to me in answer to my petition. My people at my request:


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»For my people and I have been sold for slaughter and destruction. If we had been taken as men-servants and women-servants for a price, I would have said nothing, for our trouble is little in comparison with the king's loss.«


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Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen: »Who is he and where is he who has had this evil thought in his heart?«


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Esther said: »Our hater and attacker is this evil Haman.« Then Haman was full of fear before the king and the queen.


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The king in his anger got up from the feast and went into the garden. Haman got to his feet to plead to Esther the queen for his life. He saw that the king had already decided against him.


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Then the king came back from the garden into the room where they had been drinking. Haman was stretched out on the seat where Esther was. Then the king said: »Is he taking the queen by force before my eyes in my house?« While the words were on the king's lips, they put a cloth over Haman's face.


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Then Harbonah, one of the court officials waiting before the king, said: »See, the pillar fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who said a good word for the king, is still in its place near Haman's house.« Then the king said: »Put him to death by hanging him on it.«


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So Haman was put to death by hanging him on the pillar he made for Mordecai. Then the king's rage subsided.


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That day the king gave all the estate of Haman, the hater of the Jews, to Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had made clear what he was to her.


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The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther put Mordecai over the family of Haman.


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Then Esther again came before the king. She fell down at his feet and wept as she requested: that he would put a stop to the evil purposes of Haman the Agagite and the designs that he had made against the Jews.


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She said: »If it is the king's pleasure and if I have his approval and this thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing to him, then let letters be sent giving orders against those which Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, sent out for the destruction of the Jews in all divisions of the kingdom.


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»For how can it be possible for me to see the evil that is to overtake my nation? How may I see the destruction of my people?«


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Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew: »See now, I have given Esther the family of Haman, and he has come to his death by hanging, because he made an attack on the Jews.


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»Send a letter about the Jews, writing whatever seems good to you, in the king's name, and stamp it with the king's ring: for a writing signed in the king's name and stamped with the king's ring may not be changed.«


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Then at that time, on the twenty-third day of the third month, which is the month Sivan, the king's scribes were summoned. Everything ordered by Mordecai was put in writing and sent to the Jews and the captains and the rulers and the chiefs of all the divisions of the kingdom from India to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven divisions, to every division in the writing commonly used there, and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing and their language.


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The letters were sent in the name of King Ahasuerus and stamped with his ring, and they were taken by men on horseback, going on the quick-running horses used for the king's business, the offspring of his best horses:


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In these letters the king gave authority to the Jews in every town to come together and make a fight for their lives. To send death and destruction on the power of any people in any part of the kingdom attacking them or their children or their women, and to take their goods from them by force.


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On one day in every division of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, that is, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar.


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A copy of the writing, to be made public as an order in every division of the kingdom, was given out to all the peoples, so that the Jews might be ready when that day came to give punishment to their enemies.


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So the men went out on the quick-running horses used on the king's business. They wasted no time and forced on by the king's order; and the order was given out in Shushan, the king's town.


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Mordecai went out from before the king, dressed in king-like robes of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold and clothing of purple and the best linen. The entire town of Shushan gave loud cries of joy.


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And in every part of the kingdom and in every town, wherever the king's letter and his order came, the Jews were glad with great joy. They had a feast and a good day. A large number of the people of the land became Jews: for the fear of the Jews had come on them.


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Now on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, when the time came for the king's order to be put into effect, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to rule over them the opposite occurred, and the Jews had rule over their enemies.


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On that day, the Jews came together in their towns through all the divisions of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, for the purpose of attacking all those who were attempting evil against them. Everyone had to give way before them. All the people feared them.


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And all the chiefs and the captains and the rulers and those who did the king's business supported the Jews because the fear of Mordecai had come on them.


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For Mordecai was great in the king's house. Word about him went out through every part of the kingdom: for the man Mordecai became greater and greater.


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So the Jews overcame all their attackers with the sword and with death and destruction, and did to their enemies whatever they had a desire to do.


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The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the hater of the Jews; but they put not a hand on any of their goods.


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On that day the number of those who had been put to death in the town of Shushan was given to the king.


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The king said to Esther the queen: »The Jews have put five hundred men to death in Shushan, as well as the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the kingdom! Now what is your petition? For it will be given to you. What other request have you? And it will be done.«


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Then Esther said: »If it is the king's pleasure, let authority be given to the Jews in Shushan to do tomorrow as has been done today, and let orders be given for the hanging of Haman's ten sons.«


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The king said that this was to be done, and the order was given out in Shushan. The hanging of Haman's ten sons was carried out.


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The Jews who were in Shushan came together again on the fourteenth day of the month Adar and put to death three hundred men in Shushan. They did not take their material goods.


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The other Jews in every division of the kingdom came together, fighting for their lives, and got salvation from their enemies and put seventy-five thousand of them to death. They did not put a hand on their material goods.


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This they did on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same month they took their rest, and made it a day of feasting and joy.


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The Jews in Shushan came together on the thirteenth and on the fourteenth day of the month. On the fifteenth day they took their rest, and made it a day of feasting and joy.


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


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He ordered them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and the fifteenth day of the same month, every year.


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


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The Jews gave their word to go on as they had been doing and as Mordecai had given them orders in writing.


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Because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the hater of all the Jews, conspired for their destruction, attempting to get a decision by Pur that is, chance with a view to putting an end to them and cutting them off.


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But when the business was put before the king, he gave orders by letters that the evil design that he had made against the Jews was to be turned against him. That he and his sons were to be put to death by hanging.


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So these days were named Purim, after the name of Pur. And so, because of the words of this letter, and of what they had seen in connection with this business, and what had come to them,


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The Jews made a rule and established a custom that all their descendents should observe two days every year as ordered in the letter, at the fixed time every year.


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Those days were to be kept in memory through every generation and every family, in every division of the kingdom and every town, that there might never be a time when these days of Purim would not be kept among the Jews, or when the memory of them would go from the minds of their descendents.


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Esther the queen, daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, sent a second letter giving the force of their authority to the order about the Purim.


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He sent letters to all the Jews in the hundred and twenty-seven divisions of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with true words of peace,


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Giving the force of law to these days of Purim at their fixed times, as they had been ordered by Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen. This was in keeping with the rules they had made for themselves and their descendents, in connection with their time of going without food and their cry for help.


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The order given by Esther gave the force of law to the rules about the Purim. It was recorded in the book.


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And all his acts of power and his great strength and the full story of the high place that the king gave Mordecai are they not recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Media and Persia?


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For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus. He was great among the Jews and respected by the body of his countrymen. He worked for the good of his people. He said words of peace to all his descendents.


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A man named Job lived in Uz. He was a man of integrity! He was decent, he respected God, and he stayed away from evil.


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He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, one thousand head of cattle, and five hundred donkeys. He also had a large number of servants. In fact he was the greatest <i>richest</i> of all the Orientals in the East!


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Job's sons used to take turns giving a feast. They invited many others to come, and they always invited their three sisters to join them.


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The morning after each feast, Job would get up early to offer sacrifices for each of his children in order to purify them. He always did this because he thought that one of them might have sinned by insulting God unintentionally.


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Jehovah asked him: »What have you been doing?« Satan answered: »I have been walking here and there and roaming around the earth.«


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»Did you notice my servant Job?« Jehovah asked. »There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. He respects me and is careful not to do anything evil.«


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»You have always protected him and his family and everything he owns. You bless everything he does. You have given him enough cattle to fill the whole country.


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»All right,« Jehovah said to Satan, »everything he has is in your power, but you must not hurt Job!« So Satan left.


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a messenger came running to Job. »We were plowing the fields with the cattle,« he said, »and the donkeys were in a nearby pasture.


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»Suddenly the Sabeans attacked and stole them all. They killed every one of your servants except me. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.«


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Before he finished speaking, another servant came and said: »Lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and killed them all. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.«


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Before he finished speaking, another servant came and said: »Three bands of Chaldean raiders attacked us. They took away the camels and killed all your servants except me. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.«


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No sooner had he finished speaking, then another servant came and said: »Your children were having a feast at the home of your oldest son,


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when a storm swept in from the desert. It blew the house down and killed them all. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.«


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Then Job got up and tore his clothes in grief. He shaved his head and threw himself face down on the ground.


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He said: »I was born with nothing <i>naked</i> , and I will die with nothing. Jehovah gave, and now he has taken away. Blessed be the name of Jehovah!«


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One day when the sons of God came to present themselves in front of Jehovah, Satan the Accuser came along with them.


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Jehovah asked Satan: »Where have you come from? Satan replied to Jehovah: From wandering all over the earth.«


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Jehovah asked Satan: »Have you thought about my servant Job? No one in the world is like him! He is a man of integrity! He is decent and he respects God. He stays away from evil. And he still holds on to his principles. You are trying to provoke me into ruining him for no reason.«


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Satan left Jehovahs presence and struck Job with painful boils from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head.


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He said to her: »You are talking like a godless fool. We accept the good that God gives us. Should we not also accept the bad?« Through all this Job did not speak sinful words.


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Job's three friends heard about all the terrible things that happened to him. Each of them came from his home: Eliphaz of Teman, Bildad of Shuah, and Zophar of Naama. They agreed they would go together to sympathize with Job and comfort him.


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They saw him from a distance and did not even recognize him. They cried out loud and wept. Each of them tore his clothes in grief. They threw dust on their heads.


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Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him because they saw that he was in such great pain.


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»Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it once more. May a cloud settle over it and may blackness overwhelm its light.


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»About that night, may thick darkness seize it. May it not be included among the days of the year nor be entered in any of the months.


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»May those who curse days curse that day, those who are ready to lift up Leviathan <i>Babylonian symbol of sadness and mourning</i> .


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»Let its morning stars become dark and cause it to wait for daylight in vain and not see the first rays of dawn,


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»I would be with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves places now lying in ruins.


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»Why was I not hidden in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?


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»When someone stumbled, you lifted him up with your words. When knees were weak, you gave them strength.


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»Now think about this: Which innocent person ever died an untimely death? Find me a decent person who has been destroyed.


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»The roar of the lion and the growl of the ferocious lion are loud. The young lions have had their teeth knocked out.


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»Something stood there. I could not tell what it was. A vague image was in front of my eyes. I heard a soft voice say:


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»How much more will he accuse those who live in clay houses that have their foundation in the dust? Those houses can be crushed quicker than a moth!


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»His children are far from help. They are crushed at the court of justice at the city gate. No one is there to rescue them.


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»Hungry people eat what a stubborn fool gathers. They take it even from among the thorns. Thirsty people pant after his wealth.


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»He keeps shrewd <i>crafty cunning</i> people from carrying out their plans so that they cannot do anything successfully.


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»He saves people from the sword <i>slander</i> of their mouth. He saves the needy from the power of the mighty.


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»You will have a binding agreement with the stones in the field, and wild animals will be at peace with you.


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»We have studied all of this thoroughly! This is the way it is. Listen to it, and learn it for yourself.«


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»The Almightys arrows are in me. My spirit drinks in their poison. Gods terrors set themselves against me.


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»Is tasteless food eaten without salt? Is there flavor in the white root of the marshmallow plant <i>or the white of an egg</i> ?


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»Then I would still have this consolation, my joy in unrelenting pain, that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.


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»A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes his reverence for the Almighty.


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»Is this not the struggle of all humanity? A persons life is long and hard like that of a hired hand.


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»Have I sinned? What have I done to you, O watcher of all humanity? Why have you made me your target? Am I a burden to you?


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»Why not just pardon my sin and take away my guilt? For soon I will lie down in the dust and die. When you look for me, I will be gone.«


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if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your rightful place.


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»Though I was righteous, my own mouth would condemn me. If I were blameless it would prove me perverse.


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»The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not God, who else could it be?


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»I loathe my very life. I will therefore give free rein to my complaint and speak out in my bitterness.


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»Does it please you to oppress me, to spurn the work of your hands, while you smile on the schemes of the wicked?


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»If I am wicked, woe to me! Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head, for I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.


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»You bring new witnesses against me and increase your anger toward me. Your forces come against me wave upon wave.


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and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.


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»They are higher than the heavens. What can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave. What can you know?


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»But the eyes of the wicked will fail and they will not escape. Their hope will become a dying gasp.«


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»I have become a laughingstock to my friends! I called upon God and he answered. Yet I am a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!


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»The tents of marauders prosper and those who provoke God are secure in what Gods hand brings them.


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»He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason and understanding. He sends them wandering through a pathless wilderness.


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»You fasten my feet in shackles. You keep close watch on all my paths by putting marks on the soles of my feet.


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»Mans days are determined. You have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.


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»At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.


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so men lie down and do not rise. Until the heavens are no more, men will not awake or be roused from their sleep.


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»If only you would hide me in the grave <i>Sheol</i> and conceal me till your anger has passed! If only you would set a time for me and then remember me!


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»If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my change <i>release</i> to come.


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»All his days the wicked man suffers torment and the ruthless through all the years stored up for him.


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»He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land.


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»He will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of Gods mouth will carry him away.


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»The company of the godless will be barren. And fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes.


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»I too could speak like you, if I were in your place. I could compose words against you. And I would shake my head at you.


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»You have shriveled me up. It has become a witness. And my leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.


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»His anger has torn me and hunted me down. He has gnashed at me with his teeth. My adversary glares at me.


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»They have gaped at me with their mouth. They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt. They have massed themselves against me.


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»I was at ease, but he shattered me. He has grabbed me by the neck and has shaken me to pieces. He has also set me up as his target.


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»His arrows surround me. Without mercy he splits my kidneys open. He pours out my gall on the ground.


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»You close their minds and hearts so that they cannot understand. That is why you will not honor them.


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»You tear yourself to pieces in your anger! Is the earth to be abandoned for your sake? Or must the rocks be moved from their place?


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»If you are trying to make yourselves look better than me by using my disgrace as an argument against me,


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»Yes I cry for Help! I am being attacked! But I get no response. I call for help, but there is no justice.


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»My bones cling to my skin. I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth <i>with almost nothing</i> .


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»Fear the sword and death, because your anger is punishable by the sword. Then you will know there is a judge.«


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»For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor and left them destitute. He has violently seized houses he did not build.


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»Distress will overtake him in the midst of his plenty. The full force of misery will come upon him.


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»Total darkness lies in wait for his treasures. A fire will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.


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»A flood will carry off his house. Rushing waters will wash away his possessions on the day of Gods wrath.


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»How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does calamity come upon them? How often does God distribute pains and sorrow in his anger?


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»For what do they care for their household after them, when the number of their months is cut off in death?


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»The clods of the valley are sweet to them; everyone will follow after, and those who went before are innumerable.


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»How then will you comfort me with empty and futile words? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.«


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»Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous? Is it profitable to him if you make your ways blameless?


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»You have indeed exacted pledges from your family for no reason, and stripped the naked of their clothing.


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»If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. You must remove unrighteousness from your tents,


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»You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you. The light of Gods favor will shine on your ways.


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»He will deliver even those who are guilty. They will escape because of the cleanness of your hands.«


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


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»Like wild donkeys in the desert they go out to their toil. They search in the wasteland food for their young.


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»There are those who snatch the orphan child from the breast. They take as a pledge the infant of the poor.


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»The dying groan from the city. The throat of the wounded cries for help. Yet God pays no attention to their prayer.


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»There are those who rebel against the light. They are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths.


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»The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight. He says: No eye will see me. Then he disguises his face.


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»Swift are they on the face of the waters. Their portion in the land is cursed! No treader turns toward their vineyards.


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»Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters! In the same way the grave takes those who have sinned.


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»The womb forgets them. The worm finds them sweet. They are no longer remembered. Wickedness is broken like a tree.


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»They are exalted a little while, and then are gone. They wither and fade like everything gathered up. They are cut off like the heads of grain.


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»These are indeed but the outskirts of his ways. How small a whisper do we hear from him! But who can understand the thunder of his power?


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»I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it! My conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.


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»Here is the fate God accords the wicked. This is the heritage a ruthless man receives from the Almighty:


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»No mater how many his children, their fate is the sword. His offspring will never have enough to eat.


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»They open up a mineshaft far from civilization, where no one has set foot. In this shaft men dangle and swing back and forth.


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»Then I thought: I shall die in my nest <i>house</i> , and I shall multiply my days like the grains of sand.


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»I chose their way, and sat as chief. I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.


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»Men younger than I am make fun of me now! Their fathers have always been so worthless that I would not let them help dogs guard sheep.


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»They pick mallow <i>salt herb</i> from the underbrush, and the roots of the broom plant are their food.


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»They have to live in dry riverbeds <i>the clefts of the valleys wadis</i> , in holes in the ground, and among rocks.


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»Since they consider me disgusting, they keep their distance from me and don't hesitate to spit in my face.


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»Because God has untied my cord and has made me suffer, they are no longer restrained in my presence.


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»They have attacked me on my right side like a mob. They trip my feet and then prepare ways to destroy me.


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»Terrorists turn on me; my honor is pursued as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud.


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»You lift me up on the wind, you make me ride on it, and you toss me about in the roar of the storm.


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»If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has been led by my eyes, or if my hands have been defiled,


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»If I have concealed my transgressions as others do <i>like Adam</i> , by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,


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because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silent and did not go out of doors.


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»Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me! Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!


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let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.« The words of Job are ended, JOB QUITE TALKING.


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Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry with Job because he justified himself rather than God.


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He was angry also with Jobs three friends because they found no answer, though they had declared Job to be in the wrong.


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Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite answered: »I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.


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»Listen! I waited for your words. I listened for your wise sayings, while you determined what to say.


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»I gave you my attention, but there was in fact no one that disproved Job, no one among you that answered his words.


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»Yet if there is an angel on his side as a mediator, one out of a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,


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to be gracious to him and say: Spare him from going down to the pit. I have found a ransom for him!


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»He prays to God and finds favor with him. He sees Gods face and shouts for joy! God restores him to his righteous state.


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»He comes to men and says: I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved.


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»In spite of being right I am counted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.


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»Hear me, you who have sense, far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.


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»The one who is righteous and mighty does not grant special favors to princes or prefer important people to poor people because his hands made them all.


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»They die suddenly in the middle of the night. People have seizures and pass away. Mighty people are taken away but not by human hands.


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»If God decided to do nothing at all, no one could criticize him. If he hid his face <i>refused to assist</i> , we would be helpless.


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»Since you object to what God does, can you expect him to do what you want? The decision is yours, not mine. Tell us now what you think.


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»If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?


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»Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out. They call for help because of the arm of the mighty.


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»How much less when you say that you do not see him, that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him!


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»He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous. He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.


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»If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.


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»He would bring you out of the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.


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»He thunders with the roar of his voice! It is like the majestic sound of thunder, and all the while the lightning flashes.


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»We cannot find the Almighty. He is exalted in power but will not do violence to justice and abundant righteousness.


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»What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?


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»Can you bring forth the constellations of the zodiac in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? <i>Mazzaroth Constellation</i>


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»Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open; they go forth, and do not return to them.


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»The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but they cannot compare with the pinions and feathers of the stork.


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»She treats her young cruelly, as if they were not hers. Even if her labor is in vain, she is unconcerned.


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»As often as the horn sounds, the horse says: Aha! And it smells the battle far away; the thundering orders of the captains and the battle cries.


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»Will the person who finds fault with the Almighty correct him? Will the person who argues with God answer him?«


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»The river rages, but he is not alarmed. He is secure, though the Jordan should surge against his mouth.


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»Its underside is like sharp pieces of broken pottery. It stretches out like a threshing sledge on the mud.


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»You asked: Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge? Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.


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»I am angry with you and your two friends, because you did not speak correctly about me, as my servant Job has.


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»So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You did not speak correctly about me, as my servant Job has.«


text:
So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what Jehovah told them. And Jehovah accepted Jobs prayer.


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After Job had prayed for his friends, Jehovah made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.


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All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble Jehovah allowed to come upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.


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Jehovah blessed the latter part of Jobs life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.


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Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Jobs daughters. Their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.


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After this Job lived a hundred and forty years. He saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.


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Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful mockers.


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But his delight is in the law of Jehovah, and on his law he meditates <i>ponders speaks softly with deep thought studies contemplates</i> day and night.


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He is like a tree planted by streams of water. It yields its fruit in season and its leaves do not wither. Whatever he does prospers.


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Therefore the wicked will not stand <i>be upright</i> in the judgment. The sinners will not stand <i>endure</i> in the assembly of the righteous.


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Jehovah knows <i>is fully aware of</i> the way of the righteous. But the way of the wicked will perish.


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The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against Jehovah and against his Anointed One.


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I will proclaim the decree of Jehovah: He said to me: »You are my Son. Today I have become your Father. <i>I have begotten you.</i>


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Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed <i>happy</i> are all who take refuge <i>put trust</i> in him.


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Many are saying about me: »Even with God on his side, he will not have victory <i>deliverance salvation</i> .«


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Arise, O Jehovah! Save me, O my God! You have slapped all my enemies in the face. You have broken the teeth of wicked people.


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Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my trouble. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.


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O sons of men, how long will my glorious honor be turned into shame? How long will you love empty, worthless things and search for the lie?


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But know that Jehovah has chosen and distinguished the godly man for himself. Jehovah will hear when I call to him.


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Many are saying: »Who will show us good?« Lift up the light of your countenance <i>face presence</i> upon us, O Jehovah!


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You will put gladness <i>joy</i> in my heart. It will be more than when their grain and new wine abound.


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In peace I will both lie down and sleep. For you alone, O Jehovah, make my dwelling safe and secure.


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In the morning, O Jehovah, You will hear my voice. In the morning I will address my prayer to you and be on the watch.


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But as for me, by your abundant loving kindness I will enter your house. At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence of you.


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O Jehovah, lead me in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight in my presence.


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There is nothing truthful in what they say! Their inward part is destruction. Their throat is an open grave. They flatter with their tongue.


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Pronounce them guilty, O God. Let them fall by their own devices. In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, because they are rebellious against you.


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But let all who take refuge in you rejoice. Let them ever sing for joy because you defend them. Let those who love your name exult in you.


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I am worn out from groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.


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O Jehovah do rise up in your anger. Lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies. Awake O my God. You have pronounced judgment.


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Jehovah judges the peoples. Judge me Jehovah according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.


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Let the evil of the wicked come to an end. Establish the righteous, you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God.


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I will give to Jehovah the thanks due to his righteousness. I will sing praise to the name of Jehovah, the Most High.


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O Jehovah, our Lord, how excellent is your majestic name in all the earth! You have displayed your glory above the heavens.


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From the mouths of little children and infants, you have built a fortress against your opponents to silence the enemy and the avenger.


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When I look at your heavens, the creation of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have set in place,


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You made him a little lower than god-like ones <i>God Son of God angels</i> . You crowned him with glory and honor. (John 1:18)


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The enemy is finished-in ruins forever. You have uprooted their cities. Even the memory of them has faded.


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Be merciful to me, O Jehovah! See the sufferings my enemies cause me! Rescue me from death, O Jehovah.


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Let me stand before the people of Jerusalem and tell them all the things for which I praise you. I will rejoice because you saved me.


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In his arrogant attitude he does not search for God. His faulty reasoning concludes: »There is no God.«


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He always succeeds at what he does. Your judgments are beyond his understanding. He scoffs at all his opponents.


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His mouth is full of curses, deception, and oppression. Trouble and wrongdoing are on the tip of his tongue.


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He waits in ambush in the villages. From his hiding places he kills innocent people. He searches for victims.


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He lurks in his hiding place like a lion in his den. He hides there to catch oppressed people. He catches oppressed people after he draws them into his net.


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He says in his heart <i>to himself</i> : »God has forgotten. He has hidden his face. He will never see it!«


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You have seen trouble and grief and placed them under your control. The victim entrusts himself to you. You alone have been the helper of orphans.


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You have heard the desire of humble people, O Jehovah. You encourage them. You incline your ear <i>pay close attention</i> to them.


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Wicked people bend their bows. They set their arrows against the strings to shoot in the dark at people who are upright in heart.


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Jehovah is in his holy temple. Jehovahs throne is in heaven. His eyes see. They examine the sons of men.


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Jehovah tests <i>examines</i> righteous and wicked people alike. He hates wicked people and the ones who love violence.


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He rains down fire and burning sulfur upon wicked people. He makes them drink from a cup filled with scorching wind.


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Jehovah is righteous. He loves a righteous way of life. Upright people will see his face <i>contemplate his presence</i> .


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Save me O Jehovah for no godly person is left. Faithful people have vanished from among the sons of men.


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People speak lies to one another. They speak with flattering lips and with double-heart. <i>Double Heart: They say one thing but mean another.</i>


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»Because oppressed people are robbed and needy people groan, I will now arise,« says Jehovah. »I will provide safety for those who long for it.«


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The words of Jehovah are pure, like silver refined in a furnace on the earth and purified seven times.


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How long must I make decisions alone with sorrow in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me?


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The fool says in his heart: »There is no God <i>Jehovah</i> (Psalm 10:4).« They are corrupt. They do disgusting things. No one does good things.


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Jehovah looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there is anyone who acts wisely, if there is anyone who seeks help from God.


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Everyone has turned away. Together they have become rotten to the core. No one, not even one person, does good things.


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Are all the workers of wickedness, those who devour my people as if they were devouring food, so ignorant that they do not call on Jehovah?


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If only salvation for Israel would come from Zion! When Jehovah restores his captive people, Jacob will rejoice. Israel will be glad.


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The one who does not malign with his tongue, do evil to a friend, or bring disgrace on his neighbor or close friend.


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The one who despises those rejected by God but honors those who reverence <i>respect</i> Jehovah. The one who makes a promise and does not break it even though he is hurt by it.


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The one who does not collect interest on a loan or take a bribe against an innocent person. Whoever does these things will never fall or be upset.


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Those who quickly pursue other gods multiply their sorrows. I will not pour out their sacrificial offerings of blood or use my lips to speak their names.


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I always keep Jehovah in front of me. When he is at my right hand <i>assisting me</i> , I cannot be moved.


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You make the path of life known to me. Complete joy is in your presence. It is pleasant to be at your right hand forever.


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Hear my plea for justice, O Jehovah. Pay attention to my cry. Open your ears to my prayer, spoken without deceit.


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You have probed my heart. You have confronted me at night. You have tested me like silver, but you found nothing wrong. I have decided that my mouth will not sin.


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I have called on you because you answer me, O God. Turn your ear toward me. Listen to what I have to say.


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Reveal your miraculous deeds of loving-kindness, O Savior of those who find refuge by your side from those who attack them.


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Keep me as if I were the pupil <i>apple</i> of your eye <i>center of attention</i> . Hide me in the shadow of your wings.


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Each one of them is like a lion eager to tear its prey apart and like a young lion crouching in hiding places.


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Arise, O Jehovah and confront them! Bring them to their knees! With your sword rescue my life from the wicked.


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With your power <i>by your hand</i> rescue me from mortals, O Jehovah, from mortals who look forward only to this life. You fill their bellies with your treasure. Their children are satisfied with it, and they leave what remains to their children.


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I will see your face <i>be in your presence</i> when I am declared righteous. When I wake up, I will be satisfied to see <i>perceive comprehend</i> you.


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Jehovah is my rock and my fortress. He is my deliverer. He is my God and my crag, the one in whom I take refuge. He is my shield, and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold.


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I called on Jehovah in my distress. I cried to my God for help. He heard my voice from his temple, and my cry for help reached his ears.


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Then the earth shook and quaked. Even the foundations of the mountains trembled. They shook violently because he was angry.


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Smoke went up from his nostrils. A raging fire came out of his mouth. Glowing coals were kindled by it.


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He shot his arrows and scattered them. He flashed streaks of lightning to agitate <i>disturb and trouble</i> them.


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The ocean floor could be seen. The foundations of the earth were laid bare at your stern warning, O Jehovah, at the blast of the breath from your nostrils.


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He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, because they were too strong for me.


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God's way is perfect! The word of Jehovah has proven to be true. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.


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You have given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand supports me. Your gentleness <i>humility meekness</i> makes me great.


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They cried out for help, but there was no one to save them. They cried out to Jehovah, but he did not answer them.


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I beat them into powder as fine as the dust blown by the wind. I threw them out as though they were dirt on the streets.


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You rescued me from my conflicts with the people. You made me the leader of nations. A people I did not know will serve me:


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Foreigners will lose heart <i>lose courage</i> . They will tremble when they come out of their fortifications.


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That is why I will give thanks to you, O Jehovah, among the nations and make music to praise your name.


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He gives great victories to his king. He shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his descendants forever.


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Yet, their measuring line <i>rule</i> has gone out into the entire world, their message to the ends of the earth. He has set up a tent in the heavens for the sun.


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It rises from one end of the heavens. It circles around to the other. Nothing is hidden from its heat.


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The law of Jehovah is perfect. It gives new life. The testimony of Jehovah is dependable. It makes the simple wise.


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The statutes of Jehovah are correct. They make the heart rejoice. The commandments of Jehovah are radiant. They make the eyes shine.


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The reverence of Jehovah is pure. It endures forever. The decisions of Jehovah are true. They are completely fair.


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They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even the drippings from a honeycomb.


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Keep me from sinning. Do not let anyone gain control over me. Then I will be blameless, and I will be free from any great offense.


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May the words from my mouth and the thoughts from my heart be acceptable to you, O Jehovah, my rock and my Redeemer <i>Purchaser</i> .


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We will rejoice in your salvation. We will wave our flags in the name of our God. Jehovah will fulfill all your petitions.


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Now I know that Jehovah will save his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty deeds of his powerful hand.


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He asked you for life. You gave him a long life, forever and ever <i>perpetuity long lasting time</i> .


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Your hand <i>spirit and power</i> will discover all your enemies. Your powerful hand will find all who hate you.


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When you appear, you will make them burn like a blazing furnace. Jehovah will swallow them up in his anger. Fire will devour them.


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My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far away from my deliverance, so far away from the words of my moaning?


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»Put yourself in Jehovahs hands. Let Jehovah save him! Let God rescue him since he is pleased with him!«


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I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart has melted within me like wax <i>I am weak</i> .


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My power is dried up like pieces of broken pottery. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me down in the dust of death.


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All who reverence Jehovah, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob honor him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel.


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Jehovah has not despised or been disgusted with the plight of the oppressed one. He has not hidden his face from that person. Jehovah heard when that oppressed person cried out to him for help.


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My praise comes from you while I am among those assembled for worship. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who respect Jehovah.


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Humble <i>meek</i> people will eat until they are full. Those who look to Jehovah will praise him. May your heart live forever.


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All the ends of the earth will remember and return to Jehovah. All the families from all the nations will worship you.


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All prosperous people on earth will eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust will kneel in front of him, even those who are barely alive.


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Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me.


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You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.


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Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of Jehovah forever.


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He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up <i>turned</i> to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully.


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Lift your heads, you gates. Be lifted up, you ancient doors, so that the king of glory will come in.


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No one who waits for you will ever be put to shame, but all who are treacherous will be put to shame.


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Make me walk <i>guide me bend me</i> in your truth and teach me because you are my God of salvation. I wait all day long for you.


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Do not remember the sins of my youth or my rebellious ways. O Jehovah, remember me in keeping with your loving kindness and your goodness.


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All the paths of Jehovah are loving-kindness <i>mercy</i> and truth for those who cling to his promise and written instructions.


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Who is this person who respects Jehovah? He is the one whom Jehovah will teach the way he should choose.


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Vindicate me, O Jehovah, because I have walked with <i>a life-style of</i> integrity and I have trusted you without wavering.


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O Jehovah, I love the place where you live, the home <i>spiritual retreat heart and mind</i> where your glory dwells.


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Jehovah is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the stronghold of my life. Who is there to be afraid of?


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Even though an army sets up camp against me, my heart will not be afraid. Even though a war breaks out against me, I will trust in Jehovah.


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I have asked one thing from Jehovah. This I will seek: to live in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to look at Jehovahs beauty and search for an answer in his temple.


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He hides me in his shelter when there is trouble. He keeps me hidden in his tent. He puts me high on a rock.


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Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies who surround me. I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy in his tent. I will sing, yes I will sing praises to Jehovah.


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You said: »Seek my face <i>look for me my presence</i> .« My heart said to you, »O Jehovah, I will look for you.«


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Do not hide your face from me. Do not angrily turn me away. You have been my help. Do not leave me! Do not abandon me, O God of my salvation!


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Do not surrender me to the will of my opponents. False witnesses have risen against me. They breathe out violence.


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Hope <i>wait expect trust</i> in Jehovah and be strong. Let your heart be courageous. Yes, hope in Jehovah.


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O Jehovah, I call to you. O my rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. If you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit <i>grave</i> .


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Hear the voice of my prayer when I call to you for help, when I lift my hands <i>in prayer</i> toward your most holy place.


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Do not drag me away with the wicked and with troublemakers who speak of peace with their neighbors but have evil in their hearts.


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Pay them back for what they have done, for their evil deeds. Pay them back for what their hands have done, and give them recompense.


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Jehovah will tear them down and never build them up again. This is because they never consider what he has done or what his hands have made.


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Jehovah is my strength and my shield. My heart trusted him, so I received help. My heart is triumphant and I thank him with my song.


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The voice of Jehovah makes the deer to calve and strips the forests bare. In His temple everything says: »Glory!«


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Jehovah will give power <i>strength</i> to his people. Jehovah will bless his people with peace <i>prosperity health safety</i> .


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I will praise and exalt You, O Jehovah, for you lifted me up. You did not let my enemies rejoice over me.


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O Jehovah, you brought me up from the grave. You kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit.


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For His anger is only for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime! Weeping may last for the night but a shout of joy comes in the morning.


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By your favor, O Jehovah, you made my mountain to stand strong. You hid your face and I was alarmed <i>dismayed</i> .


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What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it declare your truth?


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Now I sing praise to you. I am not silent! O Jehovah my God, I will give thanks and praise you forever.


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I have taken refuge in you, O Jehovah. Never let me be put to shame. Deliver me because of your righteousness.


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Turn your ear toward me. Rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a stronghold fortress to save me.


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I will rejoice and be glad because of your loving-kindness <i>mercy</i> . You have seen my misery. You have known my troubles.


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Be gracious to me, O Jehovah, because I am in distress. My eyes, my life, and my body waste away with grief.


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My life is spent from sorrow, my years from groaning. My strength staggers under the weight of my guilt, and my bones waste away.


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I have become a disgrace because of all my opponents. I have become someone dreaded by my friends, even by my neighbors. Those who see me on the street run away from me.


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I have heard the whispering of many people, terror on every side, while they made plans together against me. They were plotting to take my life.


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Make your face shine on me <i>smile on me show me favor be kind and merciful to me</i> . Save me in your loving-kindness.


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O Jehovah, I have called on you, so do not let me be put to shame. Let wicked people be put to shame. Let them be silent in the grave.


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Let their lying lips be speechless, since they speak against righteous people with arrogance and contempt.


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Your goodness is so great! You reserve it for those who respect you. The sons of men watch as you show it to those who take refuge in you.


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You hide them in the secret place of your presence from those who scheme against them. You keep them in a secret shelter, safe from quarrelsome tongues.


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When I was panic-stricken, I said: I have been cut off from your sight. But you heard my pleas for mercy when I cried out to you for help.


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Love Jehovah, all you godly ones! Jehovah protects faithful people, but he pays back in full those who act arrogantly.


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I confessed my sins to you, and I did not cover up my guilt. I decided to confess them to you, O Jehovah. Then you forgave all my sins.


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For this reason let all godly people pray to you when you may be found. Then raging floodwater will not reach them.


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You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyous songs of salvation.


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Jehovah says: »I will instruct you. I will teach you the way that you should go. I will advise you as my eyes watch over you.


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»Do not be stubborn like a horse or mule. They need a bit and bridle in their mouth to restrain them, or they will not come near you.«


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Very much pain awaits wicked people, but loving-kindness and mercy surrounds those who trust Jehovah.


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Blessed is the nation whos God is Jehovah. Happy are the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.


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Remember, the eye of Jehovah is on those who respect him, on those who hope for his loving-kindness.


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Young lions go hungry and may starve, but those who seek Jehovahs help have all the good things they need.


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Jehovah is near to those whose hearts and minds are humble and contrite. He saves the broken hearted and crushed in spirit.


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Let those who seek my life be put to shame and disgraced. Let those who plan my downfall be turned back in confusion.


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Surprise them with destruction. Let the net that they hid catch them. Let them fall into their own pit and be destroyed.


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All my bones will say: »O Jehovah, who can compare with you? You rescue the weak person from the one who is too strong for him and weak and needy people from the one who robs them.«


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But when they were sick, I wore sackcloth. I humbled myself with fasting. My prayer returned unanswered.


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I walked around as if I were mourning for my friend or my brother. I was bent over as if I were mourning for my mother.


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Yet, when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together. They gathered together against me. Unknown attackers tore me apart without stopping.


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O Jehovah, how long will you observe? Rescue me from their attacks. Rescue my precious life from the lions.


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Do not let my treacherous enemies gloat over me. Do not let those who hate me for no reason wink maliciously.


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Let those who gloat over my downfall be thoroughly put to shame and confused. Let those who promote themselves at my expense be clothed with shame and disgrace.


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Let those who are happy when I am declared innocent joyfully sing and rejoice. Let them continually say: »Jehovah is great. He is happy when his servant has peace.«


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Your righteousness is like the mountains of God. Your judgments are like great deep water. O Jehovah, you preserve man and beast.


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How precious is your loving-kindness, O God! And the children of men put their trust in the shadow of your wings.


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They drink their fill of the abundance of your house. You give them the river of your delights to drink.


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For with you is the fountain <i>source</i> of life. In your light we see light. (Jeremiah 2:13) (Acts 17:28)


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O continue your kindness and unchanging love to those who know you and your righteousness to the upright in heart.


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Surrender to Jehovah and wait patiently for him. Do not be preoccupied with an evildoer who succeeds in his way when he carries out his schemes.


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Let go of anger, and leave rage behind. Do not be agitated with anger and jealousy. It only leads to evil.


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A short time from now the wicked man will be no more. You will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.


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The meek <i>gentle mild humble</i> will inherit the earth and will delight in the abundance 0f peace.


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The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow to throw down the afflicted and the needy, to slay those who are upright in conduct.


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But the wicked will perish! The enemies of Jehovah will be like the glory of the pastures. They vanish, like smoke they vanish away.


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I have been young, and now I am old, but I have never seen a righteous person abandoned or his descendants begging for food.


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Jehovah loves justice, and he will not abandon his godly ones. They will be kept safe forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be destroyed.


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The righteous will inherit <i>seize take possession of</i> the earth, and dwell on it forever <i>in perpetuity</i> .


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Wait for Jehovah and keep his way and he will exalt you to inherit the earth. You will see it when the wicked are destroyed.


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Jehovah helps them and delivers them. He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take put their trust in Him.


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No healthy spot is left on my body because of your rage. There is no peace in my bones because of my sin.


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My loved ones and my friends keep their distance and my relatives stand far away because of my sickness.


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Those who seek my life lay traps for me. Those who are out to harm me talk about ruining me. All day long they think of ways to deceive me.


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I said: Do not let them gloat over me. When my foot slips, do not let them promote themselves at my expense.


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I said: »I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue. I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence.«


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»Jehovah, please make me to know my end. What is the extent of my days? Let me know how temporary <i>frail destitute</i> I am.


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»Indeed, you have made the length of my days very short. My life span is nothing compared to yours. Certainly, everyone alive is like a whisper in the wind.


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»Every man walks about like a vain illusion. He makes a lot of noise over nothing. He hoards riches and does not know who will receive them.


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»With stern reproof you discipline people for their iniquity. Like a moth you consume what is dear to them. Certainly, everyone is like a breath of air.


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»Hear my prayer, O Jehovah. Open your ear <i>listen</i> to my cry for help. Do not be deaf to my tears, for I am a foreign resident with you, a stranger like all my fathers.


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He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud and clay. He set my feet upon a rock and made me stand erect.


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He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see, respect and trust in Jehovah.


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Blessed is the man who has made Jehovah his security. He has not turned to the proud, or to those who turn aside into falsehood.


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O Jehovah my God, Many are the wonders that you have done and your thoughts toward us. None can compare with you. If I would declare and teach about them, they would be too numerous to report.


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You have not desired sacrifice and meal offering. You have opened my ears. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.


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»I announced the good news of righteousness in the great congregation. I will not close my lips. You know that, O Jehovah.


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»I have not hidden your righteousness deep in my heart. I have been outspoken about your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not hidden your mercy and your truth from the great congregation.«


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Do not withhold your compassion from me, O Jehovah. May your mercy and your truth always protect me.


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Countless evils have surrounded me. My sins have caught up with me so that I can no longer see. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost heart <i>lost strength, courage and motivation</i> .


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Let all those who seek to end my life be confused and put to shame. Let those who want my downfall be turned back and disgraced.


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Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation continually say: Jehovah is greatly magnified!


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I am oppressed and needy. May Jehovah think of me. You are my help and my salvation. O my God, do not delay!


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Blessed <i>happy</i> is the one who has concern for helpless people. Jehovah will rescue <i>save</i> him in times of trouble.


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Jehovah will guard him and keep him alive. He will be blessed in the land. Do not place him at the mercy of his enemies.


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When one of them comes to visit me, he speaks falsehood. His heart collects gossip. Then he leaves to tell others.


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I remember these things and I pour out my heart within me. I used to go along with the crowd and lead them in procession to the house of God, with the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.


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Why am I discouraged? Why am I so restless? I put my hope in God for I will still praise him. He is my salvation and my God.


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I am very discouraged. That is why I will remember you in the land of Jordan, on the peaks of Hermon, on Mount Mizar.


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One deep sea calls to another at the roar of your waterspouts. All the whitecaps on your waves have swept over me.


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Jehovah commands his mercy during the day, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.


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I will ask God, my rock: »Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk around in mourning while the enemy oppresses me?«


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As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me, while they say to me all day long: »Where is your God?«


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Why am I in despair? Why have I become disturbed within me? Wait for God for I shall yet praise him, the help of my countenance and my God.


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Judge me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation. Deliver me from deceitful and unjust people!


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You are the God of my strength. Why have you rejected me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?


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O send out your light and your truth. Let them lead me! Let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling places.


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I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy. Upon the lyre I will praise you, O God, my God.


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Why am I in despair? Why am I so deeply disturbed within me? I will put my hope in God, for I will praise him as my salvation and my God.


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O God, we have heard with our ears and our fathers told us about the work that you did in their days, in the days of old.


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You drove out the nations with your own hand <i>great power</i> . Then you planted them; you afflicted the peoples and spread them abroad.


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It was not with their swords that they took possession of the land. They did not gain victory with their own strength. It was your right hand, your arm <i>power</i> , and the light of your presence that did it, because you were pleased with them.


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This is because of the words of those who insult and slander us, because of the presence of the enemy and the avenger.


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Beautiful words fill my mind and stir my heart, as I compose this song for the king. Like the pen of a skilful writer <i>copyist</i> my tongue is ready with a poem.


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Ride on in majesty to victory for the defense truth, justice and righteousness! Your right hand <i>strength</i> will teach you great things!


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Your arrows are sharp. The peoples fall under you. Your arrows are in the heart of the King's enemies.


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You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, Your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy above your fellows.


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All Your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. Stringed instruments from the ivory palaces have made you glad.


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Kings' daughters are among your noble ladies. At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.


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She will be led to the King in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, will be brought to you.


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I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples will give you thanks forever and ever.


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Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea.


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There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.


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He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth! He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two. He burns the chariots <i>instruments of destruction</i> with fire.


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Cease your endeavors and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be glorified in the earth!


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The princes of the people have assembled as the people of the God of Abraham. For the rulers <i>shields protectors</i> of the earth belong to God! He has ascended to the heights.


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His situation if beautiful. Mount Zion is the joy of the whole earth. The city of the great King is in the far reaches of the north.


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In the city of Jehovah of Hosts we have seen as we have heard. God will establish the city of God forever.


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We have thought about <i>considered compared</i> your loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of your Temple.


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Like <i>according to</i> your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.


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I will incline my ear <i>turn my attention</i> to a proverb. I will explain my riddle with the music of a harp.


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One can see that wise people die, that foolish and stupid people meet the same end. They leave their wealth to others.


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Inwardly they think their houses are forever, their dwelling place to all generations. So they named their lands after themselves.


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Like sheep, they are laid in the grave. Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule them in the morning. Their forms will decay in the grave, far away from their comfortable homes.


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Even though he blesses himself while he is alive. <i>People will praise you when you do well for yourself.</i>


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The Almighty Divine One, God of Gods, Jehovah has spoken. He has summoned the earth from where the sun rises to where it sets.


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Our God will come and will not keep silent. A devouring fire is in front of him and a raging storm is around him.


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»Listen, my people, and I will speak. Hear O Israel, while I testify against you: I am God, your God!


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»I do not reprove you for your sacrifices or burnt offerings, which are constantly <i>always</i> in front of me.


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»When you did these things, I remained silent. That made you think I was like you. I will argue my point with you and lay it all out for you to see.


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»Consider this, you who do not remember God. Otherwise, I will tear you to pieces, and there will be no one to deliver.


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»Whoever offers thanks as a sacrifice honors me. I will let everyone who continues in my way see the salvation that comes from God.«


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Have mercy on me, O God, in keeping with your loving-kindness. According to your unlimited compassion, wipe out my transgressions.


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I have sinned against you, especially you. I have done what you consider evil in your sight. So you hand down justice when you speak, and you are blameless when you judge.


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Rescue <i>deliver</i> me from the bloodguilt of murder O God of my salvation. Let my tongue sing joyfully about your righteousness!


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You do not desire sacrifice. Otherwise, I would offer one to you. You are not pleased with burnt offerings.


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The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful <i>contrite</i> heart.


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Then you will be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness <i>offered in the right spirit</i> (Heb 13:15) with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Young bulls will be offered on your altar.


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Why do you brag about the evil you have done, O mighty man? The loving kindness of God endures continually!


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God will destroy you forever. He will remove you from your dwelling place from out of the land of the living.


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Here is the man who did not make God his strength <i>refuge stronghold</i> . He trusted in the abundance of his riches. He strengthened himself in his wickedness.


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But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy and loving kindness of God forever and ever.


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I will thank you forever for what you have done. I will wait in your name, for it is good, in the presence of your holy <i>God-like</i> ones.


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The fool has said in his heart: »There is no God <i>Jehovah</i> *.« They are corrupt and have done abominable <i>detestable</i> iniquity. There are none who do good. <i>*Possible deliberate scribal change from YHWH to Elohim</i>


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God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any who understand and seek God.


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Every one of them has gone back: they are totally corrupted <i>filthy</i> . None do good, no, not one.


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Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? They eat up my people as they eat bread. They have not called upon God.


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There they were in great fear, where no fear was: for God has scattered the bones of him that encamps against you. You have put them to shame, because God has despised them.


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Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When Jehovah brings his people back from captivity, Jacob and Israel will rejoice and be glad.


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For strangers have risen up against me. And oppressors seek after my life. They have not kept God in their presence.


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This is because my enemy shouts at me and a wicked person persecutes me. They bring misery crashing down on me, and they attack me out of anger.


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If an enemy had insulted me, then I could tolerate it. If someone who hated me had attacked me, then I could hide from him.


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Let death suddenly take them! Let them go into the grave while they are still alive, for evil lives in their homes and within them.


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God will listen and answer them. The one who has sat enthroned from the beginning will deal with them. They never change. They never respect God.


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His speech was smoother than butter, but his heart was war! His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.


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Throw your burden upon Jehovah and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken!


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But You, O God, will bring them down to the corruption of the grave. Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.


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In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?


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For you have delivered me from death, and my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God in the light of the living.


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Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me for I take refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge until disaster has passed.


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He will send from heaven, and save me, He rebukes the one who is pursuing me. God will send out his loving kindness and his truth.


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I am among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows. Their tongue is a sharp sword.


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They have prepared a net for my steps. I am bowed down. They dig a pit before me. But they have fallen into it.


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My heart is steadfast O God. Yes my heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing and make melody.


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I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O Jehovah. I will sing praises to you among the nations.


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Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones <i>O you God-like ones</i> ? Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men?


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No, in your heart you plot unrighteousness. You measure out the violence of your hands on the earth.


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Let them be like a snail that melts and passes away, like the stillborn child, who has not seen the sun.


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Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns, he will sweep away the green and the burning alike.


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The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.


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They lie in ambush for me right here! Fierce men attack me, O Jehovah, but not because of any disobedience.


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And not because any sin or any guilt on my part. They hurry to take positions against me. Wake up, and help me; see for yourself.


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O Jehovah God of Hosts, God of Israel, arise to punish all the nations. Have no pity on any who pursue iniquity.


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Do not kill them. Otherwise, my people may forget. Make them wander aimlessly by your power. Bring them down, O Jehovah, our shield.


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This is because of the sins from their mouths and the words on their lips. Let them be trapped by their own arrogance because they speak curses and lies.


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Destroy them in your rage. Destroy them until not one of them is left. Then they will know that God rules Jacob to the ends of the earth.


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But I will sing about your strength. In the morning I will joyfully sing about your loving-kindness. You have been my stronghold and a place of safety in times of trouble.


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O my strength, I will make music to praise you! God is my defense <i>high fortress</i> , my merciful God!


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O God, you have rejected us. You have broken us down. You have been displeased and angry. Restore us, again.


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God has spoken from his sanctuary: I will triumph. I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth.


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How long will all of you attack a man? How long will you try to murder him, as though he were a leaning wall or a sagging fence?


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They plan to force him out of his high position. They are happy to lie. They bless with their mouths, but in their hearts they curse.


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Common people are only a vapor in the wind. Important people are only a delusion. When all of them are weighed on a scale, they amount to nothing. They are less than a vapor in the wind.


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Do not count on extortion to make you rich. Do not hope to gain anything through robbery. When riches increase, do not depend on them.


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O God, you are my God. At dawn I search for you. I thirst for you. My body longs for you in a dry, parched land where there is no water.


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My lips will praise you because your love <i>mercy loving kindness steadfast love</i> is better than life.


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So I will bless <i>thank</i> you as long as I live. I will lift up my hands <i>in prayer</i> in your name.


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But the king will find joy in God. Everyone who takes an oath by God will speak praise, but the mouths of liars will be shut.


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They devise evil plans and say: We will commit the perfect crime. The thoughts and the heart of man are deep.


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The righteous man will be glad in Jehovah. He will take refuge in him. The upright in heart will sing praises.


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How blessed is the one you choose to bring near to you, to dwell in your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy Temple.


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By awesome deeds you answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation. You are trusted to the ends of the earth and the farthest sea.


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He established the mountains with his power. He is girded <i>fortified surrounded</i> with mighty strength.


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They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of your signs. You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.


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You visit the earth and cause it to overflow. You greatly enrich it! The stream of God is full of water. You prepare their grain and thus you prepare the earth.


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You water its furrows abundantly; you settle its ridges and soften it with showers. You bless its growth.


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The meadows are clothed with flocks and the valleys are covered with grain. They shout for joy, yes, they sing.


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Say to God: How awe-inspiring are your deeds! Your power is so great that your enemies will cringe in front of you.


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The whole earth will worship you. They will sing praises to you. They will make music to praise your name.


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He turned the sea into dry land. They crossed the river on foot. We rejoiced because of what he did there.


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You let people ride over our heads. We went through fire and water, but then you brought us out and refreshed us.


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I will offer you a sacrifice of fattened livestock for burnt offerings with the smoke from rams. I will offer cattle and goats.


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Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy. For you will judge the peoples with uprightness, and govern the nations on earth.


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As smoke is driven away, drive them away: as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish at the presence of God.


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Sing to God, sing praises to his name: extol him who rides upon the heavens by his name, Jehovah, and rejoice before him.


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God sets the lonely in families. He frees the prisoners who are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.


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The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: Sinai was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.


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They say: The kings of the armies flee; they run away. The women who remained at home will divide the goods.


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Though you stayed among the sheep pens, you will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver, its feathers with yellow gold.


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The mountain of Bashan is the mountain of God. The mountain of Bashan is the mountain with many peaks.


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Why do you look with envy <i>desire greed</i> , you mountains with many peaks, at the mountain where God has chosen to live? Certainly, Jehovah will live there forever.


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The chariots of God are myriads in number, thousands upon thousands. Jehovah is among them. The God of Sinai is in his holy place.


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You went to the highest place. You took prisoners captive. You have received gifts in the form of people, even from among rebellious people, so that Jehovah God may live there <i>with them</i> .


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Certainly, God will crush the heads of his enemies and destroy even the hair on the heads of those who continue to be guilty.


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so that you, my people, may bathe your feet in blood and the tongues of your dogs may lick the blood of your enemies.


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O God, Your festival processions can be seen by everyone. They are the processions for my God, my king, into the holy place.


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The singers are in front. The musicians are behind them. The young women beating tambourines are between them.


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Benjamin, the youngest, is leading them, next the leaders of Judah with their noisy crowds, then the leaders of Zebulun, and then the leaders of Naphtali.


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Threaten the beast that is among the cattails, the herd of bulls with the calves of the nations, until it humbles itself with pieces of silver. Scatter the people who find joy in war.


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God rides through the highest heavens, which are from ancient times, the highest heaven. Listen! He makes his powerful voice heard.


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God, the God of Israel, is awe-inspiring in his holy place. He gives strength and power to his people. Praise God!


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I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.


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Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I did not take away.


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Do not let those who wait for you to be shamed through me, Lord Jehovah of Hosts. Do not let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, God of Israel.


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But as for me, my prayer is to you, Jehovah, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.


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Deliver me out of the mire, and do not let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.


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Do not let the floodwaters overwhelm me; neither let the deep swallow me up. Do not let the pit shut its mouth on me.


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Answer me, Jehovah, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.


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Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.


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Let those who seek my life be confused and put to shame. Let those who want my downfall be turned back and disgraced.


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Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad because of you. Let those who love your salvation continually say: »Let God be magnified!«


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But I am oppressed and needy. O God, come to me quickly. You are my help and my deliverer. O Jehovah do not delay!


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I have relied on you all my life. You have protected me since the day I was born. I will always praise you.


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Let those who accuse me come to a shameful end. Let those who want my downfall be covered with disgrace and humiliation.


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All day long my mouth will tell of your righteousness and of your salvation. I do not know the number.


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I will come with the mighty deeds of Jehovah God. I will make mention of your righteousness, yours alone.


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And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare your strength to this generation, your power to all who are to come.


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Your righteousness also, God, reaches to the heavens. You have done great things. God, who is like you?


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You who have shown us many and bitter troubles, you will let me live. You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.


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I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God. I sing praises to you with the stringed instrument, Holy One of Israel.


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My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long. They who want to harm me are disappointed and confounded.


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He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces.


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In his day the righteous will flourish. There will be abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.


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The kings of Tarshish and of the isles will bring tribute <i>presents</i> . The kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts.


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He will redeem <i>rescue</i> them from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.


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He will live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba. Men shall pray for him continually. They shall praise him all day long.


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There shall be abundance of grain throughout the land. Its fruit sways like Lebanon. Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field.


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His name will endure forever. His name will continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and call him blessed.


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Blessed be to his glorious name forever. May the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!


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They have no drudgery in their lives like ordinary people. They are not plagued with problems like mankind.


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It is like waking up from a dream, O Jehovah. When you awake you will despise everything they represent.


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It is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in Jehovah God, that I may declare all your works.


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God, why have you rejected us forever? Why do you smoke with anger against the sheep of your pasture?


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Remember your congregation, which you purchased long ago. For you have redeemed it to be the tribe of your inheritance, Mount Zion, in which you have lived.


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Your adversaries have roared in the middle of your assembly. They have set up their standards as signs.


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They said in their hearts: »We will destroy them completely. They burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.«


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You divided the sea by your strength. You broke the heads of the sea monsters <i>Egypts Army</i> in the waters.


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Do not deliver your turtledove <i>endeared</i> to wild beasts. Do not forget the life of your poor forever.


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Do not forget the voice of your adversaries. The tumult of those who rise up against you ascends continually.


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We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your name is near and men declare your wondrous works.


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The earth and all who dwell in it dissolve <i>melt become faint hearted</i> . I have firmly set its pillars.


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I said to the boastful: »Do not boast!« I said to the wicked: »Do not lift up the horn <i>brag about your power</i> !«


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Jehovah holds a cup in his hand. The wine foams and is well mixed. So he pours from it. Surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs.


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He will remove the horn <i>power</i> of the wicked. The horn <i>power</i> of the righteous will be exalted.


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The strong and valiant were plundered, they sank into sleep. None of the warriors could use his hands.


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Make vows to Jehovah your God and fulfill them. Let all who are around him bring gifts to him. He should be respected.


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In the day of my trouble I sought Jehovah. My hand was stretched out in the night, and did not get tired. I refused to be comforted.


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The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind. The lightning lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.


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We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, and his strength and his wondrous works that he has done.


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He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel. This he commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children,


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That the generation to come might know, the children to be born, that they may arise and tell to their children,


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That they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God but keep his commandments.


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They should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God.


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The sons of Ephraim were archers well equipped with bows. Yet they turned and ran in the day of battle.


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Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, and streams were overflowing; Can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people?


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Therefore Jehovah heard and was full of wrath. A fire was kindled against Jacob and anger also mounted against Israel,


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The anger of God rose against them and killed some of their stoutest ones, and subdued the choice men of Israel.


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He brought their days to an end like a whisper in the wind. He brought their years to an end in terror.


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When he killed some of them, the rest searched for him. They turned from their sins and eagerly looked for God.


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But he is compassionate. He forgave their sin. He did not destroy them. He restrained his anger many times. He did not display all of his fury.


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How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness! How often they caused him grief in the desert!


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He sent his fierce burning anger, his rage and fury against them. He sent an army of destroying angels.


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He cleared a path for his anger. He did not spare them from death. He let the plague take their lives.


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He destroyed every firstborn in Egypt, the ones born in the tents of Ham when their fathers were young.


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He drove nations out of their way and gave them the land of the nations as their inheritance. He settled the tribes of Israel in their own tents.


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They were disloyal and treacherous like their ancestors. They were like arrows shot from a defective bow.


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They provoked him to anger <i>indignation</i> because of their illegal worship sites. They made him furious because they worshiped idols.


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He built his holy place to be like the high heavens, like the earth that he made to last for a long time.


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He brought him from tending the ewes that had lambs so that David could be the shepherd of the people of Jacob, of Israel, the people who belonged to Jehovah.


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O God, the nations have invaded the land that belongs to you. They have dishonored <i>defiled</i> your holy temple. They have left Jerusalem in ruins.


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They have given the dead bodies of your servants to the birds for food. They have given the flesh of your godly ones to the animals.


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They have shed the blood of your people around Jerusalem as though it were water. There is no one to bury your people.


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How long, O Jehovah? Will you remain angry forever? Will your fury <i>zeal</i> continue to burn like fire?


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Pour your fury <i>anger</i> on the nations that do not know you, on the kingdoms that have not called you.


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Do not hold the crimes of our ancestors against us. Reach out to us soon with your compassion, because we are helpless.


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Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Rescue us, and provide atonement for our sins for the honor of your name.


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Why should the nations be allowed to say: Where is their God? Let us watch as the nations learn that there is punishment for shedding the blood of your servants.


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Let the groans of prisoners come into your presence. With your powerful arm <i>according to the greatness of your power</i> rescue those who are condemned to death.


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Pay each one of our neighbors back with seven times the number of insults they used to insult you, O Jehovah.


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Your people, the flock in your pasture, will thank you forever. We will praise you throughout all generations.


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Oh, give ear <i>listen</i> , Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!


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O God, restore us and cause your face to shine <i>smile on us show us favor</i> that we will be saved.


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O Jehovah God, commander of armies, restore us, and cause your face to shine <i>smile</i> on us so that we may be saved.


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He established it for a testimony in Joseph <i>Israel</i> when he went throughout the land of Egypt. I heard a language that I did not understand. He said:


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»You called in trouble and I rescued you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you at the waters of Meribah..


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»I, Jehovah, am your God! I brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.


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»Those who hate Jehovah would pretend obedience <i>submission</i> to him. Their time of punishment would be long lasting.


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God stands in the congregation of the mighty. He pronounces judgment among the god-like ones: (John 10:35)


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Wicked people do not know or understand anything. As they walk around in the dark, all the foundations of the earth shake.


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They say: »Come and let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.«


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How I want to be there! I long to be in Jehovahs temple. With my whole being I sing for joy to the living God.


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Even small birds have built a nest, and the swallows have their own home. They keep their young near your altars O Jehovah my king and my God.


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How happy are those whose strength comes from you, who are eager to make the pilgrimage to Mount Zion.


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As they pass through the dry valley of Baca, it becomes a place of springs; the autumn rain fills it with pools.


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One day in your courtyards is better than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.


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For Jehovah God is a sun and shield. Jehovah will give favor and honor. He will not withhold blessing from those who walk faithfully in truth.


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I want to hear what the Lord Jehovah says, because he promises peace to his people, to his godly ones. But they must not go back to their stupidity.


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You, O Jehovah, are good and forgiving, full of loving kindness toward everyone who calls out to you.


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All the nations that you have made will bow in your presence, Jehovah. They will honor <i>glorify</i> you.


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I will give thanks to you with all my heart, Jehovah my God. I will honor <i>glorify</i> you forever.


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O God, arrogant people attack me, and a mob of ruthless people seeks my life. They think nothing of you.


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But you, O Jehovah, are a compassionate and merciful God. You are patient, always faithful and ready to forgive.


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Turn toward me, have pity and be gracious to me. Give me your strength because I am your servant. Save me because I am the son of your female servant.


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Grant me some proof of your goodness so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame. You, O Jehovah, have helped me and comforted me.


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I will mention Rahab <i>defamatory word for Egypt a boaster</i> (Isaiah 30:7) and Babylon among those who know me. Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia: »This one was born there.«


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But of Zion it shall be said: »This one and that one were born in her and the Most High will establish her.«


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Then those who sing as well as those who play the flutes will say: »All my springs of joy are in you.«


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I am abandoned with the dead, like those who have been killed and lie in graves. I am like those whom you no longer remember, who are cut off from your hand <i>power care</i> .


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You have taken my friends far away from me. You made me disgusting to them. I am shut in, and I cannot get out.


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My eyes grow weak because of my suffering. All day long I call out to you, O Jehovah. I stretch out my hands to you in prayer.


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Will anyone tell about your loving kindness in the grave or about your faithfulness after they parish?


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Will anyone know about your miracles in that dark place or about your righteousness <i>mercy</i> in the place of destruction?


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Ever since I was young, I have been suffering and near death. I have endured your terrors, and now I am in despair.


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I will sing of the loving kindness of Jehovah forever. With my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.


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For I have said: »Loving-kindness will be built up forever. You will establish your faithfulness in the heavens.«


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The heavens will praise your wonders, O Jehovah, Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.


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He is a God greatly reverenced in the council of the holy ones. He is awesome above all those who are around Him?


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You crushed Rahab like one who is slain. You scattered your enemies with your mighty arm <i>power</i> .


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You have a strong arm! Your hand is mighty <i>power by Holy Spirit</i> ; your right hand is exalted.


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Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before you.


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How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Jehovah, they walk in the light of your countenance.


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For you are the glory of their strength and by your favor our horn <i>strength</i> is exalted <i>increased</i> .


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Once you spoke in vision to your godly ones. You said: »I have given help to one who is mighty. I have exalted one chosen from the people.«


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But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him. In my name, his horn <i>power strength</i> will be exalted <i>increased</i> .


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How long, O Jehovah? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your anger continue to burn like fire?


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Where is the evidence of your mercy, Lord? You swore an oath to David on the basis of your faithfulness.


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Jehovah, remember the reproach of your servant. Remember how I have carried in my heart the insults from so many people.


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Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and its inhabitants, you are God from everlasting to everlasting.


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In your sight a thousand years are like a single day, like yesterday, already past like an hour in the night.


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The days of our lives are seventy or eighty years if we are in good health. But the best of them bring trouble and misery. Indeed, they are soon gone, and we fly away.


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Satisfy us every morning with your loving kindness so that we may sing for joy and rejoice all our days.


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Make us rejoice for as many days as you have made us suffer, for as many years as we have experienced evil.


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Let the kindness of Jehovah our God be with us. Confirm for us the work of our hands. Yes, confirm the work of our hands.


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He is the one who will rescue you from the bird hunters trap <i>fowlers snare</i> and from deadly plagues.


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He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge. His truth is your shield and armor.


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They will not come near you, even though a thousand may fall dead beside you or ten thousand at your right side.


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When you call to me, I will answer you. I will be with you when you are in trouble. I will deliver you and honor you.


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You made me find joy in what you have done, O Jehovah. I will sing joyfully about the works of your hands.


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But you exalt my horn <i>make me as strong</i> as a wild bull. I have been anointed with soothing lotion.


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Jehovah reigns and he is clothed with majesty. Jehovah has girded himself with strength. The world also is established, that it cannot be moved.


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The floods have lifted up, O Jehovah, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their pounding waves.


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Jehovah on high is mightier than the noise of many waters. Yes he is mightier than the mighty waves of the sea.


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He disciplines nations. Do you think he cannot punish? He teaches people. Do you think he does not know anything?


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Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for me against those who do wickedness?


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He has turned their wickedness against them. He will destroy them because of their sins. Jehovah our God will destroy them.


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For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today hear His voice!


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For forty years I was grieved with this generation. I said: »It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways.«


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Say among the nations, Jehovah reigns; and the world shall be established; it shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples in uprightness.


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He comes before Jehovah! Yes, he comes to judge the earth! He will judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth <i>fidelity faithfulness</i> .


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Clouds, gloom and darkness are all around Him. Righteousness and judgment are the foundation of his throne.


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The mountains melted like wax at the presence of Jehovah, at the presence of Jehovah of the whole earth.


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All those who serve graven images are put to shame. Those who boast themselves in idols and all God-like ones bow down before Him.


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You who love Jehovah hate evil! He preserves his anointed ones. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.


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Sing a new song to Jehovah for he has done miraculous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gained victory for him.


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He remembered his loving kindness and faithfulness to Israel's descendants. All the ends of the earth have seen how our God saves them.


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Make music with trumpets and the playing of a ram's horn. Shout happily in the presence of the king, Jehovah.


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This is in Jehovahs presence because he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and its people with fairness.


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The strength of the King loves justice. You have established equity. You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.


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Moses and Aaron were among his priests. Samuel was among those who called on his name. They called upon Jehovah and he answered them.


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He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud. They kept His testimonies and the commandment that he gave them.


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O Jehovah our God, you answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, and an avenger of their evil deeds.


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Know that Jehovah is God. He has made us, and not we ourselves. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.


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Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, into his courtyard with praise: thank him and bless his name.


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I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when will you come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.


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I will set no wicked thing before my eyes. I hate the work of unfaithful people. I want no part of it.


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I will destroy anyone who secretly slanders his neighbor. I will not tolerate anyone with a conceited look or arrogant heart.


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My eyes will be watching the faithful people in the land so that they may live with me. The person who lives with integrity will serve me.


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The one who does deceitful things will not stay in my home. The one who tells lies will not remain in my presence.


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Every morning I will destroy all the wicked people in the land to rid Jehovahs city of all troublemakers.


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Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me. In the day when I call answer me quickly.


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You will arise and have compassion on Zion. It is time to be gracious to her for the appointed time has come.


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This will be written for the generation to come: That a people yet to be created may praise Jehovah.


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I say: »O my God, do not take me away in the middle of my days, your years are throughout all generations.


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»They will perish, but you endure. All of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing you will renew them and they will be renewed.


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»The children of your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before you.«


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As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. <i>as far as the sunrise is from the sunset farther then one could ever travel</i>


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Jehovah has compassion for those who reverence him just as a father has compassion for his children.


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But the loving kindness of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting on those who reverence him, and his righteousness is to the sons of sons.


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Bless Jehovah you angels of his, you who excel in strength, who obey his command, and listen to the voice of his Word.


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Bless Jehovah with all my being! O Jehovah my God, You are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty.


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You lay the beams of your upper chambers in the waters. You make the clouds your chariot. You walk upon the wings of the wind.


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You water the mountains from your upper chambers. The earth is satisfied with the fruit of your works.


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You cause the grass to grow for the cattle and vegetation for the labor of man. That he may bring forth food from the earth,


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And wine which makes man's heart glad. That he may make his face shine with oil, and food, which sustains man's heart.


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O Jehovah, how many are your works! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your possessions.


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You give it to them, and they gather it up. You open your hand, and they are satisfied with many blessings.


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You hide your face, and they are frightened. You take away their breath, and they die and return to dust.


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Let sinners be consumed from the world. Let the wicked no longer exist. Bless Jehovah with all my being! Praise Jehovah!


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He changed their minds so that they hated his people, and they dealt treacherously with his servants.


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Who can speak of the mighty acts <i>deeds</i> of Jehovah? Who can proclaim and perceive all his praise?


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Help me see the prosperity of your chosen ones that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.


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Our fathers in Egypt did not understand your wonders. They did not remember your abundant kindnesses. But they rebelled by the Red Sea.


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So he rebuked the Red Sea and it dried up, and he led them through the deeps, as through the wilderness.


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In the camp certain men became envious of Moses. They also became envious of Aaron, Jehovahs holy one.


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God said he was going to destroy them, but Moses, his chosen one, stood in his way to prevent him from exterminating them.


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They joined in worshiping the god Baal while they were at Peor. They ate what was sacrificed to the dead.


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They made God angry by the water at Meribah. Things turned out badly for Moses because of what they did.


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They shed innocent blood, the blood of their own sons and daughters whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land became polluted with blood.


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He rescued them many times, but they continued to plot rebellion against him and to sink deeper because of their sin.


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Rescue us, O Jehovah our God, and gather us from the nations so that we may give thanks to your holy name and make your praise our glory.


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Thanks be to Jehovah the God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say amen. Praise Jehovah!


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And gathered out of the lands, from the east <i>sunrise</i> and from the west <i>sunset</i> , from the north and from the south.


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Those who lived in the dark, in death's shadow were prisoners in misery. They were held in iron chains


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Let them give thanks to Jehovah because of his goodness. He performed his miracles for the sons of men.


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Let them bring songs of thanksgiving as their sacrifice. Let them tell in joyful songs what he has done.


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The sailors aboard ship rose toward the sky. They plunged into the depths. Their courage failed in the face of disaster.


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Let them glorify him when the people are gathered for worship. Let them praise him in the company of respected leaders.


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Let those who think they are wise pay attention to these things so they will understand the loving kindness of Jehovah.


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Save us with your powerful hand <i>great power</i> , and answer us so that those who are dear to you may be rescued.


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God has spoken in his holiness: I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.


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Wicked and deceitful people have opened their mouths against me. They speak against me with lying tongues.


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Let their guilt and sin always remain on record in front of Jehovah. Let Jehovah remove every memory of him from the earth,


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for he did not remember to be kind. He drove oppressed, needy, and brokenhearted people to their graves.


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He loved to put curses on others, so he, too, was cursed. He did not like to bless others, so he never received a blessing.


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He wore cursing as though it were clothing; so cursing entered his body like water and his bones like oil.


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O Lord Jehovah, deal with me out of the goodness of your name. Rescue me because of your loving kindness.


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They may curse, but you will bless. Let those who attack me be ashamed, but let your servant rejoice.


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Let those who accuse me wear disgrace as though it were clothing. Let them be wrapped in their shame as though it were a robe.


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He stands at the right hand of the needy people to save them from those who would condemn them to death.


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Jehovah said to my Lord: »Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.«


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Jehovah will extend your powerful scepter from Zion. He will say: »Rule in the midst of your enemies.«


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Your people will volunteer in the day of your power. Your young people will come to you in holy splendor like dew from the womb of the dawn <i>in the early morning</i> .


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Jehovah has taken an oath and will not change his mind: »You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.«


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He will pass judgment on the nations and fill them with dead bodies. Throughout the earth he will execute their rulers.


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Praise Jehovah! I will praise Jehovah with all my heart in the company of the upright and in the congregation.


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He has revealed the power of his works to his people by giving them the lands of other nations as an inheritance.


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He has sent deliverance to his people. He has ordered that his covenant should continue forever. His name is holy and awesome.


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The respect and reverence for Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom. All who obey his commandments show good sense <i>insight</i> and understanding. His praise endures <i>continues</i> forever.


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The wicked sees this and becomes angry. He angrily grits his teeth and disappears. The hope of the wicked will perish <i>be destroyed</i> .


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From sunrise to sunset, the name of Jehovah should be praised. <i>Everywhere and all the time, Jehovahs name should be praised.</i>


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Do not give glory to us, O Jehovah. Do not give glory to us. Give glory to your name because of your loving kindness and faithfulness.


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They have hands, but they cannot feel. They have feet, but they cannot walk. They cannot even make a sound with their throats.


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Jehovah is always thinking about us. He will bless us. He will bless the descendants of Israel. He will bless the descendants of Aaron.


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He will bless those who reverence and respect Jehovah, from the least important to the most important.


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The ropes of death became tangled around me. The fear of the grave took hold of me. I experienced pain and agony.


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O Jehovah, I am indeed your servant. I am your servant, the son of your handmaid. You have freed me from my chains.


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They swarmed around me like bees, but they burned out as quickly as a brush fire; by the power of Jehovah I destroyed them.


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Listen to the glad shouts of victory in the tents of God's people: Jehovahs mighty power has done it!


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Jehovah is God and he has given us light. Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.


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I shall run the way of your commandments, for you will enlarge my heart <i>increase my understanding set me free from sin</i> .


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And I shall lift up my hands to <i>praise</i> your commandments. I will love and meditate on your statutes.


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I know, O Jehovah, that your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.


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Revive me according to your loving kindness, so I may keep the law of your mouth <i>you have spoken</i> .


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You have rejected all those who wander from your statutes. This is because their deceitfulness is useless.


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Hear my voice according to your loving kindness. Revive me, O Jehovah, according to your ordinances.


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I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Look for your servant for I have not forgotten your commandments.


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All of Jehovahs tribes go to that city because it is a law in Israel to give thanks to the name of Jehovah.


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Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to Jehovah our God, until he is gracious to us.


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»We escaped as a bird out of the trap of fowlers <i>bird catchers</i> . The trap is broken, and we have escaped.


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As the mountains are all around Jerusalem, so Jehovah is all around his people from this time and forever.


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For the rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous in case the righteous put forth their hands to iniquity.


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Jehovah will lead those who turn away from their crooked ways with the workers of iniquity. Israel will have peace.


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Then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with joyful songs. Then the nations said: »Jehovah has done spectacular things for them.«


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The person who goes out weeping, carrying his bag of seed, will come home singing, carrying his bundles of grain.


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If Jehovah does not build the house, it is vain for the builders to work on it. If Jehovah does not protect a city, it is vain for the guard to stay alert.


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It is vain to work hard for the food you eat by getting up early and going to bed late. Jehovah gives food to those he loves while they sleep.


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Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them. He will not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the city gate.


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You will certainly eat what your own hands have provided. Blessings to you! May things go well for you!


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Your wife will be like a fruitful vine inside your home. Your children will be like young olive trees around your table.


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Nor do those who pass by say: »The blessing of Jehovah be upon you! We bless you in the name of Jehovah.«


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I wait for Jehovah more than the watchmen for the morning. Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning.


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O Israel hope in Jehovah! For with Jehovah there is loving kindness. With him is abundant redemption.


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O Jehovah, my heart is not proud, my eyes are not haughty. I do not involve myself in great matters. I do not get involved in things too difficult for me.


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Surely I am composed and quiet. I am like a weaned child who rests against his mother. Inside of me I am like a weaned child.


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Jehovah swore an oath to David: »This is a truth he will not take back: I will set one of your own descendants on your throne.


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»If your sons are faithful to my covenant and my written instructions that I will teach them, then their descendants will also sit on your throne forever.«


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There I will make the horn of David grow <i>give mighty power to David</i> . I will prepare a lamp <i>light</i> for my anointed one.


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It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, Aaron's beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes.


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It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion. For there Jehovah commanded the blessing. It is life forever.


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Everything Jehovah desires he does in the heavens and in earth, and in the seas and all deep places.


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He causes the vapors to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain. He brings wind out of his storehouses.


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It was there that those who had captured us demanded that we sing. Those who guarded us wanted us to entertain them. They said: »Sing a song from Zion for us!«


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Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.


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O Jehovah, remember the people of Edom. Remember what they did the day Jerusalem was captured. They said: »Tear it down! Tear it down to its foundation.«


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You destructive people of Babylon, blessed is the one who pays you back with the same treatment you gave us.


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I will bow toward your holy temple. I will praise your name because of your loving kindness and truth. You have made your name and your covenant greater than everything.


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Even though Jehovah is high above, he sees humble people close up, and he recognizes arrogant people from a distance.


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Even though I walk into the middle of trouble, you guard my life against the anger of my enemies. You stretch out your hand, and your right hand saves me.


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Jehovah will do everything for me. O Jehovah, your mercy endures forever. Do not let go of what your hands have made.


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Even the darkness is not dark to you. And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to you.


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I will praise you, for in an awesome way I am wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful and I know this very well.


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Your eyes saw my embryo and all were written in your book; the days ordained for me. Even this before one had taken place.


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Examine me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious <i>troubled painful disturbing</i> thoughts.


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Protect me from the hands of wicked people, O Jehovah. Keep me safe from violent people. They try to trip me.


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Arrogant people have laid a trap for me. They have spread out a net with ropes. They have set traps for me along the road.


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O Lord Jehovah <i>Almighty</i> , the strong one who saves me, you have covered my head in the day of battle.


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O Jehovah, do not give wicked people what they want. Do not let their evil plans succeed, or they will become arrogant.


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Do not let slanderers prosper on earth. Let evil hunt down violent people with one blow after another.


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I know that Jehovah will defend the rights of those who are oppressed and the cause of those who are needy.


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Indeed, righteous people will give thanks <i>praise reverence worship</i> to your name. Upright people will live in your presence.


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O Jehovah I cry out to you: Come quickly. Give ear to my voice <i>Listen to me</i> when I cry out to you.


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


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Do not let me be persuaded to do anything evil or to become involved with wickedness, with people who are troublemakers. Do not let me taste their delicacies.


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A righteous person may strike me or correct me out of kindness. It is like lotion for my head. My head will not refuse it, because my prayer is directed against evil deeds.


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When their judges are thrown off a cliff, they will listen to what I have to say. It will sound pleasant to them.


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When I begin to lose hope, you already know what I am experiencing. My enemies have hidden a trap for me on the path where I walk.


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Look to my right and see that no one notices me. Escape is impossible for me. No one cares about me.


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I call out to you, O Jehovah. I say: »You are my refuge, my own inheritance in this world of the living.«


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Pay attention to my cry for help! I am very weak. Rescue me from those who pursue me because they are too strong for me.


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Release me from prison so that I may praise your name. Righteous people will surround me because you are good to me.


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Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, Give ear to my supplications! Answer me in your faithfulness. Answer me in your righteousness!


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For the enemy has persecuted me. He has crushed my life to the ground. He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.


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I remember the days of old. I meditate <i>think deeply intensely study</i> on all your activities. I muse on the work of your hands.


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Answer me quickly, O Jehovah for my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will become like those who go down to the pit.


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Let me hear your loving kindness in the morning. For I trust in you! Teach me the way in which I should walk for to you I am lifted up.


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In your loving kindness, cut off my enemies and destroy all those who afflict me. For I am your servant.


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David: Blessed be my rock <i>strength</i> Jehovah. He trained my hands to fight and my fingers to do battle,


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My loving kindness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; and my shield in whom I trust; who subdues my people under me.


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Stretch forth your hand from on high. Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hand of aliens


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Rescue me and deliver me out of the hand of aliens. Their mouths speak deceit. Their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.


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Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, and our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace.


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Let our garners be full, furnishing every kind of produce, our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;


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Great is Jehovah, and highly to be praised. His greatness is unsearchable <i>beyond human calculation</i> .


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They will eagerly utter the memory of your great goodness and will shout joyfully of your righteousness.


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All your works <i>activities achievements</i> praise you, O Jehovah, and your godly ones will praise you.


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They will make known to the sons of men your mighty acts and the glory of the majesty of your kingdom.


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He will fulfill the desire of those who reverence him. He will also hear their cry and will save them.


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His spirit <i>Hebrew: ruach, breath, life</i> departs, he returns to the earth; in that very day his thoughts perish <i>come to an end</i> .


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He executes justice for the oppressed. He gives food to the hungry. Jehovah sets the prisoners free.


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Jehovah opens the eyes of the blind. Jehovah raises up those who are bowed down. Jehovah loves the righteous.


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Jehovah protects the strangers. He supports the fatherless and the widow, but he overthrows the way of the wicked.


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Praise Jehovah! It is good to sing praise to our God. It is pleasant to sing his praise beautifully.


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He covers the sky with clouds. He provides rain for the ground. He makes grass grow on the mountains.


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He has done nothing like this for any other nation. The other nations do not know the decisions he has handed down. Praise Jehovah!


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Let them praise the name of Jehovah because his name is high above all others. His glory is above heaven and earth.


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He has given his people a strong leader, someone praiseworthy for his faithful ones, for the people of Israel, the people who are close to him. Praise Jehovah!


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Jehovah takes pleasure in his people. He crowns <i>beautifies</i> those who are oppressed with salvation.


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to carry out the judgment that is written against them. This is an honor that belongs to all his God-like ones. Praise Jehovah!


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This will help him understand a proverb and the interpretation as well as the words of the wise and their riddles.


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Respect for Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge <i>truth understanding wisdom</i> . Fools despise wisdom and instruction.


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If they say: »Come with us. Let us lie in wait to kill someone. Let us ambush the innocent without cause.


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So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust dishonest gain. Greed takes away the life of its owner.


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»How long, you simple <i>stupid foolish</i> ones, will you love simplicity <i>foolishness stupidity</i> ? The scoffers delight in scoffing. Fools hate knowledge!


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Pay close attention to wisdom, and let your <i>mind and</i> heart <i>inner being</i> reach for discernment.


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If you do these things you will have respect for Jehovah and you will find the true knowledge of God!


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He stores up insightful <i>sound substantial</i> wisdom for the upright. He is a shield for those who walk in integrity.


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Do not let kindness and truth leave you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.


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For whom Jehovah loves He reproves, just like a father corrects the son he loves dearly. (Hebrews 12:6)


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They do not sleep unless they have done evil. Their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.


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The path of the righteous is like the shining light of dawn that shines brighter and brighter until the more perfect day.


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She is like a loving deer and a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Always be delighted with her love.


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You are now in the power of that person. Here is what you should do: Go and beg for permission to call off the agreement.


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Deliver your self like a deer from the hand of the hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler <i>bird catcher</i> .


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When you go, they will lead you; when you sleep they will watch over you and when you awake, they will talk to you.


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He immediately goes after her. He is like a bull that goes to the slaughter. Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,


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Till a dart strikes through his liver. The bird hurries to the snare without knowing it would cost his life.


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»Respect for Jehovah means to hate evil. I hate: pride, and arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.


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»When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his command, when he appointed the foundations of the earth,


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»Then I was beside him, as a master workman with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.


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Correct a scoffer <i>mocker scorner</i> and he will hate you. Reprove a wise man and he will love you.


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Give instruction to a wise man and he will become even wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning <i>insight</i> .


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Respect for Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the holy One is understanding <i>discernment truth wisdom</i> .


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»Let the inexperienced <i>naïve</i> one come in here,« and to the person who lacks understanding she says:


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Treasures of wickedness <i>the morally wrong</i> profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.


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Wisdom is found on the lips of the understanding <i>discerning</i> . A rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.


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He who regards instruction is in the way of life. He who refuses reproof goes <i>mentally and morally</i> astray.


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The way of Jehovah is a rock <i>stronghold</i> to the upright. The workers of iniquity will be destroyed.


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Righteousness of the undefiled <i>man of integrity</i> directs his way! Wickedness causes the evil to fall.


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A godless hypocrite destroys his neighbor with his mouth. The righteous will be delivered through knowledge.


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The city rejoices when all goes well with the righteous. There is joyful shouting when the wicked perish.


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The people fall where there is no counsel. Yes, the people fall but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.


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Those who are of a perverse heart are abomination to Jehovah. The way of the upright is his delight.


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Hand in hand united, the wicked shall not be unpunished; but the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.


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There is one who scatters, and yet increases. There is one who withholds what is due and it leads to poverty.


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He who withholds corn from the people will be cursed. Blessing will be on the head of him that sells it.


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A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, but the compassion of the wicked is terrible.


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A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The deeds of a man's hands will return to him.


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A wise son heeds his father's instruction <i>discipline</i> . A scoffer does not listen to discipline <i>reproof</i> .


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He who keeps his mouth <i>watches what he says</i> keeps his life. He who opens wide his lips <i>speaks thoughtlessly</i> will have destruction.


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There is one who claims to be rich, yet has nothing. There is one who claims to be poor, yet has great riches.


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The one who despises the word will experience bad consequences <i>be destroyed</i> . He who respects the commandment will be rewarded.


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A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. The wealth of the sinner is preserved for the righteous.


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He who spares the rod <i>authority</i> hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines <i>instructs</i> him promptly.


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Where there are no cattle the crib is clean. The crop is abundant because of the strength of the bull.


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The faithless in heart will be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from above.


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In the multitude of people is the king's honor, but the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.


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A sound heart is life for the body. Envy <i>jealousy</i> is like bone cancer <i>decay rottenness to the bones</i> .


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The way of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah. He loves the one who follows after righteousness.


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The grave and destruction are before <i>in front of in the presence of</i> Jehovah. How much more in the hearts of men?


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He who refuses instruction <i>discipline</i> despises his own life. But he who listens to reproof understands.


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Being slow to anger is better than being mighty. Being self-controlled is better than ruling a city.


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Starting a quarrel is like releasing water <i>from a floodgate</i> . Therefore stop contention before it begins.


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Wisdom is near the one who understands. But the eyes of a fool are far away at the ends of the earth.


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It is not good to punish the righteous. It is not good to strike princes because of their uprightness.


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Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise! He who shuts his mouth is esteemed a man of understanding.


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A man of solitude <i>who keeps to himself isolates himself</i> seeks his own <i>selfish</i> desire. He objects to sound wisdom.


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A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city. Their arguments are like the bars of a castle.


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A man's stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth. He will be filled with the produce from his lips.


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The brothers of the poor hate him. His friends leave him. He pursues them with words but they do not listen!


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Real estate and riches are the inheritance of fathers. A prudent <i>wise sensible</i> wife is from Jehovah.


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Strike a scoffer and the simple will be wary. Reprove someone who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.


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Stop listening to instruction <i>discipline correction</i> , my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.


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There is gold and a multitude of rubies, but the lips that speak knowledge are more precious than jewels.


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The glory of young men is their strength. The honor of old men is their gray haired <i>wisdom and experience</i> .


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Jehovah controls the mind of a king as easily as he directs the course of a stream. He turns it where ever he wishes.


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It is better to dwell on the corner of the roof than to share the house with a contentious <i>combative</i> woman.


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When the scoffer is punished the simple <i>naïve</i> is made wise. When the wise is instructed he gains knowledge.


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It is better to dwell alone in the wilderness than with an angry contentious <i>quarreling and angry</i> woman.


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The rich and the poor meet together <i>are alike have a common bond</i> for Jehovah created them both.


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A prudent man sees evil and takes refuge. The simple <i>fool inexperienced</i> keep going and suffers.


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Thorns and snares are in the way of the wicked. He who guards his life will stay far away from them.


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Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child. The rod of discipline <i>instruction</i> will drive it far from him.


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I make you know the certainty of the words of truth. And you will answer the words of truth to those who speak to you.


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Do you see a man diligent in his business? He will stand before kings. He will not stand before unknown men.


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The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice and he who gives birth to a wise child will receive joy from him.


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Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has discord? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?


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»They struck me but I did not become sick. They beat me and I did not feel it. When will I awake? I will seek drink yet again.«


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You may say: »We did not know this,« but God knows and judges your motives. He keeps watch on you and knows. He will reward each man according to his deeds.


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The knowledge of wisdom is sweet to you. When you find the knowledge of wisdom there is a reward. Your hope will not fail.


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Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting place.


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Do not say: »I will do to him as he has done to me. I will render to the man according to his work.«


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Better that he says: »Come up here than you be put down in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.«


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As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him. He refreshes his masters.


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Like the man does not wear a coat in winter, or like vinegar on soda, so is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.


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It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share the house with a contentious woman.


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He who cannot control his own spirit <i>life</i> is as helpless as a city without walls, open to trouble.


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Do not forget your friends or your father's friends. If you are in trouble, do not ask a relative for help. A nearby neighbor can help you more than relatives who are far away.


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Be wise, my son, and make my heart happy and I will have an answer for anyone who criticizes <i>taunts torments</i> me.


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He that blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.


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The refining pot is for silver. The furnace is for gold. A man is valued by what others say about him.


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You will have enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household, and for the maintenance for your maidservants.


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There are many princes after the transgression of a land. But a man of understanding and knowledge remains for a long time.


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He who becomes wealthy through unfair loans and interest collects them for the one who pitys the poor.


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Whoever leads decent people into evil will fall into his own pit. Innocent people will inherit good things.


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When righteous people rejoice, there is great glory, but when wicked people rise, people hide themselves.


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The man who covers his sins will not be blessed; but whoever confesses and leaves them will have mercy.


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The ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor. He who hates covetousness will prolong his days.


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He who tills his land will have plenty of bread. He who follows after vain persons will have poverty.


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Whoever robs his father or mother, and says: »It is no transgression;« the same is the companion of a man who destroys.


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He who is often reprimanded and hardens his neck will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.


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He who loves wisdom makes his father rejoice. But he who keeps company with fornicators wastes his wealth.


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The man who <i>carefully</i> brings up <i>pays close attention to nourishes</i> his servant from childhood will in the future have him become like his son.


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An unjust man is an abomination <i>disgusting</i> to the righteous. He who is upright in the way is an abomination <i>detestable</i> to the wicked.


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Who ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who gathered the wind in his hands? Who bound the waters in a garment? Who established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if you can tell me?


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Remove far from me vanity and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food necessary for me.


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If I am full I could deny you and say, »Who is Jehovah?« Or if I am poor and steal, I could take Gods name in vain.


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There is a generation, whose teeth are like swords, and their jaw teeth like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.


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The leach has two daughters. Each cry: »Give,« »Give!« There are three things that are never satisfied, yes; even four things never say: »It is enough!«


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The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that does not say: »It is enough.«


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The eye that mocks his father, and rejects obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley pick it out, and the young eagles eat it.


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The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the middle of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.


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Such is the way of an adulterous woman. She eats and wipes her mouth, and says: »I have done no wickedness.«


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There are four things that are little upon the earth, but they <i>chakam: teach wisdom</i> are exceeding wise:


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Surely the churning of milk brings butter, and the wringing of the nose brings blood, so the forcing of wrath brings strife.


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It is not for kings, O Lemuel; it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to desire strong drink.


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She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household, and a portion to her maidens.


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She opens her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness <i>she speaks kind things</i> .


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One generation goes and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever <i>without end</i> .


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The wind blows toward the south, and it turns around to the north. It whirls around continually and the wind returns on its circuits.


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All the rivers run into the sea yet the sea is not full. The rivers return to the place where they began.


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All things are wearisome, man is not able to tell. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.


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That which has been is that which will be. That which has been done is that which will be done. There is nothing new under the sun!


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Is there anything of which it may be said: »See, this is new?« It has already existed in days of old, which were before us.


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I devoted myself to study and explored wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens. It is a grievous task God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.


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I have seen all the works that are done under the sun. Behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.


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I said to my heart, »I have become great and have aquired more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has seen an abundance of wisdom and knowledge.«


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I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I know that this also is a striving after wind.


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I said in my heart, »Come now, I will test you with rejoicing. Consider goodness.« This also is vanity.


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I searched in my mind how to stimulate my flesh with wine. My mind guided my heart with wisdom. I possessed foolishness until I could see what was good for the sons of men. I saw what they should do under the heavens all the days of their life.


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I acquired male and female servants, and they gave birth to sons and daughters in my house. I had great wealth of herds and flocks, more than all who were in Jerusalem before me.


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I gathered silver and gold and the wealth of kings and of countries. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, girls of all sorts to be my brides.


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I became great and increased more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem and my wisdom remained with me.


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Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold joy from my heart. My heart took pleasure in all my work and this was my reward.


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I looked at all the works my hands accomplished. I saw everything I had worked to do. I saw that all was vanity and grasping for the wind. It was to no purpose for there was no profit under the sun.


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I went again in search of wisdom and of foolish ways. What can the man do that comes after the king? Only what he has already done.


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The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the foolish man walks in darkness. Yet I saw that the same event happens to them all.


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Then I said in my heart: »As it happens to the fool, so it will happen to me. Why have I been so wise?« Then I said in my heart: »This also is vanity.«


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Neither the wise man nor the foolish man will be remembered for long. All that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. Death comes to both the wise and the foolish.


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I hated all the work I had done under the sun, because I would leave it behind for the man who comes after me.


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Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? But he will have power over all the work that I have done and in which I have been wise under the sun. This too is vanity.


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Because there is a man whose work has been done with wisdom, with knowledge, and with an expert hand. But one who has done nothing for it will have it for his heritage. This also is vanity and a great evil.


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What does a man get for all his work, and for the desire of his heart with which he has done his work under the sun?


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All his days are sorrow, and his work is full of grief. Even in the night his heart has no rest. This again is vanity.


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


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To the man who is good, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy. But to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.


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There is a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pull up what is planted;


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a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;


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He made everything appropriate <i>beautiful good</i> in its time. God placed eternity in the heart of man. For man is unable to see the works of God from the first to the last.


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I know that whatever God does it will be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it. God does it in order that men should reverence <i>respect</i> him.


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That which is has already been and that which is to be has already been. God seeks what has passed by.


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I saw under the sun the place of judgment and wickedness was there. And wickedness was in the place of righteousness.


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I said in my heart, »God should judge the righteous and the wicked for there is a time for every purpose and for every work.«


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I said in my heart concerning the condition of the sons of men, »God tested them that they might see that they are like animals.«


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What happens to the sons of men also happens to animals. As the one dies so the other dies. Yes, they all have one breath so that a man has no advantage over animals. For all is vanity.


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Who knows the breath of man that goes upward, and the breath of the animal that goes downward to the earth?


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I see there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works. That is his portion. Who will bring him to see what will happen after him?


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I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed for they had no one to comfort them. The oppressors had power but they had no one to comfort them.


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Better off then both of them is the one who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.


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I have learned why people work so hard to succeed. It is because they envy the things their neighbors have. But it is vanity! It is like chasing the wind.


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There is a man who is by himself, without a companion. He is without son or brother. There is no end to all his work. He never has enough wealth. Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. He never asks: »For whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?« This too is vanity and a terrible problem.


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If they fall, the one will lift up his companion. Woe to him who is alone when he falls for he has no one to help him.


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One can be overpowered by another, two can withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.


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I considered all the living that walk under the sun, with the second child that will stand up in the kings place.


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There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them. Those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.


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Guard your step when you go to the house of God. It is better to go there and listen than to bring the sacrifices fools bring. Fools are not aware that they do evil.


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Do not be in a hurry to talk. Do not be eager to speak in the presence of God. Since God is in heaven and you are on earth, limit the number of your words.


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Do not let your speech cause you to sin. Do not say to the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry because of what you say and destroy the work of your hands?


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If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the country, do not be shocked at the sight. One official watches over another official and there are higher officials over them.


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He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth, with gain. This too is vanity.


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When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to see them?


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The sleep of the workingman is pleasant, whether he eats little or much. However the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.


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I have seen a grievous evil under the sun. I have seen riches being hoarded by their owner to his downfall <i>distress</i> .


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When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he fathered a son, then there was no support for him.


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This also is a serious evil. Just as we came we will go. Whatever profit or gain we earned we loose as if we labored for the wind.


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


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For every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has empowered him to eat because of them. He should receive his reward and rejoice in his labor. This is the gift of God.


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He will not often remember the years of his life. This is because God keeps him occupied with the gladness <i>pleasure</i> of his heart.


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God has given man riches, wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires. Yet God has not empowered him to partake of them for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction.


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A man can have a hundred children and live many years. If he does not enjoy prosperity and have a decent burial, a stillborn child is better off then he.


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»Moreover he has not seen the sun nor known anything. The stillborn child has more rest than the other.


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»Even though he lives a thousand years twice over, yet he has seen no good. Do not all go to one place?«


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Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering after the desire. This is also vanity and a striving after wind.


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That which exists is named already. It is known and he cannot dispute with the one that is mightier than he.


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Who knows what is good for man in this life? Are all the days of his vain life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after his existence under the sun?


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A good name <i>honor renown reputation</i> is better than pleasant ointment and the day of death than the day of one's birth.


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It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting. That is the end for all men and the living takes it to heart.


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The heart <i>feelings</i> of the wise is in the house of mourning. The heart of fools is in the house of rejoicing.


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Oppression makes a wise man foolish <i>emotionally unstable mentally ill</i> and a bribe destroys the heart.


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Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.


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Do not be quick in your spirit <i>mind figurative heart</i> to be angry. Anger rests in the bosom of fools.


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Wisdom is a shelter just as money is a shelter. The advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives lift to those who have it.


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In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider that God made one as well as the other, to the end that man should find nothing that comes after him.


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I have seen all things in the days of my vanity. There is a just man who perished in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolonged his life in his wickedness.


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It is good that you should take hold of this and also from this not withdraw your hand, for he who respects God will come forth from them all.


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I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom. I looked for the explanation, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness.


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I find what was worse than death is the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands are chains. He who pleases God will escape from her. But she will capture the sinner.


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For I am still seeking and have not found. One man among a thousand I have found; but a woman among all those I have not found.


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»You see! I have found only this, that God made man upright. But they have sought out many devices <i>schemes reasonings</i> .«


text:
Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a message? A man's wisdom illuminates him, and the hardness of his countenance <i>appearance</i> is changed.


text:
»Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not persist in an evil activity, for he does whatever he pleases.«


text:
He who obeys the kings command will feel no harm. A wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment.


text:
No man has the power to restrain the wind, to retain the breath of life. Neither does he have power in the day of death. There is no discharge from that war. Neither will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.


