Moses Forbidden to Enter the Land

23 “And I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, 24 ‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant (A)your greatness and your mighty hand. For (B)what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? 25 Please let me go over and see (C)the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and (D)Lebanon.’ 26 But (E)the Lord was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the Lord said to me, (F)‘Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again. 27 (G)Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan. 28 But (H)charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.’ 29 So we remained in (I)the valley opposite Beth-peor.

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23 At that time I pleaded(A) with the Lord: 24 “Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness(B) and your strong hand. For what god(C) is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works(D) you do?(E) 25 Let me go over and see the good land(F) beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.(G)

26 But because of you the Lord was angry(H) with me and would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the Lord said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. 27 Go up to the top of Pisgah(I) and look west and north and south and east.(J) Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross(K) this Jordan.(L) 28 But commission(M) Joshua, and encourage(N) and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across(O) and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” 29 So we stayed in the valley near Beth Peor.(P)

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Hezekiah Organizes the Priests

31 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and (A)broke in pieces the (B)pillars and cut down (C)the Asherim and broke down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the people of Israel returned to their cities, every man to his possession.

And Hezekiah appointed (D)the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, division by division, each according to his service, the priests and the Levites, (E)for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to minister in the gates of the camp of the Lord and to give thanks and praise. (F)The contribution of the king from his own possessions was for the burnt offerings: the burnt offerings of morning and evening, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the appointed feasts, (G)as it is written in the Law of the Lord. And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give (H)the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the Law of the Lord. As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly (I)the tithe of everything. And the people of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and (J)the tithe of the dedicated things that had been dedicated to the Lord their God, and laid them in heaps. In the third month they began to pile up the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and his people Israel. And Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps. 10 Azariah the chief priest, who was (K)of the house of Zadok, answered him, “Since they began to bring the contributions into the house of the Lord, we have eaten and had enough and have plenty left, (L)for the Lord has blessed his people, so that we have this large amount left.”

11 Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare (M)chambers in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them. 12 And they faithfully brought in the contributions, the tithes, and the dedicated things. The chief officer (N)in charge of them was Conaniah the Levite, with (O)Shimei his brother as second, 13 (P)while Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, (Q)Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers assisting Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king and (R)Azariah the chief officer of the house of God. 14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the east gate, was over the freewill offerings to God, to apportion the contribution reserved for the Lord and the most holy offerings. 15 (S)Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah were faithfully assisting him in (T)the cities of the priests, to distribute the portions to their brothers, old and young alike, by divisions, 16 except those enrolled by genealogy, males from three years old and upward—all who entered the house of the Lord (U)as the duty of each day required—for their service according to their offices, by their divisions. 17 The enrollment of the priests was according to their fathers' houses; that of the Levites (V)from twenty years old and upward was according to their offices, by their divisions. 18 They were enrolled with all their little children, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, the whole assembly, for they were faithful in keeping themselves holy. 19 And for the sons of Aaron, the priests, who were in the fields of common land belonging to their cities, there were men in the several cities who were (W)designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone among the Levites who was enrolled.

20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, (X)and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. 21 And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.

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31 When all this had ended, the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down(A) the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and Manasseh. After they had destroyed all of them, the Israelites returned to their own towns and to their own property.

Contributions for Worship(B)

Hezekiah(C) assigned the priests and Levites to divisions(D)—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—to offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, to minister,(E) to give thanks and to sing praises(F) at the gates of the Lord’s dwelling.(G) The king contributed(H) from his own possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals as written in the Law of the Lord.(I) He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion(J) due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits(K) of their grain, new wine,(L) olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe(M) of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps.(N) They began doing this in the third month and finished in the seventh month.(O) When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the Lord and blessed(P) his people Israel.

Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps; 10 and Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok,(Q) answered, “Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the Lord has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.”(R)

11 Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the Lord, and this was done. 12 Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts. Konaniah,(S) a Levite, was the overseer in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was next in rank. 13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad,(T) Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath and Benaiah were assistants of Konaniah and Shimei his brother. All these served by appointment of King Hezekiah and Azariah the official in charge of the temple of God.

14 Kore son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the East Gate, was in charge of the freewill offerings given to God, distributing the contributions made to the Lord and also the consecrated gifts. 15 Eden,(U) Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shekaniah assisted him faithfully in the towns(V) of the priests, distributing to their fellow priests according to their divisions, old and young alike.

16 In addition, they distributed to the males three years old or more whose names were in the genealogical records(W)—all who would enter the temple of the Lord to perform the daily duties of their various tasks, according to their responsibilities and their divisions. 17 And they distributed to the priests enrolled by their families in the genealogical records and likewise to the Levites twenty years old or more, according to their responsibilities and their divisions. 18 They included all the little ones, the wives, and the sons and daughters of the whole community listed in these genealogical records. For they were faithful in consecrating themselves.

19 As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who lived on the farmlands around their towns or in any other towns,(X) men were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among them and to all who were recorded in the genealogies of the Levites.

20 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful(Y) before the Lord his God. 21 In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.(Z)

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The Lord Judges the Nations

[a] “For behold, (A)in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, (B)I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And (C)I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, and (D)have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it.

“What are you to me, (E)O Tyre and Sidon, and all (F)the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, (G)I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. For (H)you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples.[b] You have sold (I)the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and (J)I will return your payment on your own head. I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the (K)Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the Lord has spoken.”

Proclaim this among the nations:
(L)Consecrate for war;[c]
    stir up the mighty men.
Let all the men of war draw near;
    let them come up.
10 (M)Beat your plowshares into swords,
    and (N)your pruning hooks into spears;
    let the weak say, “I am a warrior.”

11 (O)Hasten and come,
    all you surrounding nations,
    and gather yourselves there.
(P)Bring down your warriors, O Lord.
12 Let the nations stir themselves up
    and come up to (Q)the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
(R)for there I will sit to judge
    all the surrounding nations.

13 (S)Put in the sickle,
    (T)for the harvest is ripe.
(U)Go in, tread,
    (V)for the winepress is full.
The vats overflow,
    for their evil is great.

14 Multitudes, multitudes,
    in the valley of decision!
For (W)the day of the Lord is near
    in the valley of decision.
15 (X)The sun and the moon are darkened,
    and the stars withdraw their shining.

16 (Y)The Lord roars from Zion,
    and (Z)utters his voice from Jerusalem,
    (AA)and the heavens and the earth quake.
But the Lord is (AB)a refuge to his people,
    a stronghold to the people of Israel.

The Glorious Future of Judah

17 (AC)“So you shall know that I am the Lord your God,
    (AD)who dwells in Zion, (AE)my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
    and (AF)strangers shall never again pass through it.

18 “And in that day
(AG)the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
    and the hills shall flow with milk,
and (AH)all the streambeds of Judah
    shall flow with water;
(AI)and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord
    and water the Valley of (AJ)Shittim.

19 (AK)“Egypt shall become a desolation
    and (AL)Edom a desolate wilderness,
(AM)for the violence done to the people of Judah,
    because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20 (AN)But Judah shall be inhabited forever,
    and Jerusalem to all generations.
21 (AO)I will avenge their blood,
    blood I have not avenged,[d]
    (AP)for the Lord dwells in Zion.”

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 3:1 Ch 4:1 in Hebrew
  2. Joel 3:5 Or palaces
  3. Joel 3:9 Or Consecrate a war
  4. Joel 3:21 Or I will acquit their bloodguilt that I have not acquitted

The Nations Judged

[a]“In those days and at that time,
    when I restore the fortunes(A) of Judah(B) and Jerusalem,
I will gather(C) all nations
    and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.[b](D)
There I will put them on trial(E)
    for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,
because they scattered(F) my people among the nations
    and divided up my land.
They cast lots(G) for my people
    and traded boys for prostitutes;
    they sold girls for wine(H) to drink.

“Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon(I) and all you regions of Philistia?(J) Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done.(K) For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.[c](L) You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks,(M) that you might send them far from their homeland.

“See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them,(N) and I will return(O) on your own heads what you have done. I will sell your sons(P) and daughters to the people of Judah,(Q) and they will sell them to the Sabeans,(R) a nation far away.” The Lord has spoken.(S)

Proclaim this among the nations:
    Prepare for war!(T)
Rouse the warriors!(U)
    Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords
    and your pruning hooks(V) into spears.(W)
Let the weakling(X) say,
    “I am strong!”(Y)
11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
    and assemble(Z) there.

Bring down your warriors,(AA) Lord!

12 “Let the nations be roused;
    let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,(AB)
for there I will sit
    to judge(AC) all the nations on every side.
13 Swing the sickle,(AD)
    for the harvest(AE) is ripe.
Come, trample the grapes,(AF)
    for the winepress(AG) is full
    and the vats overflow—
so great is their wickedness!”

14 Multitudes,(AH) multitudes
    in the valley(AI) of decision!
For the day of the Lord(AJ) is near
    in the valley of decision.(AK)
15 The sun and moon will be darkened,
    and the stars no longer shine.(AL)
16 The Lord will roar(AM) from Zion
    and thunder from Jerusalem;(AN)
    the earth and the heavens will tremble.(AO)
But the Lord will be a refuge(AP) for his people,
    a stronghold(AQ) for the people of Israel.

Blessings for God’s People

17 “Then you will know(AR) that I, the Lord your God,(AS)
    dwell in Zion,(AT) my holy hill.(AU)
Jerusalem will be holy;(AV)
    never again will foreigners invade her.(AW)

18 “In that day the mountains will drip new wine,(AX)
    and the hills will flow with milk;(AY)
    all the ravines of Judah will run with water.(AZ)
A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house(BA)
    and will water the valley of acacias.[d](BB)
19 But Egypt(BC) will be desolate,
    Edom(BD) a desert waste,
because of violence(BE) done to the people of Judah,
    in whose land they shed innocent blood.
20 Judah will be inhabited forever(BF)
    and Jerusalem through all generations.
21 Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged?(BG)
    No, I will not.(BH)

The Lord dwells in Zion!(BI)

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 3:1 In Hebrew texts 3:1-21 is numbered 4:1-21.
  2. Joel 3:2 Jehoshaphat means the Lord judges; also in verse 12.
  3. Joel 3:5 Or palaces
  4. Joel 3:18 Or Valley of Shittim

13 (A)A foolish son is ruin to his father,
    and (B)a wife's quarreling is (C)a continual dripping of rain.
14 (D)House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
    but a prudent wife is (E)from the Lord.
15 (F)Slothfulness casts into (G)a deep sleep,
    and (H)an idle person will suffer hunger.
16 Whoever (I)keeps the commandment keeps his life;
    he who despises his ways will die.
17 (J)Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he (K)will repay him for his (L)deed.
18 (M)Discipline your son, for there is hope;
    do not set your heart on (N)putting him to death.
19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,
    for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom in (O)the future.
21 (P)Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but (Q)it is the purpose of the Lord (R)that will stand.
22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
    and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord (S)leads to life,
    and whoever has it rests (T)satisfied;
    he will (U)not be visited by harm.
24 (V)The sluggard buries his hand in (W)the dish
    and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 (X)Strike (Y)a scoffer, and the simple will (Z)learn prudence;
    (AA)reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
    is (AB)a son who brings shame and reproach.
27 Cease to hear instruction, my son,
    (AC)and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,
    and the mouth of the wicked (AD)devours iniquity.
29 Condemnation is ready for (AE)scoffers,
    and (AF)beating for the backs of fools.

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13 A foolish child is a father’s ruin,(A)
    and a quarrelsome wife is like
    the constant dripping of a leaky roof.(B)

14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,(C)
    but a prudent wife is from the Lord.(D)

15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
    and the shiftless go hungry.(E)

16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
    but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.(F)

17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,(G)
    and he will reward them for what they have done.(H)

18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
    do not be a willing party to their death.(I)

19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;
    rescue them, and you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,(J)
    and at the end you will be counted among the wise.(K)

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.(L)

22 What a person desires is unfailing love[a];
    better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;
    then one rests content, untouched by trouble.(M)

24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he will not even bring it back to his mouth!(N)

25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
    rebuke the discerning,(O) and they will gain knowledge.(P)

26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother(Q)
    is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,(R)
    and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
    and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.(S)

29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
    and beatings for the backs of fools.(T)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:22 Or Greed is a person’s shame

but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. (A)Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and (B)he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now (C)in the Law, Moses commanded us (D)to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said (E)to test him, (F)that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, (G)“Let him who is without sin among you (H)be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, (I)“Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on (J)sin no more.”]]

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but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.(A)

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.(B) The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.(C) Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap,(D) in order to have a basis for accusing him.(E)

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone(F) at her.”(G) Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,”(H) Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”(I)


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The Mystery of Godliness

14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

(A)He[a] was manifested in the flesh,
    vindicated[b] by the Spirit,[c]
        (B)seen by angels,
(C)proclaimed among the nations,
    (D)believed on in the world,
        (E)taken up in glory.

Some Will Depart from the Faith

Now (F)the Spirit expressly says that (G)in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to (H)deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of (I)liars whose consciences are seared, (J)who forbid marriage and (K)require abstinence from foods (L)that God created (M)to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For (N)everything created by God is good, and (O)nothing is to be rejected if it is (P)received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy (Q)by the word of God and prayer.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:16 Greek Who; some manuscripts God; others Which
  2. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or justified
  3. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or vindicated in spirit

Reasons for Paul’s Instructions

14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church(A) of the living God,(B) the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery(C) from which true godliness(D) springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,(E)
    was vindicated by the Spirit,[a]
was seen by angels,
    was preached among the nations,(F)
was believed on in the world,
    was taken up in glory.(G)

The Spirit(H) clearly says that in later times(I) some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits(J) and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.(K) They forbid people to marry(L) and order them to abstain from certain foods,(M) which God created(N) to be received with thanksgiving(O) by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good,(P) and nothing is to be rejected(Q) if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God(R) and prayer.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or vindicated in spirit