1 Kings 4:20-21

New International Version

Solomon’s Daily Provisions

²⁰The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand^(A) on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy.^(B) ²¹And Solomon ruled^(C) over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River^(D) to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.^(E) These countries brought tribute^(F) and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.

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2 Chronicles 2:5-11

New International Version

⁵“The temple I am going to build will be great,^(A) because our God is greater than all other gods.^(B) ⁶But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him?^(C) Who then am I^(D) to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?

⁷“Send me, therefore, a man skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, and in purple, crimson and blue yarn, and experienced in the art of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem with my skilled workers,^(E) whom my father David provided.

⁸“Send me also cedar, juniper and algum^[a] logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants are skilled in cutting timber there. My servants will work with yours ⁹to provide me with plenty of lumber, because the temple I build must be large and magnificent. ¹⁰I will give your servants, the woodsmen who cut the timber, twenty thousand cors^[b] of ground wheat, twenty thousand cors^[c] of barley, twenty thousand baths^[d] of wine and twenty thousand baths of olive oil.^(F)”

¹¹Hiram king of Tyre replied by letter to Solomon:

“Because the Lord loves^(G) his people, he has made you their king.”

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Footnotes

2 Chronicles 2:8 Probably a variant of almug
2 Chronicles 2:10 That is, probably about 3,600 tons or about 3,200 metric tons of wheat
2 Chronicles 2:10 That is, probably about 3,000 tons or about 2,700 metric tons of barley
2 Chronicles 2:10 That is, about 120,000 gallons or about 440,000 liters

2 Thessalonians 3:3-18

New International Version

³But the Lord is faithful,^(A) and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.^(B) ⁴We have confidence^(C) in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. ⁵May the Lord direct your hearts^(D) into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Warning Against Idleness

⁶In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,^(E) we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from^(F) every believer who is idle and disruptive^(G) and does not live according to the teaching^[a] you received from us.^(H) ⁷For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.^(I) We were not idle when we were with you, ⁸nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked^(J) night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help,^(K) but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.^(L) ¹⁰For even when we were with you,^(M) we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work^(N) shall not eat.”

¹¹We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.^(O) ¹²Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ^(P) to settle down and earn the food they eat.^(Q) ¹³And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.^(R)

¹⁴Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them,^(S) in order that they may feel ashamed.^(T) ¹⁵Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.^(U)