Contributions for Building the Temple

29 Then King David said to all the assembly, “My son Solomon—God has chosen him alone—is young and inexperienced. The task is great^(A) because the building will not be built for a human but for the Lord God.^{(B) 2} So to the best of my ability I’ve made provision for the house of my God:^(C) gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx, stones for mounting,^[a] antimony,^[b](D) stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and a great quantity of marble. ³ Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the house of my God over and above all that I’ve provided for the holy house: ⁴ 100 tons^[c](E) of gold (gold of Ophir^(F)) and 250 tons^[d] of refined silver for overlaying the walls of the buildings, ⁵ the gold for the gold work and the silver for the silver, for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now who will volunteer to consecrate himself to the Lord today?”

⁶ Then the leaders of the households, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds,^(G) and the officials in charge of the king’s work^(H) gave willingly. ⁷ For the service of God’s house they gave 185 tons^[e] of gold and 10,000 gold coins,^[f](I) 375 tons^[g] of silver, 675 tons^[h] of bronze, and 4,000 tons^[i] of iron. ⁸ Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the Lord’s house under the care of Jehiel^(J) the Gershonite. ⁹ Then the people rejoiced because of their leaders’ willingness to give, for they had given to the Lord wholeheartedly.^(K) King David also rejoiced greatly.

David’s Prayer

¹⁰ Then David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly. David said,

May you be blessed, Lord God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. ¹¹ Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all.^{(L) 12} Riches and honor come from you, and you are the ruler of everything.^(M) Power and might are in your hand, and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all.^{(N) 13} Now therefore, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name.

¹⁴ But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand.^{[j] 15} For we are aliens and temporary residents in your presence as were all our ancestors.^(O) Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.^{(P) 16} Lord our God, all this wealth that we’ve provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand; everything belongs to you. ¹⁷ I know, my God, that you test the heart^(Q) and that you are pleased with what is right.^(R) I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen your people who are present^[k] here giving joyfully and^[l] willingly to you. ¹⁸ Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of your people, and confirm their hearts toward you. ¹⁹ Give my son Solomon an undivided heart to keep and to carry out all your commands, your decrees, and your statutes,^(S) and to build the building for which I have made provision.^(T)

²⁰ Then David said to the whole assembly, “Blessed be the Lord your God.” So the whole assembly praised the Lord God of their ancestors.^(U) They knelt low and paid homage to the Lord and the king.^(V)

²¹ The following day they offered sacrifices to the Lord and burnt offerings to the Lord: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, along with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.^{(W) 22} They ate and drank with great joy in the Lord’s presence that day.

The Enthronement of Solomon

Then, for a second time,^(X) they made David’s son Solomon king; they anointed him^[m] as the Lord’s ruler,^(Y) and Zadok as the priest. ²³ Solomon sat on the Lord’s throne as king in place of his father David. He prospered, and all Israel obeyed him.^{(Z) 24} All the leaders and the mighty men, and all of King David’s sons as well, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. ²⁵ The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel^(AA) and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been bestowed on any king over Israel before him.^(AB)

A Summary of David’s Life

²⁶ David son of Jesse was king over all Israel.^{(AC) 27} The length of his reign over Israel was forty years; he reigned in Hebron for seven years and in Jerusalem for thirty-three.^{(AD) 28} He died at a good old age,^(AE) full of days,^(AF) riches, and honor, and his son Solomon became king in his place. ²⁹ As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, note that they are written in the Events of the Seer Samuel,^(AG) the Events of the Prophet Nathan,^(AH) and the Events of the Seer Gad,^{(AI) 30} along with all his reign, his might, and the incidents that affected him and Israel and all the kingdoms of the surrounding lands.

The Day of the Lord

3 Dear friends, this is now the second letter^(A) I have written to you; in both letters, I want to stir up your sincere^(B) understanding by way of reminder, ² so that you recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. ³ Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days^(C) scoffing and following their own evil desires, ⁴ saying, “Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised?^(D) Ever since our ancestors fell asleep,^(E) all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.” ⁵ They deliberately overlook this: By the word of God^(F) the heavens came into being long ago and the earth was brought about from water and through water.^{(G) 6} Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded.^{(H) 7} By the same word,^(I) the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment^(J) and destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.^{(K) 9} The Lord does not delay his promise,^(L) as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any^(M) to perish^(N) but all to come to repentance.^(O)

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord^(P) will come like a thief;^[a](Q) on that day the heavens will pass away^(R) with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved,^(S) and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.^{[b][c] 11} Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness ¹² as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming.^[d](T) Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. ¹³ But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth,^(U) where righteousness dwells.^(V)

Conclusion

¹⁴ Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace.^{(W) 15} Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him.^{(X) 16} He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction,^(Y) as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.

¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard,^(Z) so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. ¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge^(AA) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.^[e](AB)

God’s Lawsuit against Judah

6 Now listen to what the Lord is saying:

Verdict of Judgment

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 All^(A) the tax collectors^(B) and sinners were approaching to listen to him. ² And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners^(C) and eats with them.”

³ So he told them this parable:^{(D) 4} “What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them,^(E) does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field^[a] and go after the lost one until he finds it? ⁵ When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, ⁶ and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ ⁷ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven^(F) over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

⁸ “Or what woman who has ten silver coins,^[b][c] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ ¹⁰ I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels^(G) over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Lost Son

¹¹ He also said, “A man had two sons. ¹² The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets^[d] to them. ¹³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered^(H) his estate in foolish living.^{(I) 14} After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing.^{[e] 15} Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.^{(J) 16} He longed to eat his fill from^[f] the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. ¹⁷ When he came to his senses,^[g] he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger!^{[h] 18} I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned^(K) against heaven^(L) and in your sight. ¹⁹ I’m no longer worthy^(M) to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion.^(N) He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed^(O) him. ²¹ The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe^(P) and put it on him; put a ring^(Q) on his finger and sandals^(R) on his feet. ²³ Then bring the fattened calf^(S) and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ because this son of mine was dead and is alive again;^(T) he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. ²⁷ ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’^[i]

²⁸ “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets^[j] with prostitutes,^(U) you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’

³¹ “‘Son,’^[k] he said to him, ‘you are always with me,^(V) and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”