The Lord’s Grace to Paul

¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength,^(A) that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.^{(B) 13} Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor^(C) and a violent man, I was shown mercy^(D) because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.^{(E) 14} The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,^(F) along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.^(G)

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying^(H) that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners^(I)—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy^(J) so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience^(K) as an example for those who would believe^(L) in him and receive eternal life.^{(M) 17} Now to the King^(N) eternal, immortal,^(O) invisible,^(P) the only God,^(Q) be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(R)

The Charge to Timothy Renewed

¹⁸ Timothy, my son,^(S) I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you,^(T) so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,^{(U) 19} holding on to faith and a good conscience,^(V) which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.^{(W) 20} Among them are Hymenaeus^(X) and Alexander,^(Y) whom I have handed over to Satan^(Z) to be taught not to blaspheme.

Rebuilding the Altar

3 When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,^(A) the people assembled^(B) together as one in Jerusalem. ² Then Joshua^(C) son of Jozadak^(D) and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel^(E) and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses^(F) the man of God. ³ Despite their fear^(G) of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices.^{(H) 4} Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles^(I) with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day. ⁵ After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings, the New Moon^(J) sacrifices and the sacrifices for all the appointed sacred festivals of the Lord,^(K) as well as those brought as freewill offerings to the Lord. ⁶ On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid.

Rebuilding the Temple

⁷ Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters,^(L) and gave food and drink and olive oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar logs^(M) by sea from Lebanon^(N) to Joppa, as authorized by Cyrus^(O) king of Persia.

⁸ In the second month^(P) of the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel^(Q) son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak and the rest of the people (the priests and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work. They appointed Levites twenty^(R) years old and older to supervise the building of the house of the Lord. ⁹ Joshua^(S) and his sons and brothers and Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Hodaviah^[a]) and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together in supervising those working on the house of God.

¹⁰ When the builders laid^(T) the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets,^(U) and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise^(V) the Lord, as prescribed by David^(W) king of Israel.^{(X) 11} With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:

And all the people gave a great shout^(Z) of praise to the Lord, because the foundation^(AA) of the house of the Lord was laid. ¹² But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple,^(AB) wept^(AC) aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. ¹³ No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy^(AD) from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.