²¹ The king gave this order to all the people: “Celebrate the Passover^(A) to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.”^{(B) 22} Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed. ²³ But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem.^(C)

²⁴ Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists,^(D) the household gods,^(E) the idols and all the other detestable^(F) things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the temple of the Lord. ²⁵ Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned^(G) to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.^(H)

²⁶ Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger,^(I) which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh^(J) had done to arouse his anger. ²⁷ So the Lord said, “I will remove^(K) Judah also from my presence^(L) as I removed Israel, and I will reject^(M) Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’^[a]”

²⁸ As for the other events of Josiah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

²⁹ While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho^(N) king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo.^{(O) 30} Josiah’s servants brought his body in a chariot^(P) from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and anointed him and made him king in place of his father.

Jehoahaz King of Judah^(Q)

³¹ Jehoahaz^(R) was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Hamutal^(S) daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. ³² He did evil^(T) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his predecessors had done. ³³ Pharaoh Necho put him in chains at Riblah^(U) in the land of Hamath^(V) so that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and he imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents^[b] of silver and a talent^[c] of gold. ³⁴ Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim^(W) son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt, and there he died.^{(X) 35} Jehoiakim paid Pharaoh Necho the silver and gold he demanded. In order to do so, he taxed the land and exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land according to their assessments.^(Y)

God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner^(A) of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

² Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me^(B) for you, ³ that is, the mystery^(C) made known to me by revelation,^(D) as I have already written briefly. ⁴ In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight^(E) into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.^{(F) 6} This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs^(G) together with Israel, members together of one body,^(H) and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.^(I)

⁷ I became a servant of this gospel^(J) by the gift of God’s grace given me^(K) through the working of his power.^{(L) 8} Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,^(M) this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles^(N) the boundless riches of Christ,^{(O) 9} and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery,^(P) which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. ¹⁰ His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God^(Q) should be made known^(R) to the rulers and authorities^(S) in the heavenly realms,^{(T) 11} according to his eternal purpose^(U) that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In him and through faith in him we may approach God^(V) with freedom and confidence.^{(W) 13} I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

A Prayer for the Ephesians

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel^(X) before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches^(Y) he may strengthen you with power^(Z) through his Spirit in your inner being,^{(AA) 17} so that Christ may dwell in your hearts^(AB) through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted^(AC) and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,^(AD) to grasp how wide and long and high and deep^(AE) is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge^(AF)—that you may be filled^(AG) to the measure of all the fullness of God.^(AH)

²⁰ Now to him who is able^(AI) to do immeasurably more than all we ask^(AJ) or imagine, according to his power^(AK) that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.^(AL)

²⁶ Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger,^(A) which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh^(B) had done to arouse his anger. ²⁷ So the Lord said, “I will remove^(C) Judah also from my presence^(D) as I removed Israel, and I will reject^(E) Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’^[a]”

²⁸ As for the other events of Josiah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

²⁹ While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho^(F) king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo.^{(G) 30} Josiah’s servants brought his body in a chariot^(H) from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and anointed him and made him king in place of his father.

Jehoahaz King of Judah^(I)

³¹ Jehoahaz^(J) was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Hamutal^(K) daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. ³² He did evil^(L) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his predecessors had done. ³³ Pharaoh Necho put him in chains at Riblah^(M) in the land of Hamath^(N) so that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and he imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents^[b] of silver and a talent^[c] of gold. ³⁴ Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim^(O) son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt, and there he died.^{(P) 35} Jehoiakim paid Pharaoh Necho the silver and gold he demanded. In order to do so, he taxed the land and exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land according to their assessments.^(Q)

Jehoiakim King of Judah^(R)

³⁶ Jehoiakim^(S) was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah; she was from Rumah. ³⁷ And he did evil^(T) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his predecessors had done.

24 During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar^(U) king of Babylon invaded^(V) the land, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. But then he turned against Nebuchadnezzar and rebelled.^{(W) 2} The Lord sent Babylonian,^[d](X) Aramean,^(Y) Moabite and Ammonite raiders^(Z) against him to destroy^(AA) Judah, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by his servants the prophets.^{(AB) 3} Surely these things happened to Judah according to the Lord’s command,^(AC) in order to remove them from his presence^(AD) because of the sins of Manasseh^(AE) and all he had done, ⁴ including the shedding of innocent blood.^(AF) For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord was not willing to forgive.^(AG)

⁵ As for the other events of Jehoiakim’s reign,^(AH) and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ⁶ Jehoiakim rested^(AI) with his ancestors. And Jehoiachin^(AJ) his son succeeded him as king.

⁷ The king of Egypt^(AK) did not march out from his own country again, because the king of Babylon^(AL) had taken all his territory, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates River.

Jehoiachin King of Judah^(AM)

⁸ Jehoiachin^(AN) was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta^(AO) daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem. ⁹ He did evil^(AP) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father had done.

¹⁰ At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar^(AQ) king of Babylon advanced on Jerusalem and laid siege to it, ¹¹ and Nebuchadnezzar himself came up to the city while his officers were besieging it. ¹² Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his attendants, his nobles and his officials all surrendered^(AR) to him.

In the eighth year of the reign of the king of Babylon, he took Jehoiachin prisoner. ¹³ As the Lord had declared,^(AS) Nebuchadnezzar removed the treasures^(AT) from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace, and cut up the gold articles^(AU) that Solomon^(AV) king of Israel had made for the temple of the Lord. ¹⁴ He carried all Jerusalem into exile:^(AW) all the officers and fighting men,^(AX) and all the skilled workers and artisans—a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest^(AY) people of the land were left.

¹⁵ Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin^(AZ) captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king’s mother,^(BA) his wives, his officials and the prominent people^(BB) of the land. ¹⁶ The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand skilled workers and artisans.^{(BC) 17} He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.^(BD)

²² The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake^(A) realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.^{(B) 23} Then some boats from Tiberias^(C) landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.^{(D) 24} Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

Jesus the Bread of Life

²⁵ When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi,^(E) when did you get here?”

²⁶ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me,^(F) not because you saw the signs^(G) I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures^(H) to eternal life,^(I) which the Son of Man^(J) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal^(K) of approval.”

²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe^(L) in the one he has sent.”^(M)

³⁰ So they asked him, “What sign^(N) then will you give that we may see it and believe you?^(O) What will you do? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna^(P) in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’^[a]”^(Q)

³² Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven^(R) and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”^(S)

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am^(T) the bread of life.^(U) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes^(V) in me will never be thirsty.^{(W) 36} But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives me^(X) will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven^(Y) not to do my will but to do the will^(Z) of him who sent me.^{(AA) 39} And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me,^(AB) but raise them up at the last day.^{(AC) 40} For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son^(AD) and believes in him shall have eternal life,^(AE) and I will raise them up at the last day.”