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Ezra 3-4
Christian Standard Bible
Ezra 3-4
Christian Standard Bible
Sacrifice Restored
3 When the seventh month arrived,(A) and the Israelites were in their towns, the people gathered as one in Jerusalem.(B) 2 Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel(C) and his brothers began to build the altar of Israel’s God in order to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.(D) 3 They set up the altar on its foundation and offered burnt offerings for the morning and evening on it to the Lord even though they feared the surrounding peoples.(E) 4 They celebrated the Festival of Shelters as prescribed, and offered burnt offerings each day, based on the number specified by ordinance for each festival day.(F) 5 After that, they offered the regular burnt offering and the offerings for the beginning of each month[a](G) and for all the Lord’s appointed holy occasions, as well as the freewill offerings brought to[b] the Lord.
6 On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord,(H) even though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid. 7 They gave money to the stonecutters and artisans, and gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so they would bring cedar wood from Lebanon to Joppa by sea,(I) according to the authorization given them by King Cyrus of Persia.(J)
Rebuilding the Temple
8 In the second month of the second year after they arrived at God’s house in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak,(K) and the rest of their brothers, including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began to build. They appointed the Levites who were twenty years old or more to supervise the work on the Lord’s house.(L) 9 Jeshua with his sons and brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, and the sons of Judah[c] and of Henadad, with their sons and brothers, the Levites,(M) joined together to supervise those working on the house of God.
Temple Foundation Completed
10 When the builders had laid the foundation of the Lord’s temple, the priests, dressed in their robes and holding trumpets, and the Levites descended from Asaph,(N) holding cymbals, took their positions to praise the Lord, as King David of Israel had instructed.(O) 11 They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord: “For he is good; his faithful love to Israel endures forever.”(P) Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s house had been laid.(Q)
12 But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads, who had seen the first temple, wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple,(R) but many others shouted joyfully. 13 The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from that of the[d] weeping,(S) because the people were shouting so loudly. And the sound was heard far away.
Opposition to Rebuilding the Temple
4 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin(T) heard that the returned exiles[e](U) were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the family heads and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we also worship your God and have been sacrificing to him[f] since the time King Esar-haddon of Assyria brought us here.”(V)
3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of Israel’s families answered them, “You may have no part with us in building a house for our God,(W) since we alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.”(X) 4 Then the people who were already in the land[g] discouraged[h] the people of Judah and made them afraid(Y) to build. 5 They also bribed officials to act against them to frustrate their plans(Z) throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia.(AA)
Opposition to Rebuilding the City
6 At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus,(AB) the people who were already in the land(AC) wrote an accusation against the residents of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 During the time of King Artaxerxes of Persia,(AD) Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his colleagues wrote to King Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic(AE) and translated.[i]
8 Rehum the chief deputy and Shimshai the scribe(AF) wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes concerning Jerusalem as follows:
9 From Rehum[j] the chief deputy, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues—the judges and magistrates[k] from Tripolis, Persia, Erech, Babylon, Susa(AG) (that is, the people of Elam),[l] 10 and the rest of the peoples whom the great and illustrious Ashurbanipal[m] deported and settled in the cities of Samaria(AH) and the region west of the Euphrates River.(AI)
11 This is the text of the letter they sent to him:
To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men from the region west of the Euphrates River:
12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you have returned to us at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and evil city, finishing its walls, and repairing its foundations. 13 Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are finished,(AJ) they will not pay tribute, duty, or land tax,(AK) and the royal revenue[n] will suffer. 14 Since we have taken an oath of loyalty to the king,[o] and it is not right for us to witness his dishonor, we have sent to inform the king 15 that a search should be made in your predecessors’ record books.(AL) In these record books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces. There have been revolts in it since ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. 16 We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will not have any possession west of the Euphrates.
Artaxerxes’s Reply
17 The king sent a reply to his chief deputy Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates River:
Greetings.
18 The letter you sent us has been translated and read[p](AM) in my presence. 19 I issued a decree and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has had uprisings against kings since ancient times, and there have been rebellions and revolts in it. 20 Powerful kings have also ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates River, and tribute, duty, and land tax were paid to them. 21 Therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until a further decree has been pronounced by me.(AN) 22 See that you not neglect this matter. Otherwise, the damage will increase and the royal interests[q] will suffer.
23 As soon as the text of King Artaxerxes’s letter was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues,(AO) they immediately went to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.
Rebuilding of the Temple Resumed
24 Now the construction of God’s house in Jerusalem had stopped and remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.(AP)
Footnotes
- 3:5 Lit for the new moons
- 3:5 Lit well as those of everyone making a freewill offering to
- 3:9 Or Hodaviah; Neh 7:43; 1 Esdras 5:58
- 3:13 Lit the people
- 4:1 Lit the sons of the exile
- 4:2 Alt Hb tradition reads have not been sacrificing
- 4:4 Lit people of the land, also in v. 6
- 4:4 Lit weakened the hands of
- 4:7 Ezr 4:8–6:18 is written in Aramaic.
- 4:9 Lit Then Rehum
- 4:9 Or ambassadors
- 4:9 Aramaic obscure
- 4:10 Lit Osnappar
- 4:13 Aramaic obscure
- 4:14 Lit have eaten the salt of the palace
- 4:18 Or been read clearly
- 4:22 Lit the kings
Ezra 3-4
New International Version
Ezra 3-4
New International Version
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:
“He is good;
his love toward Israel endures forever.”(Y)
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.
Opposition to the Rebuilding
4 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building(AE) a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, 2 they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, “Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon(AF) king of Assyria, who brought us here.”(AG)
3 But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.”(AH)
4 Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.[b](AI) 5 They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes
6 At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes,[c](AJ) they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.(AK)
7 And in the days of Artaxerxes(AL) king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic(AM) language.[d][e]
8 Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:
9 Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary, together with the rest of their associates(AN)—the judges, officials and administrators over the people from Persia, Uruk(AO) and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,(AP) 10 and the other people whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal(AQ) deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates.(AR)
11 (This is a copy of the letter they sent him.)
To King Artaxerxes,
From your servants in Trans-Euphrates:
12 The king should know that the people who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring the walls and repairing the foundations.(AS)
13 Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty(AT) will be paid, and eventually the royal revenues will suffer.[f] 14 Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this message to inform the king, 15 so that a search may be made in the archives(AU) of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place with a long history of sedition. That is why this city was destroyed.(AV) 16 We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.
17 The king sent this reply:
To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates:(AW)
Greetings.
18 The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence. 19 I issued an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt(AX) against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition. 20 Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates,(AY) and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them. 21 Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. 22 Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests?(AZ)
23 As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates,(BA) they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop.
24 Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius(BB) king of Persia.
Acts 11
Christian Standard Bible
Acts 11
Christian Standard Bible
Gentile Salvation Defended
11 The apostles and the brothers and sisters who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him,(A) 3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”(B)
4 Peter began to explain to them step by step, 5 “I(C) was in the town of Joppa praying, and I saw, in a trance, an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it came to me. 6 When I looked closely and considered it, I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky. 7 I also heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’
8 “‘No, Lord!’ I said. ‘For nothing impure or ritually unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But a voice answered from heaven a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call impure.’
10 “Now this happened three times, and everything was drawn up again into heaven. 11 At that very moment, three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to accompany them with no doubts at all. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we went into the man’s house.(D) 13 He reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 14 He will speak a message to you by which you and all your household(E) will be saved.’
15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them, just as on us at the beginning.(F) 16 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’(G) 17 If, then, God gave them the same gift that he also gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?” (H)
18 When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.”(I)
The Church in Antioch
19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,(J) speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks[a] also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.(K) 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.(L) 22 News about them reached[b] the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel[c] as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts,(M) 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit(N) and of faith. And large numbers of people were added(O) to the Lord.
25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples(P) were first called Christians at Antioch.(Q)
Famine Relief
27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.(R) 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world.[d] This took place during the reign of Claudius.(S) 29 Each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers and sisters who lived in Judea.(T) 30 They did this, sending it to the elders(U) by means of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 11
New International Version
Acts 11
New International Version
Peter Explains His Actions
11 The apostles and the believers(A) throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.(B) 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers(C) criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”(D)
4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision.(E) I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’
8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’(F) 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea(G) stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told(H) me to have no hesitation about going with them.(I) These six brothers(J) also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel(K) appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message(L) through which you and all your household(M) will be saved.’
15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on(N) them as he had come on us at the beginning.(O) 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with[a] water,(P) but you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.’(Q) 17 So if God gave them the same gift(R) he gave us(S) who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”
18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”(T)
The Church in Antioch
19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed(U) traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch,(V) spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus(W) and Cyrene,(X) went to Antioch(Y) and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news(Z) about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them,(AA) and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.(AB)
22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas(AC) to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done,(AD) he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.(AE) 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit(AF) and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.(AG)
25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus(AH) to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples(AI) were called Christians first(AJ) at Antioch.
27 During this time some prophets(AK) came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus,(AL) stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world.(AM) (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)(AN) 29 The disciples,(AO) as each one was able, decided to provide help(AP) for the brothers and sisters(AQ) living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders(AR) by Barnabas(AS) and Saul.(AT)
Footnotes
- Acts 11:16 Or in
- Acts 11:16 Or in
Psalm 81:1-3
Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 81:1-3
Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 81
A Call to Obedience
For the choir director: on the Gittith. Of Asaph.(A)
1 Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.(B)
2 Lift up a song—play the tambourine,
the melodious lyre, and the harp.(C)
3 Blow the ram’s horn on the day of our feasts[a]
during the new moon(D)
and during the full moon.
Footnotes
- 81:3 Lit feast
Psalm 81:1-3
New International Version
Psalm 81:1-3
New International Version
Psalm 81[a]
For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of Asaph.
Footnotes
- Psalm 81:1 In Hebrew texts 81:1-16 is numbered 81:2-17.
- Psalm 81:1 Title: Probably a musical term
Proverbs 17:7-8
Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 17:7-8
Christian Standard Bible
7 Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips;
how much worse are lies for a ruler.
Proverbs 17:7-8
New International Version
Proverbs 17:7-8
New International Version
7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(A)
8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
they think success will come at every turn.(B)
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