Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return^(A)

1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah,^(B) the Lord moved the heart^(C) of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:

⁵ Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin,^(K) and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved^(L)—prepared to go up and build the house^(M) of the Lord in Jerusalem. ⁶ All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold,^(N) with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.

⁷ Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god.^{[a](O) 8} Cyrus king of Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar^(P) the prince of Judah.

⁹ This was the inventory:

¹¹ In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along with the exiles when they came up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

Psalm 84^[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.^[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Psalm 85^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

A Final Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching,^(A) my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch,^(B) Iconium^(C) and Lystra,^(D) the persecutions I endured.^(E) Yet the Lord rescued^(F) me from all of them.^{(G) 12} In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,^{(H) 13} while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,^(I) deceiving and being deceived.^{(J) 14} But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,^{(K) 15} and how from infancy^(L) you have known the Holy Scriptures,^(M) which are able to make you wise^(N) for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed^(O) and is useful for teaching,^(P) rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,^{(Q) 17} so that the servant of God^[a](R) may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.^(S)

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,^(T) and in view of his appearing^(U) and his kingdom, I give you this charge:^{(V) 2} Preach^(W) the word;^(X) be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke^(Y) and encourage^(Z)—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.^(AA) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.^{(AB) 4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.^{(AC) 5} But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,^(AD) do the work of an evangelist,^(AE) discharge all the duties of your ministry.

⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,^(AF) and the time for my departure is near.^{(AG) 7} I have fought the good fight,^(AH) I have finished the race,^(AI) I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me^(AJ) the crown of righteousness,^(AK) which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day^(AL)—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.^(AM)