Ezra 3:10-13
New English Translation
10 When the builders established the Lord’s temple, the priests, ceremonially attired and with their clarions,[a] and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with their cymbals, stood to praise the Lord according to the instructions left by[b] King David of Israel.[c] 11 With antiphonal response they sang,[d] praising and glorifying the Lord:
“For he is good;
his loyal love toward Israel is forever.”
All the people gave a loud[e] shout as they praised the Lord when the temple of the Lord was established. 12 Many of the priests, the Levites, and the leaders[f]—older people who had seen with their own eyes the former temple while it was still established[g]—were weeping loudly,[h] and many others raised their voice in a joyous shout. 13 People were unable to tell the difference between the sound of joyous shouting and the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people were shouting so loudly[i] that the sound was heard a long way off.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ezra 3:10 sn This was a long, straight, metallic instrument used for signal calls, rather than the traditional ram’s horn (both instruments are typically translated “trumpet” by English versions).
- Ezra 3:10 tn Heb “according to the hands of.”
- Ezra 3:10 sn See Pss 107:1; 118:1, 29; 136:1. Cf. 2 Chr 5:13; 7:3; 20:21.
- Ezra 3:11 tn Heb “they answered.”
- Ezra 3:11 tn Heb “great.”
- Ezra 3:12 tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.”
- Ezra 3:12 sn The temple had been destroyed some fifty years earlier by the Babylonians in 586 b.c.
- Ezra 3:12 tn Heb “with a great voice.”
- Ezra 3:13 tn Heb “a great shout.”
Ezra 3:10-13
New Living Translation
10 When the builders completed the foundation of the Lord’s Temple, the priests put on their robes and took their places to blow their trumpets. And the Levites, descendants of Asaph, clashed their cymbals to praise the Lord, just as King David had prescribed. 11 With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord:
“He is so good!
His faithful love for Israel endures forever!”
Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid.
12 But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy. 13 The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance.
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