²⁶ He regarded disgrace^(A) for the sake of Christ^(B) as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.^(C)

David’s Plans for the Temple

28 David summoned^(A) all the officials^(B) of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the warriors and all the brave fighting men.

² King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart^(C) to build a house as a place of rest^(D) for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool^(E) of our God, and I made plans to build it.^{(F) 3} But God said to me,^(G) ‘You are not to build a house for my Name,^(H) because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’^(I)

⁴ “Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me^(J) from my whole family^(K) to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah^(L) as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.^{(M) 5} Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many^(N)—he has chosen my son Solomon^(O) to sit on the throne^(P) of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. ⁶ He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build^(Q) my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son,^(R) and I will be his father. ⁷ I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws,^(S) as is being done at this time.’

⁸ “So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel^(T) and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands^(U) of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.^(V)

⁹ “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion^(W) and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart^(X) and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him,^(Y) he will be found by you; but if you forsake^(Z) him, he will reject^(AA) you forever. ¹⁰ Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”

¹¹ Then David gave his son Solomon the plans^(AB) for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. ¹² He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit^(AC) had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things.^{(AD) 13} He gave him instructions for the divisions^(AE) of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the Lord, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service. ¹⁴ He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used in various kinds of service: ¹⁵ the weight of gold for the gold lampstands^(AF) and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand; ¹⁶ the weight of gold for each table^(AG) for consecrated bread; the weight of silver for the silver tables; ¹⁷ the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls^(AH) and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish; ¹⁸ and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense.^(AI) He also gave him the plan for the chariot,^(AJ) that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and overshadow^(AK) the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

¹⁹ “All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the Lord’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details^(AL) of the plan.^(AM)”

²⁰ David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous,^(AN) and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake^(AO) you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.^{(AP) 21} The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing person skilled^(AQ) in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”

1 Paul, an apostle^(A)—sent not from men nor by a man,^(B) but by Jesus Christ^(C) and God the Father,^(D) who raised him from the dead^(E)— ² and all the brothers and sisters^[a] with me,^(F)

To the churches in Galatia:^(G)

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,^{(H) 4} who gave himself for our sins^(I) to rescue us from the present evil age,^(J) according to the will of our God and Father,^{(K) 5} to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(L)

No Other Gospel

⁶ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called^(M) you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel^(N)— ⁷ which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion^(O) and are trying to pervert^(P) the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you,^(Q) let them be under God’s curse!^{(R) 9} As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted,^(S) let them be under God’s curse!

¹⁰ Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people?^(T) If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Paul Called by God

¹¹ I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^(U) that the gospel I preached^(V) is not of human origin. ¹² I did not receive it from any man,^(W) nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation^(X) from Jesus Christ.^(Y)

¹³ For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,^(Z) how intensely I persecuted the church of God^(AA) and tried to destroy it.^{(AB) 14} I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous^(AC) for the traditions of my fathers.^{(AD) 15} But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb^(AE) and called me^(AF) by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,^(AG) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.^{(AH) 17} I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.^(AI)

¹⁸ Then after three years,^(AJ) I went up to Jerusalem^(AK) to get acquainted with Cephas^[b] and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles—only James,^(AL) the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I assure you before God^(AM) that what I am writing you is no lie.^(AN)

²¹ Then I went to Syria^(AO) and Cilicia.^{(AP) 22} I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea^(AQ) that are in Christ.^{(AR) 23} They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith^(AS) he once tried to destroy.”^{(AT) 24} And they praised God^(AU) because of me.