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The Priests’ Rooms
42 Then the man led me north out into the outer courtyard and to the rooms across from the ·private area [temple courtyard] and the building. 2 These rooms on the north side were ·one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits] long and ·eighty-seven and one-half feet [L fifty cubits] wide. 3 There was ·thirty-five feet [L twenty cubits] of the inner courtyard between them and the Temple. On the other side, they faced the stone pavement of the outer courtyard. The rooms were built in three stories like steps ·and had balconies [with gallery facing gallery]. 4 There was a ·path [passageway; walkway] in front of the rooms on the inner side, which was ·seventeen and one-half feet [L ten cubits] wide and ·one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits] long. The entrances to the rooms were on the north. 5 The ·top [upper] rooms were narrower, because the ·balconies [galleries] took more space from them. The rooms on the first and second stories of the building were wider. 6 The rooms were on three stories. They did not have pillars like the pillars of the courtyards. So the ·top [upper] rooms were farther back than those on the first and second stories. 7 There was a wall outside parallel to the rooms and to the outer courtyard. It ran in front of the rooms for ·eighty-seven and one-half feet [L fifty cubits]. 8 The row of rooms along the outer courtyard was ·eighty-seven and one-half feet [L fifty cubits] long, and the rooms that faced the ·Temple [main hall; sanctuary] were ·about one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits] long. 9 The lower rooms had an entrance on the east side so a person could enter them from the outer courtyard, 10 at the start of the wall beside the courtyard [C some interpret this phrase as beginning the next sentence].
There were rooms on the south side, which were across from the ·private area [Temple courtyard] and the building. 11 These rooms had a path in front of them. They were like the rooms on the north with the same length and width and the same exits, measurements and doors. 12 The doors of the south rooms were like the doors of the north rooms. There was an entrance at the ·open end [or beginning] of a path beside the wall, so a person could enter at the east end.
13 The man said to me, “The north and south rooms across from the ·private area [courtyard] are holy rooms. There the priests who ·go near [approach] the Lord will eat the most holy offerings. There they will put the most holy offerings: the ·grain [L gift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1], ·sin [or purification] offerings [Lev. 4:3], and the ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offerings [Lev. 5:14–6:7], because the place is holy. 14 The priests who enter the Holy Place must leave ·their serving clothes [garments in which they minister] there before they go into the outer courtyard, because these ·clothes [garments] are holy. After they put on other ·clothes [garments], they may go to the part of the Temple area which is for the people.”
Outside the Temple Area
15 When the man finished measuring inside the Temple area, he brought me out through the east gateway. He measured the area all around. 16 The man measured the east side with the measuring stick; it was ·eight hundred seventy-five feet [L five hundred cubits] by the measuring ·stick [rod]. 17 He measured the north side; it was ·eight hundred seventy-five feet [L five hundred cubits] by the measuring stick. 18 He measured the south side; it was ·eight hundred seventy-five feet [L five hundred cubits] by the measuring stick. 19 He went around to the west side; it measured ·eight hundred seventy-five feet [L five hundred cubits] by the measuring stick. 20 So he measured the Temple area on all four sides. The Temple area had a wall all around it that was ·eight hundred seventy-five feet long [L five hundred cubits] and ·eight hundred seventy-five feet [L five hundred cubits] wide. It separated what was holy from ·that which was not holy [the common/profane; C ritually].
The Lord Among His People
43 Then the man led me to the outer east gateway, 2 and [L look; T behold] I saw the glory of the God of Israel [C his manifest presence] coming from the east. It sounded like the roar of rushing water, and ·its brightness made the earth shine [the earth radiated/shone with his glory]. 3 The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when the Lord came to destroy the city [ch. 9] and also like the vision I had seen by the Kebar ·River [Canal; 1:1]. I ·bowed [fell] facedown on the ground. 4 The glory of the Lord came into the ·Temple area [L house] through the east gateway.
5 Then ·the Spirit [or the spirit; or a wind; 2:2; 3:12] picked me up and brought me into the inner courtyard. ·There I saw [L And look/T behold] the Lord’s glory filling the ·Temple [L house]. 6 As the man stood at my side, I heard someone speaking to me from inside the ·Temple [L house]. 7 The voice said to me, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], this is my throne and the place ·where my feet rest [L for the soles of my feet]. I will live here among the ·Israelites [L sons/T children or Israel] forever. The ·people [L house] of Israel will not make my holy name ·unclean [defiled; C ritually] again. Neither the people nor their kings will ·make it unclean [defile my holy name; C ritually] with their ·sexual sins [prostitution] or with the ·dead bodies [L corpses in their death; or funeral monuments/pillars] of their kings. 8 The kings ·made my name unclean [defiled my holy name; C ritually] by putting their ·doorway [threshold] next to my ·doorway [threshold], and their doorpost next to my doorpost so only a wall separated me from them [C kings erected monuments to themselves around the temple]. When they did their ·acts that I hate [detestable/abominable acts], they ·made my holy name unclean [defiled my holy name; C ritually], and so I ·destroyed [consumed] them in my anger. 9 Now let them stop their ·sexual sins [prostitution] and take the ·dead bodies [or funeral pillars; v. 7] of their kings far away from me. Then I will live among them forever.
10 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], tell the ·people [L house] of Israel about the ·Temple [L house] so they will be ashamed of their ·sins [iniquities]. Let them ·think about the plan of the Temple [study its plan; or consider its perfection]. 11 If they are ashamed of all they have done, let them know the design of the ·Temple [L house] and how it is built. Show them its exits and entrances, all its designs, and also all its ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·teachings [laws; instructions]. Write it down ·as they watch [in their sight] so they will obey all its ·teachings [laws; instructions] and its ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements]. 12 This is the ·teaching about [law of] the ·Temple [L house]: All the area around the top of the mountain is most holy. This is the ·teaching about [law/instruction of] the ·Temple [L house].
The Altar
13 “These are the measurements of the altar, ·using the measuring stick [L in long cubits, each being a cubit and a handbreadth; 40:5]. The altar’s ·gutter [base] is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] high and ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide, and its rim is ·about nine inches [L one span] around its edge. And the altar is this tall: 14 From the base on the ground up to the lower ledge, it measures ·three and one-half feet [L two cubits]. It is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide. It measures ·seven feet [L four cubits] from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge and is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide. 15 The ·place where the sacrifice is burned on the altar [altar hearth] is ·seven feet [L four cubits] high, with its four ·corners shaped like horns and reaching up above it [horns projecting upward; Ex. 27:2]. 16 It is square, ·twenty-one feet [L twelve cubits] long and ·twenty-one feet [L twelve cubits] wide. 17 The upper ledge is also square, ·twenty-four and one-half feet [L fourteen cubits] long and ·twenty-four and one-half feet [L fourteen cubits] wide. The rim around the altar is ·ten and one-half inches [L one-half cubit] wide, and its ·gutter [base] is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide all around. Its steps ·are on the east side [L face east].”
18 Then the man said to me, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], this is what the Lord God says: These are the ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] for the altar. ·When [L On the day] it is built, use these rules to offer burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] and to sprinkle blood on it [Lev. 1:5]. 19 You must give a young bull as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] to the priests, the Levites who are from the ·family [seed; offspring] of Zadok and who come near me to ·serve [minister to] me, says the Lord God. 20 Take some of the bull’s blood and put it on the four ·corners [L horns; Ex. 27:2] of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge, and all around the rim. This is how you will ·make the altar pure [cleanse/purify the altar] and ·ready for God’s service [L make atonement for it]. 21 Then take the bull for the ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] and burn it in the ·proper [appointed; designated] place ·in the Temple area [L of the house], outside the ·Temple building [sanctuary].
22 “On the second day offer a male goat ·that has nothing wrong with it [without blemish/defect] for a sin offering. The priests will ·make the altar pure and ready for God’s service [cleanse/purify the altar] as they did with the young bull. 23 When you finish ·making the altar pure and ready [purifying it], offer a young bull and a male sheep from the flock, ·which have nothing wrong with them [without blemish/defect]. 24 You must offer them ·in the presence of [before] the Lord, and the priests are to throw salt on them and offer them as a burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] to the Lord.
25 “You must prepare a goat every day for seven days as a sin offering. Also, the priests must prepare a young bull and ·male sheep [ram] from the flock, ·which have nothing wrong with them [without blemish/defect]. 26 For seven days the priests are to make ·the altar pure and ready for God’s service [L atonement for the altar and cleanse it]. Then they will ·give the altar to God [consecrate/dedicate it; L fill its hands]. 27 ·After these seven days [L When these days are completed], on the eighth day, the priests must offer your burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] and your ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [Lev. 3:1] on the altar. Then I will accept you, says the Lord God.”
A Warning to the Rich
5 You rich people, ·listen [L Come now; 4:13]! Cry [Weep] and be very sad because of the ·troubles [miseries] that are coming to you. 2 Your riches have rotted, and your clothes have been eaten by moths. 3 Your gold and silver have ·rusted [corroded], and that ·rust [corrosion] will be a ·proof that you were wrong [L witness/testimony/evidence against you]. It will eat your ·bodies [flesh] like fire. You ·saved [hoarded; stored up] your treasure ·for [or in] the last days [C just before judgment day, when such treasures will be useless]. 4 [L Listen; T Behold] The ·pay [wages] you ·did not give [defrauded from] the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you [Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:14–15], and the cries of the ·workers [L harvesters] have ·been heard by [L reached the ears of] the Lord ·All-Powerful [of Hosts/Armies; L Sabaoth; C God’s warrior name referring to the angelic army]. 5 Your life on earth was full of ·rich living [luxury] and ·pleasing yourselves with everything you wanted [pleasure; self-indulgence]. You made ·yourselves [L your hearts] fat, ·like an animal ready to be killed [in/for a day of slaughter; C a farm animal gorging itself, unaware it is being fattened for slaughter]. 6 You have ·judged guilty [condemned] and then murdered innocent people, who ·were not against [did not resist/oppose] you.
Be Patient
7 [L Therefore] Brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], be patient until the Lord comes again. [L See; T Behold,] A farmer patiently waits for his ·valuable [precious] ·crop [fruit] to grow from the earth and for it to receive the ·autumn and spring [L early and late] rains [Deut. 11:14]. 8 You, too, must be patient. ·Do not give up hope [L Strengthen your hearts], because ·the Lord is coming soon [L the Lord’s coming draws near/is at hand]. 9 Brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], do not ·complain [grumble] against each other or you will be judged guilty [Matt. 7:1]. ·And [L Look; T Behold] the Judge is ·ready to come [L standing at the door]! 10 Brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], follow the example of the prophets who spoke ·for [L in the name of] the Lord. They suffered many hard things, but they ·were patient [endured]. 11 [L Look; or Indeed] ·We say they are happy [or We consider them blessed] because they ·did not give up [endured; persevered]. You have heard about Job’s ·patience [or endurance; perseverance], and you know the Lord’s purpose for him in the end. You know the Lord is full of mercy and is ·kind [compassionate].
Be Careful What You Say
12 My brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], above all, do not ·use an oath when you make a promise [swear; take a vow]. Don’t use the name of heaven, earth, or anything else to prove what you say. ·When you mean yes, say only yes, and when you mean no, say only no [T Let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no; Matt. 5:33–37] so you will not be ·judged guilty [condemned].
The Power of Prayer
13 Anyone who is ·having troubles [suffering] should pray. Anyone who is ·happy [joyful] should ·sing praises [sing psalms]. 14 Anyone who is sick should call the church’s elders. They should pray for and ·pour oil on the person [L anoint that person with olive oil; C anointing probably indicates dedicating or setting aside the person to God’s care; Mark 6:13] in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer that is said with faith will ·make the sick person well [save the sick; C the same Greek word is commonly used for both physical healing and spiritual salvation]; the Lord will ·heal [L raise up] that person [1 Cor. 12:9, 28]. And if the person has sinned, the sins will be forgiven. 16 [L Therefore,] Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. ·When a believing person prays, great things happen [L The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective]. 17 Elijah was a human being just like us. He prayed [earnestly; L with prayer] that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years! 18 Then Elijah prayed again, and ·the rain came down from the sky [or heaven gave rain], and the land produced crops again [1 Kin. 17—18].
Saving a Soul
19 My brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], if one of you ·wanders away [strays] from the truth, and someone helps that person come back, 20 ·remember [L know] this: Anyone who brings a sinner back from the ·wrong way [L error/wandering of his ways] will save that sinner’s soul from death and will ·cause many sins to be forgiven [L cover a multitude of sins].
The Word of God
119 ·Happy [Blessed] are those ·who live pure lives [L whose way is blameless],
who follow the Lord’s ·teachings [instructions; law].
2 Happy are those who keep his ·rules [decrees; testimonies],
who ·try to obey [L seek] him with their whole heart.
3 They don’t do what is wrong;
they follow his ways.
4 Lord, you ·gave [commanded] your ·orders [precepts]
to be obeyed completely.
5 ·I wish I [L O that my ways] were more ·loyal [steadfast; established; set]
in obeying your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].
6 Then I would not be ashamed
·when I study [staring/gazing at] your commands.
7 When I learned that your ·laws [judgments] are fair,
I ·praised [thanked] you with an ·honest [upright] heart.
8 I will obey your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements],
so please don’t ever ·leave [abandon; forsake] me.
9 How can a young person ·live a pure life [L keep his way pure]?
By ·obeying [guarding; keeping] your word.
10 With all my heart I ·try to obey [seek] you.
Don’t let me ·break [stray from] your commands.
11 I have ·taken your words to heart [treasured/stored your words in my heart]
so I would not sin against you.
12 Lord, you ·should be praised [are blessed].
Teach me your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].
13 My lips will ·tell about [recount]
all the ·laws you have spoken [L judgments of your mouth].
14 I enjoy ·living by your rules [the way of your decrees/testimonies]
as people enjoy great riches.
15 I ·think about [meditate on] your ·orders [precepts]
and ·study [look at] your ways.
16 I enjoy ·obeying your demands [your statutes/ordinances/requirements],
and I will not forget your word.
6 It is better to be poor and ·innocent [walk blamelessly]
than to be rich and ·wicked [L be on crooked paths].
7 Children who ·obey what they have been taught [protect instruction/law] are wise,
but friends of ·troublemakers [or gluttons] disgrace their parents [Deut. 28:18–21].
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