So keep watching, because the LORD has chosen you to build the Temple of his sanctuary. So be strong, and get to work!"

Then King David addressed the entire assembly: "My son Solomon, the one whom God alone has chosen, is still young and inexperienced, and the task is great, since this structure will be a citadel to the LORD God and not for human beings.

In a letter that he sent to Solomon, King Hiram of Tyre wrote, "Because he loves his people, the LORD has placed you as king over them."

"So then, may my lord send to his servants the wheat, barley, oil, and wine about which he has spoken.

Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he lives shrouded in darkness.

"The LORD has brought to fulfillment what he promised, and now here I stand, having succeeded my father David to sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built the Temple for the name of the Lord GOD of Israel.

"LORD God of Israel, there is no one like you, God of heaven and earth, who watches over his covenant, showing gracious love to your servants who live their lives in your presence with all their hearts. It is you, LORD God, who has kept your promise to my father, your servant David, that you made to him. Indeed, you made a commitment to my father David and then personally fulfilled what you had promised today.

They will answer, "Because they abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors, who brought them from the land of Egypt, adopted other gods, worshipped them, and served them, therefore the LORD has brought all of this disaster on them.'"

He had told Judah, "Let's build up these cities, surrounding them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land still belongs to us, because we have kept on seeking the LORD our God. We have sought him out, and he has given us rest all around us." So the people built and prospered.

Right about then, Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah and rebuked him. "Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram and have not relied on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your control.

Meanwhile, the messenger who had gone off to summon Micaiah advised him, "Look, everything that the other prophets were saying has been unanimously favorable to the king. So please, cooperate with them and speak favorably."

But Micaiah responded, "Therefore, listen to what the LORD has to say. I saw the LORD, sitting on his throne, and the entire Heavenly Army was surrounding him on his right hand and on his left hand.

Now therefore, listen! The LORD has placed a lying spirit in the mouth of all of these prophets of yours, because the LORD has determined to bring disaster upon you."

"If you return alive," Micaiah responded, "then the LORD has not spoken by me." Then he added, "Listen, everybody!"

Our God, you are going to punish them, aren't you? We have no strength to face this vast multitude that has come against us, nor do we know what to do, except that our eyes are on you."

But Dodavahu's son Eliezer from Mareshah prophesied in opposition to Jehoshaphat, "Because you have entered into an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your efforts." So the ships were destroyed and were never able to sail for Tarshish.

Then Jehoiada the priest's son Zechariah was clothed by the Spirit of God, and he stood above the people and told them, "This is what God has to say: "Why are you breaking the LORD's commandments. You'll never be successful! Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you.'"

But if you do go, strengthen yourself for war. Do you think God will throw you down before the enemy, since God has the power both to help or to overthrow?"

The man of God answered, "The LORD has a lot more than that to give you!" So Amaziah sent the troops home who had arrived from Ephraim. They flew into a rage against Judah but left for home very angry.

But even while the prophet was speaking, the king asked him, "Did we appoint you to be a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?" So the prophet stopped speaking, but he also said, "I know God has determined to destroy you, because you've done all this and ignored my counsel."

But a prophet of the LORD was there named Oded. He went out to greet the army as it arrived in Samaria. He warned them, "Look! Because the LORD God of your ancestors was angry at Judah, he delivered them into your control, but you have killed them with a vehemence that has reached all the way to heaven!

Please don't be careless, you descendants of Aaron, because the LORD has chosen you to minister in his presence, to serve him, to be his ministers, and to burn incense."

So don't be stiff-necked like your ancestors were. Instead, submit to the LORD, enter his sanctuary that he has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God so that he'll stop being angry with you.

Azariah replied, "Since they began to bring their gifts into the LORD's Temple, we have eaten and have been satisfied. Now we still have plenty left, because the LORD has blessed his people so that we have all of this left over."

He only has the strength of his own flesh, but the LORD our God is with us to help us and to fight our battles." So the people were encouraged from what King Hezekiah of Judah told them.

What god, out of all the gods of those nations that my predecessors utterly destroyed, has been able to deliver his people from my control or from the control of my predecessors?

Now therefore, don't let Hezekiah lie to you or mislead you like this. Don't believe him, because no god of any nation has been able to deliver his people from my control or from the control of my predecessors. So how much less will your God deliver you from me?'"

But he sent messengers to him, who asked him, "What do we have in common, King of Judah? I am not here today opposing you. I am fighting the dynasty that is fighting me, and God has ordered me to hurry. For your own good, stop interfering with God, who is with me, and he won't destroy you!"

They also observed the Festival of Tents as has been prescribed, offering a specific number of daily burnt offerings in accordance with the ordinance of each day.

urging that a search may be made in the official registers of your predecessors. You will discover in the registers that this city is a rebellious city, that it is damaging to both kings and provinces, that it has been moved to sedition from time immemorial, and that because of this it was destroyed.

The memorandum you sent to us has been read and carefully considered.

Pursuant to my edict, an investigation has been undertaken. It is noted that this city has fomented rebellion against kings from time immemorial, and that rebellion and sedition has occurred in it.

"And Cyrus told him, "Take these utensils, go to Jerusalem, and carry them to the Temple, after the Temple of God has been built in its appropriate place.'

"Then this very same Sheshbazzar arrived and laid the foundations for the Temple of God in Jerusalem. Since that time until now the Temple has been under construction and is not yet completed."

Though now, for a moment, grace has been shown from the LORD our God, leaving a few survivors to escape, and providing us a secure hold in his Holy Place, so that our God might enlighten us and give us relief from our servitude.

Even though we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. Instead, he has extended gracious love to us in the presence of the kings of Persia, to grant us revival, to set up the Temple of our God, to repair its damage, and to give us a protective wall for Judah and Jerusalem.

"The land you are entering to possess is a morally unclean land due to the moral uncleanness of the nations of the lands along with their abominations that has filled it from one end to the other with their impurities. So, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor marry their daughters to your sons, and under no circumstances are you to seek their well-being or their wealth, so that you may remain strong, enjoying the best things the land has to give, and so that you may establish an inheritance for your children forever.'

"After all that has happened to us because of our evil behavior, and because of our great sin considering that you our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us this deliverance

LORD God of Israel, you are just: As a result, we remain here today delivered. Look at us! Because of our sin, we cannot stand in your presence as a result of everything that has happened."

So let's have our officials remain on behalf of the whole community. Then all who have married foreign wives are to come appear at specific times before the elders and judges of each city until the fierce anger of our God has been turned away from us in this matter."

So I prayed to the God of heaven and I replied to the king, "If it seems good to you, and if your servant has found favor with you, would you send me to Judah, to the city where my ancestral sepulchers are located, so I can rebuild it?"

I sent word back to him, "Nothing has happened as you've claimed. You're making up these charges in your imagination."

So they circulated a proclamation throughout their towns and in Jerusalem. It said, "Go out to the hill country and bring back olive branches, wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of mature trees, in order to set up tents, as has been written."

Then Memucan replied in the presence of the king and his officials, "It is not the king alone whom Vashti has wronged, but rather all of the officials and all of the people who are in the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

The king responded, "Bring Haman quickly so we may do what Esther has requested." So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

If I've found favor with the king and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to honor my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I'll prepare for them tomorrow, and then I'll do what the king has said."

let them bring royal robes that the king has worn and a horse on which the king has ridden, with a royal crown placed on its head.

and exclaimed: "I left my mother's womb naked, and I will return to God naked. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken. May the name of the LORD be blessed."

For the dreaded thing that I feared has happened to me, what caused me to worry has engulfed me.

I will not be at ease; I will not be quiet; I will not rest; because trouble has arrived."

A word from you has supported those who have stumbled, and has strengthened faltering knees.

"Your fear of God has been your confidence, hasn't it? The integrity of your life has been your hope, hasn't it?

Now please think: Who has ever perished when they're innocent? Where have the upright been destroyed?

At least I could still take comfort and rejoice in unceasing anguish, for I didn't conceal what the Holy One has to say.

The friend shows gracious love for his friend, even if he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty.

The truth can be painful, but what has your argument proven?

You gave life and gracious love to me; your providential care has preserved my spirit.

You'll forget your suffering; you'll remember it like water that has evaporated.

So I'm a man who wears out like something rotten, like a garment that has become moth-eaten."

Are God's encouragements inconsequential to you, even a word that has been spoken gently to you?

"The wicked person writhes in pain throughout his life, a number of years has been reserved for the ruthless.

"For he has raised his fist against God, defying the Almighty.

"God has certainly worn me out; you devastated my entire world.

God has delivered me over to the ungodly, throwing me into the control of the wicked.

"Listen, earth! Don't cover my blood, for my outcry has no place to rest.

"He has made me a byword among people; I'm being spit on in the face.

"For he has stumbled into a net with his own feet; he walked right into the network!

He has no children or descendants within his own people; and no survivors where he once lived.

then at least you must know that God has accused me of wrong, and trapped me with his net."

"He has stripped me of my honor; he has stolen the crown off my head!

He is breaking me down on every side, and now it's too late for me; he has uprooted my hopes like a tree.

"Be gracious to me, be gracious to me, my friends, because God's hand has struck me.

Why are you chasing me, as God has been doing? Aren't you satisfied that I'm sick?

Even after my skin has been destroyed, clothed in my flesh I will see God,

"He will restore what he has attained from his work and won't consume it; he won't enjoy the profits from his business transactions,

because he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he didn't build.

"It will come about that, when he has filled himself to the full, God will vent his burning anger on him; he will pour it out on him and on his body.

"Total darkness has been reserved for his treasures; a fire that has no need to be kindled will devour him and consume whatever remains in his possession.

Who will expose his conduct to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done

Accept what he has to teach you, and treasure his words in your heart.

If only I knew where to find him, I would visit him where he has taken his seat.

I haven't wandered away from the commands that he has spoken; I've treasured what he has said more than my own meals."

He'll complete what he has planned for me; he has many things in mind for me!

God has caused me to faint; the Almighty makes me terrified!

Sheol is naked before God and Abaddon has no clothes.

He has enclosed the face of the full moon and spread his clouds over it.

He has delimited a boundary over the surface of the oceans as a limit between light and darkness.

"The living God has withheld justice from me; the Almighty has made my life bitter.

If he has many children, their destiny is to die by the sword, and his descendants won't have enough food.

"He has built his house like a moth's cocoon, like a temporary sunshade that a watchman makes.

It has been concealed from the sight of every living creature and hidden even from the birds in the skies.

He has commanded mankind: "To fear the Lord that is wisdom; to move away from evil that is understanding.'"

But God has loosened his cord and afflicted me; so they've cast off all restraints in my presence.

"Now, my soul pours itself out; the time of my affliction has taken control of me.

I'm boiling mad inside, and I won't remain silent; the time for my affliction to confront me has arrived.

"If my heart has been seduced by a woman and I've laid in wait at my friend's door,

People in my household have said, "We cannot find anyone who has not been satisfied with his meat,' haven't they?

Have I feared large crowds? Has my family's contempt ever terrified me so that I remained silent and wouldn't go outside?"

Nevertheless, God has found a pretext to attack me; he considers me his enemy.

He has bound my feet in shackles, and keeps watching everything I do.'"