From: "FamilyNet Direct"    
      
   Bible Reading for October 08   
      
   Ezra 5   
   [1] Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo,   
   prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the   
   God of Israel, even unto them.   
   [2] Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of   
   Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with   
   them were the prophets of God helping them. [3] At the same time came to them   
   Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their   
   companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this   
   house, and to make up this wall? [4] Then said we unto them after this manner,   
   What are the names of the men that make this building?   
   [5] But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could   
   not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they   
   returned answer by letter concerning this matter. [6] The copy of the letter   
   that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his   
   companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto   
   Darius the king: [7] They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus;   
   Unto Darius the king, all peace.   
   [8] Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the   
   house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid   
   in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.   
   [9] Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to   
   build this house, and to make up these walls? [10] We asked their names also,   
   to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief   
   of them. [11] And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of   
   the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many   
   years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up. [12] But after   
   that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into   
   the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed   
   this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.   
   [13] But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus   
   made a decree to build this house of God. [14] And the vessels also of gold   
   and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple   
   that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did   
   Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto   
   one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; [15] And said unto   
   him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem,   
   and let the house of God be builded in his place. [16] Then came the same   
   Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in   
   Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and   
   yet it is not finished. [17] Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let   
   there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon,   
   whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house   
   of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this   
   matter.   
      
   Ezra 6   
   [1] Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of   
   the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. [2] And there was   
   found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll,   
   and therein was a record thus written: [3] In the first year of Cyrus the king   
   the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at   
   Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices,   
   and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof   
   threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;   
   [4] With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the   
   expences be given out of the king's house: [5] And also let the golden and   
   silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the   
   temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and   
   brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place,   
   and place them in the house of God. [6] Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond   
   the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are   
   beyond the river, be ye far from thence:   
   [7] Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and   
   the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. [8] Moreover I   
   made a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of   
   this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the   
   river, forthwith expences be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.   
   [9] And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and   
   lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and   
   oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let   
   it be given them day by day without fail: [10] That they may offer sacrifices   
   of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king,   
   and of his sons. [11] Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter   
   this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him   
   be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. [12] And the   
   God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people,   
   that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which   
   is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.   
   [13] Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their   
   companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did   
   speedily.   
   [14] And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the   
   prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they   
   builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel,   
   and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of   
   Persia.   
   [15] And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was   
   in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. [16] And the children of   
   Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the   
   captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,   
   [17] And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks,   
   two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel,   
   twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. [18] And   
   they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for   
   the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of   
   Moses.   
   [19] And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth   
   day of the first month.   
   [20] For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were   
   pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for   
   their brethren the priests, and for themselves. [21] And the children of   
   Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated   
   themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek   
   the LORD God of Israel, did eat, [22] And kept the feast of unleavened bread   
   seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart   
   of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the   
   house of God, the God of Israel.   
      
   Ezra 7   
   [1] Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra   
   the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, [2] The son of   
   Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, [3] The son of Amariah, the son   
   of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, [4] The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the   
   son of Bukki, [5] The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar,   
   the son of Aaron the chief priest:   
   [6] This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of   
   Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all   
   his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. [7] And there   
   went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites,   
   and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the   
   seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. [8] And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth   
   month, which was in the seventh year of the king.   
   [9] For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon,   
   and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the   
   good hand of his God upon him. [10] For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek   
   the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and   
   judgments. [11] Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes   
   gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the   
   commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel. [12] Artaxerxes, king   
   of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven,   
   perfect peace, and at such a time. [13] I make a decree, that all they of the   
   people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are   
   minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.   
   [14] Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellers, to   
   inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which   
   is in thine hand;   
   [15] And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellers have   
   freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,   
   [16] And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of   
   Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests,   
   offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem: [17] That   
   thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their   
   meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the   
   house of your God which is in Jerusalem. [18] And whatsoever shall seem good   
   to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold,   
   that do after the will of your God. [19] The vessels also that are given thee   
   for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of   
   Jerusalem. [20] And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God,   
   which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure   
   house.   
   [21] And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers   
   which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the   
   law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,   
   [22] Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat,   
   and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt   
   without prescribing how much.   
   [23] Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done   
   for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the   
   realm of the king and his sons? [24] Also we certify you, that touching any of   
   the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this   
   house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon   
   them. [25] And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand,   
   set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the   
   river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them   
   not.   
   [26] And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king,   
   let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to   
   banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. [27] Blessed be   
   the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's   
   heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:   
   [28] And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellers, and   
   before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of   
   the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men   
   to go up with me.   
      
      
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