Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 16 June 2015

just realized that we are nearing the first Official Day of Summer, the Solstice.  Seems like a very short time ago that we had a foot or more of snow on the ground and were hoping that the temperature might creep somewhat above ZERO.  Not up to freezing (though that would have been nice, very) but into the positive numbers.  And sometimes it didn't.  So the Solstice reminds us that we've hit the high point, temp-wise, for the year and now we begin the long trek back to the COLD that seems to be the normal state around here. I hate winter.  Always have, always did, always will.  I did not miss that, not one bit.  Missed some of the friends and family, true, but the weather and the gray skies and the people with no hope in their eyes, no, not a bit.
Yes, the true source of Hope has nothing to do with the weather, or the economy, or the rest of that.  Hope comes from the Lord, and ONLY from Him.  That too, is rarely seen around here, which may explain the alcoholism and much else.  And, perhaps, the economic issues too:  drunks are not great employees, and I would be hesitant to locate a company here needing many reliable honest people.  Have been down that road, here, and it wasn't pretty 30 years ago, and is worse now.
Perhaps that is part of why we were sent here.  Perhaps.

===========================
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


The Old Testament reading today is chapters 1, 2, and 3 of Nehemiah. 
The last few days have been in the book of Ezra.  After the collapse of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, the sacking of Jerusalem, the Captivity of the people, a period of 70 years elapsed.  Then Ezra was directed and empowered to rebuild the Temple and to reinstitute the system of worship that was centered around that Temple. Now comes Nehemiah, and his marching orders are to rebuild the defenses of the city, the walls and gates.  Note the order of things:  the Lord first, then everything else.  Getting things out of order was what had led to the issues.

Nehemiah 1 

1	The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
2	That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3	And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
4	And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
5	And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:
6	Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.
7	We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.
8	Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
9	But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
10	Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
11	O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

Nehemiah 2 

1	And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
2	Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
3	And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
4	Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5	And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.
6	And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
7	Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;
8	And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
9	Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.
10	When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
11	So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
12	And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
13	And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
14	Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
15	Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
16	And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
17	Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
18	Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
19	But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
20	Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 3 

1	Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.
2	And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
3	But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
4	And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.
5	And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their LORD.
6	Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
7	And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river.
8	Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.
9	And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.
10	And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah.
11	Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
12	And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
13	The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.
14	But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
15	But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.
16	After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Bethzur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty.
17	After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part.
18	After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.
19	And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the turning of the wall.
20	After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21	After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
22	And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
23	After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house.
24	After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.
25	Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.
26	Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
27	After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.
28	From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
29	After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.
30	After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.
31	After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.
32	And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.

============================================
==============================================

The New Testament reading is verses 1-13 in the 2nd chapter of the book of the Acts of the Apostles.  Jesus has ascended to the Father, just as He said.  Now the Spirit comes, just as He said.

Acts 2:1-13

1	And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2	And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3	And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4	And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5	And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6	Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7	And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8	And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9	Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10	Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11	Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12	And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13	Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 14 June 2015

we've been on a bit of a hiatus here.  Some stuff going on that is of no interest, mostly, other than to us.  For us, of course, some of these matters are of GREAT importance, hence the hiatus.  Apologies to all who may have wondered.
It's Sunday evening as I sit at the keyboard.  Raining and storming most of the day, doing so quite vigorously right now.  Winds gusting, some pretty strong (at least one semi-truck was pushed over, earlier today) and some very nearby lightening.  Gets serious.
Briefly, I've been down sick the last few days, missed church services this morning which is uncommon for me.  Feeling a tad bit better now, we'll see if that continues through the night.
Dear Wife will be crashing soon, she is set to "watch" the Beloved Great-Niece tomorrow morning, so the alarm goes off at 06:00 and, while she's been napping on and off several times today, she needs some extended period of REM stage sleep.  I could use it myself.

==============================
-------------------------------------------------

The Old Testament reading for today is chapters 6, 7, and 8 of Ezra.  This is both a discouraging and greatly encouraging period. Looking back over the readings of the last few months, the Lord brought His Chosen People out of bondage in Egypt, through all manner of challenges and adventures, into the Promised Land.  A piece of ground not chosen at random, but at the very crossroads of the ancient world (and also today, in many ways) and established them there.  Fast forward a bit and they demanded a king, just like the nations around them.  Got one.  Got several, in fact.  Got all manner of problems too, not least of which was an increasing apostasy and wickedness among the nation from the throne room to the meanest hovel.  They rejected the Lord, so He removed His hand of protection.  And the neighboring nations, then as now,  lusted to take over.  And did.  With lots of grief and loss and pain.  Carried off as captives/slaved in fact.  For 70 years.  Then, when that period was up, and the people started to understand what they'd done and what --- and Who -- they'd lost, then the plan long in abeyance , took over, and Ezra was ordered by the Persian (today, we'd say Iranian) king ordered the rebuilding of the temple, and the re-institution of the worship of the true God in that place.  That's where we are here.  There are names and genealogies here.  They don't mean much to us, probably.  But they were known to the Lord, every one, and every one had a part to play.  Just like now.  Don't think your efforts don't matter and the Lord overlooks you.  He doesn't.

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 expenses 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, Shetharboznai, 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 make 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 expenses 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, Shetharboznai, 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 counsellors, to enquire 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 counsellors 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 counsellors, 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.

Ezra 8

1	These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.
2	Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.
3	Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.
4	Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.
5	Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.
6	Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.
7	And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.
8	And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.
9	Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.
10	And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males.
11	And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.
12	And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.
13	And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.
14	Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.
15	And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
16	Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
17	And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
18	And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
19	And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
20	Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.
21	Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
22	For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
23	So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
24	Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
25	And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
26	I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;
27	Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
28	And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.
29	Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.
30	So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.
31	Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
32	And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
33	Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;
34	By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.
35	Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.
36	And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

---------------------------
=========================================

The New Testament passage is chapter 21 of the Gospel of John.  This completes the Gospels.

John 21

1	After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2	There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3	Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4	But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5	Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6	And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7	Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8	And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9	As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10	Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11	Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12	Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13	Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14	This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15	So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16	He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17	He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18	Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19	This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20	Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21	Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22	Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23	Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24	This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25	And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.