Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 13 June 2016

another day.  A bit warmer than yesterday's cool spell, one we've had for most of a week.  Up early to let niece's dog (from next door) outside on his "run" in the back yard.  I am not a dog lover, but she & hubby and child are off on vacation all this week, so we are taking care of the mutt, which means that I am doing all of it.  Oh, well.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 3, 4, and 5 from the book of Ezra.

Ezra 3

1	And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
2	Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
3	And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
4	They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;
5	And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.
6	From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.
7	They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
8	Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.
9	Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
10	And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.
11	And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
12	But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
13	So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

Ezra 4

1	Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;
2	Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
3	But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
4	Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
5	And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6	And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7	And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
8	Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
9	Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
10	And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
11	This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
12	Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
13	Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
14	Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
15	That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
16	We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
17	Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
18	The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
19	And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
20	There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.
21	Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
22	Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
23	Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
24	Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

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 Shetharboznai 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 Shetharboznai 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.

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The New Testament reading is chapter 20 from the Gospel of John.
BIG EVENTS!!  Jesus has been put to shameful death, and buried in a borrowed tomb.  But now, the Rest of the Story.  It ain't over yet!

John 20

1	The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2	Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3	Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4	So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5	And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6	Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7	And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8	Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9	For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
10	Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11	But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12	And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13	And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him.
14	And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15	Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16	Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17	Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18	Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
19	Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20	And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD.
21	Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22	And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23	Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24	But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25	The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26	And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27	Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28	And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
29	Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30	And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31	But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 12 June 2016

Today's an odd day.  Sunday is always a good day, of course, but I've been a bit out of sync all day, and no good reason for it.  It happens some times.

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The Old Testament reading today is chapters 1 and 2 of the book of Ezra.  The 70 years of banishment from the land are complete.  Time to go home, or at least to begin that process.  So Ezra is called upon.

Ezra 1  Back to Top

1	Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
2	Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3	Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
4	And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
5	Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.
6	And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.
7	Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;
8	Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
9	And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,
10	Thirty basins of gold, silver basins of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.
11	All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.

Ezra 2  Back to Top

1	Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;
2	Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
3	The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.
4	The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
5	The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.
6	The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.
7	The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
8	The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.
9	The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
10	The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.
11	The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.
12	The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.
13	The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.
14	The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.
15	The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.
16	The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
17	The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.
18	The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve.
19	The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.
20	The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.
21	The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three.
22	The men of Netophah, fifty and six.
23	The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.
24	The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.
25	The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.
26	The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.
27	The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.
28	The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.
29	The children of Nebo, fifty and two.
30	The children of Magbish, an hundred fifty and six.
31	The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
32	The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
33	The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five.
34	The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
35	The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.
36	The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
37	The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
38	The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
39	The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
40	The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.
41	The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.
42	The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine.
43	The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
44	The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
45	The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
46	The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,
47	The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
48	The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
49	The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
50	The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim,
51	The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
52	The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
53	The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,
54	The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
55	The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
56	The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
57	The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.
58	All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.
59	And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel:
60	The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.
61	And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:
62	These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.
63	And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.
64	The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,
65	Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
66	Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;
67	Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
68	And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:
69	They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.
70	So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

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The New Testament reading is verses 23-42 in the 19th chapter of the Gospel of John.
The Crucifixion.

John 19:23-42

23	Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
24	They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
25	Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26	When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27	Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
28	After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
29	Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
30	When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
31	The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32	Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
33	But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
34	But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
35	And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
36	For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
37	And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
38	And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
39	And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
40	Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
41	Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
42	There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 11 June 2016

things still somewhat askew around here.  Dear Wife is doing a teeny bit better. 

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 34, 35, and 36 of 2nd Chronicles, completing the Chronicles.  The destruction of the nation is complete.  It began with a loss of character and focus upon the Lord and His will, and ended with the destruction of everything.  Troubling, not least because it so well presages what is and has been happening in our own land. And can lead to the same results.

II Chronicles 34

1	Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.
2	And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.
3	For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.
4	And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strewed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.
5	And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
6	And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.
7	And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
8	Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.
9	And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem.
10	And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the LORD, to repair and amend the house:
11	Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.
12	And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of music.
13	Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.
14	And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.
15	And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.
16	And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it.
17	And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen.
18	Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
19	And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.
20	And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying,
21	Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.
22	And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect.
23	And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me,
24	Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:
25	Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.
26	And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard;
27	Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.
28	Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.
29	Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
30	And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.
31	And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.
32	And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
33	And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

II Chronicles 35

1	Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
2	And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD,
3	And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,
4	And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.
5	And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites.
6	So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
7	And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king's substance.
8	And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred small cattle and three hundred oxen.
9	Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen.
10	So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment.
11	And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.
12	And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen.
13	And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: but the other holy offerings sod they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people.
14	And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.
15	And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.
16	So all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar of the LORD, according to the commandment of king Josiah.
17	And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.
18	And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
19	In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.
20	After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.
21	But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.
22	Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
23	And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.
24	His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
25	And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.
26	Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the LORD,
27	And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

II Chronicles 36

1	Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem.
2	Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
3	And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
4	And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.
5	Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God.
6	Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.
7	Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.
8	Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.
9	Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.
10	And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.
11	Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
12	And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD.
13	And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.
14	Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.
15	And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:
16	But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
17	Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.
18	And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.
19	And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.
20	And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:
21	To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
22	Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
23	Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-22 in chapter 19 in the Gospel of John.  Tough reading.

John 19:1-22

1	Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
2	And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
3	And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
4	Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
5	Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
6	When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
7	The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
8	When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
9	And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
10	Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
11	Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
12	And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
13	When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
14	And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
15	But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
16	Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
17	And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
18	Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
19	And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20	This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
21	Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
22	Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.