RH
Ezra · read by Roy Hession
97 verses, in order. Only the verses Roy read aloud are shown.
Ezra 1
1
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows:Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 1
2
"This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: 'The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 1. Revival Regeneration
3
Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 1
4
And let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.'"Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 1
Ezra 3
1
By the seventh month, the Israelites had settled in their towns, and the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 2. Rebuildling the House of the Lord
2
Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 2
3
They set up the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD—both the morning and evening burnt offerings—even though they feared the people of the land.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 2. Rebuildling the House of the Lord
4
They also celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles in accordance with what is written, and they offered burnt offerings daily based on the number prescribed for each day.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 2
5
After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings and those for New Moons and for all the appointed sacred feasts of the LORD, as well as all the freewill offerings brought to the LORD.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 2
6
On the first day of the seventh month, the Israelites began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, although the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not been laid.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 2. Rebuildling the House of the Lord
7
They gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to Joppa by sea, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 2. Rebuildling the House of the Lord
8
In the second month of the second year after they had arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their associates including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years of age or older to supervise the construction of the house of the LORD.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 2
9
So Jeshua and his sons and brothers, Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Yehudah), and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together to supervise those working on the house of God.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 2. Rebuildling the House of the Lord
10
When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as David king of Israel had prescribed.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 2
12
But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 2. Rebuildling the House of the Lord
13
The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people were making so much noise. And the sound was heard from afar.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 2. Rebuildling the House of the Lord
Ezra 4
1
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
2
they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, "Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here."Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
3
But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, "You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us."Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
4
Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
5
They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
6
At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
7
And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
8
Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote the letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
10
and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
11
(This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
12
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing its foundations.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
13
Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
14
Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the kingRead from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
15
that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
16
We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
17
Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
18
The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
19
I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
20
And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
22
See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
23
When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
24
Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
Ezra 5
1
Later, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
2
Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak rose up and began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
3
At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates went to the Jews and asked, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?"Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
4
They also asked, "What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?"Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
5
But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they were not stopped until a report was sent to Darius and written instructions about this matter were returned.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
7
The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: All peace.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
8
Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. The people are rebuilding it with large stones, and placing timbers in the walls. This work is being carried out diligently and is prospering in their hands.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
9
So we questioned the elders and asked, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?"Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
10
We also asked for their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
11
And this is the answer they returned: "We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
12
But since our fathers angered the God of heaven, He delivered them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean who destroyed this temple and carried away the people to Babylon.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
13
In his first year, however, Cyrus king of Babylon issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
15
and instructed, 'Take these articles, put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site.'Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
16
So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed."Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
Ezra 6
1
Thus King Darius ordered a search of the archives stored in the treasury of Babylon.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
2
And a scroll was found in the fortress of Ecbatana, in the province of Media, with the following written on it: Memorandum:Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
3
In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: Let the house be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and let its foundations be firmly laid. It is to be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide,Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
7
Leave this work on the house of God alone. Let the governor and elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its original site.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
8
I hereby decree what you must do for these elders of the Jews who are rebuilding this house of God: The cost is to be paid in full to these men from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces west of the Euphrates, so that the work will not be hindered.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
9
Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, as well as wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given to them daily without fail.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
10
Then they will be able to offer sacrifices of a sweet aroma to the God of heaven and to pray for the lives of the king and his sons.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
11
I also decree that if any man interferes with this directive, a beam is to be torn from his house and raised up, and he is to be impaled on it. And his own house shall be made a pile of rubble for this offense.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
12
May God, who has caused His Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to alter this decree or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree. Let it be carried out with diligence.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 3
14
So the Jewish elders built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia.Read from NKJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
15
And this temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 3. the Lord's House Lying Waste
Ezra 7
2
the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,Read from NKJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
3
the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,Read from NKJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
5
the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—Read from NKJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
6
this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
7
So in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, he went up to Jerusalem with some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
8
Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
9
He had begun the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was upon him.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
27
Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put into the heart of the king to so honor the house of the LORD in Jerusalem,Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 4. a New Phase as Ezra Appears
Ezra 8
22
For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, "The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him."Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
Ezra 9
1
After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, "The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 4. a New Phase as Ezra Appears
4
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
5
At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God,Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
6
and said: "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 4. a New Phase as Ezra Appears
7
From the days of our fathers to this day, our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities, we and our kings and priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the earth and put to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation, as we are this day.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
8
But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant and to give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 4. a New Phase as Ezra Appears
9
Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but He has extended to us grace in the sight of the kings of Persia, giving us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and giving us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
10
And now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commandmentsRead from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 4. a New Phase as Ezra Appears
11
that You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: 'The land that you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the impurity of its peoples and the abominations with which they have filled it from end to end.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 4. a New Phase as Ezra Appears
12
Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.'Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 4. a New Phase as Ezra Appears
13
After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant as this),Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
14
shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not become so angry with us as to wipe us out, leaving no remnant or survivor?Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
15
O LORD, God of Israel, You are righteous! For we remain this day as a remnant. Here we are before You in our guilt, though because of it no one can stand before You."Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 4. a New Phase as Ezra Appears
Ezra 10
1
While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 4. a New Phase as Ezra Appears
2
Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 4. a New Phase as Ezra Appears
3
So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 4. a New Phase as Ezra Appears
4
Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we will support you. Be strong and take action!"Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
5
So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said. And they took the oath.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
6
Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.Read from ESV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 4. a New Phase as Ezra Appears
8
Whoever failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
9
So within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain.Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
11
Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives."Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4
12
And the whole assembly responded in a loud voice: "Truly we must do as you say!Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 4. a New Phase as Ezra Appears
13
But there are many people here, and it is the rainy season. We are not able to stay out in the open. Nor is this the work of one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter.Read from KJV · (Rebuilding the House of the Lord) 4. a New Phase as Ezra Appears
14
Let our leaders represent the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at an appointed time, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us."Read from KJV · Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 4