Gifts for Building the Temple

29 Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced.^(A) The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God. ² With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold^(B) for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise,^[a](C) stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities.^{(D) 3} Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided^(E) for this holy temple: ⁴ three thousand talents^[b] of gold (gold of Ophir)^(F) and seven thousand talents^[c] of refined silver,^(G) for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, ⁵ for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?”

⁶ Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials^(H) in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.^{(I) 7} They^(J) gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents^[d] and ten thousand darics^[e] of gold, ten thousand talents^[f] of silver, eighteen thousand talents^[g] of bronze and a hundred thousand talents^[h] of iron. ⁸ Anyone who had precious stones^(K) gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite.^{(L) 9} The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly^(M) to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

David’s Prayer

¹⁰ David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

¹⁴ “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?^(S) Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.^{(T) 15} We are foreigners and strangers^(U) in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow,^(V) without hope. ¹⁶ Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. ¹⁷ I know, my God, that you test the heart^(W) and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.^{(X) 18} Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. ¹⁹ And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion^(Y) to keep your commands, statutes and decrees^(Z) and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”^(AA)

²⁰ Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the Lord your God.” So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king.

Solomon Acknowledged as King^(AB)

²¹ The next day they made sacrifices to the Lord and presented burnt offerings to him:^(AC) a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.^{(AD) 22} They ate and drank with great joy^(AE) in the presence of the Lord that day.

Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the Lord to be ruler and Zadok^(AF) to be priest. ²³ So Solomon sat^(AG) on the throne^(AH) of the Lord as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him. ²⁴ All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David’s sons,^(AI) pledged their submission to King Solomon.

²⁵ The Lord highly exalted^(AJ) Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor^(AK) such as no king over Israel ever had before.^(AL)

The Death of David^(AM)

²⁶ David son of Jesse was king^(AN) over all Israel.^{(AO) 27} He ruled over Israel forty years—seven in Hebron^(AP) and thirty-three in Jerusalem.^{(AQ) 28} He died^(AR) at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king.^(AS)

²⁹ As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer,^(AT) the records of Nathan^(AU) the prophet and the records of Gad^(AV) the seer, ³⁰ together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands.

The Exile Symbolized

12 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people.^(A) They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.^(B)

³ “Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps^(C) they will understand,^(D) though they are a rebellious people.^{(E) 4} During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile.^{(F) 5} While they watch, dig through the wall^(G) and take your belongings out through it. ⁶ Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign^(H) to the Israelites.”

⁷ So I did as I was commanded.^(I) During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.

⁸ In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: ⁹ “Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’^(J)

¹⁰ “Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’ ¹¹ Say to them, ‘I am a sign^(K) to you.’

“As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.^(L)

¹² “The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk^(M) and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land.^{(N) 13} I will spread my net^(O) for him, and he will be caught in my snare;^(P) I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans,^(Q) but he will not see^(R) it, and there he will die.^{(S) 14} I will scatter to the winds all those around him—his staff and all his troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword.^(T)

¹⁵ “They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations^(U) and scatter them through the countries. ¹⁶ But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.^(V)”

¹⁷ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁸ “Son of man, tremble as you eat your food,^(W) and shudder in fear as you drink your water. ¹⁹ Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything^(X) in it because of the violence of all who live there.^{(Y) 20} The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^(Z)’”

There Will Be No Delay

²¹ The word of the Lord came to me: ²² “Son of man, what is this proverb^(AA) you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?^{(AB) 23} Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near^(AC) when every vision will be fulfilled.^{(AD) 24} For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations^(AE) among the people of Israel. ²⁵ But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay.^(AF) For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill^(AG) whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(AH)’”

²⁶ The word of the Lord came to me: ²⁷ “Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’^(AI)

²⁸ “Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two^(A)(B)(C)

10 After this the Lord^(D) appointed seventy-two^[a] others^(E) and sent them two by two^(F) ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.^{(G) 2} He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.^{(H) 3} Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.^{(I) 4} Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages.^(J) Do not move around from house to house.

⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.^{(K) 9} Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God^(L) has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you.^(M) Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’^{(N) 12} I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom^(O) than for that town.^(P)

¹³ “Woe to you,^(Q) Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth^(R) and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. ¹⁵ And you, Capernaum,^(S) will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.^[b]

¹⁶ “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”^(T)

¹⁷ The seventy-two^(U) returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”^(V)

¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan^(W) fall like lightning from heaven.^{(X) 19} I have given you authority to trample on snakes^(Y) and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”^(Z)

²¹ At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.^(AA) Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

²² “All things have been committed to me by my Father.^(AB) No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”^(AC)

²³ Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”^(AD)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan^(AE)

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”^(AF)

²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’^[c];^(AG) and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[d]”^(AH)

²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”^(AI)

²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself,^(AJ) so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.^{(AK) 32} So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan,^(AL) as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii^[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

At the Home of Martha and Mary

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha^(AM) opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary,^(AN) who sat at the Lord’s feet^(AO) listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care^(AP) that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried^(AQ) and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[f](AR) Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”