64 Bible Verses about Reformation

And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If, with all your heart, ye are returning unto Yahweh, then put away the gods of the foreigner out of your midst, and the Ashtoreths - and firmly set your heart towards Yahweh, and serve him, alone, that he may deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

And Jacob said unto his house, and unto all who were with him, - Put away the gods of the alien which are in your midst, and purify yourselves, and change your garments;

Now, therefore, revere ye Yahweh, and serve him, in sincerity and in truth, - and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve ye Yahweh. But, if it be, a vexation, in your eyes, to serve Yahweh, choose ye for yourselves, to-day, whom ye will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served, that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye are dwelling, - but, I and my house, will serve Yahweh. Then responded the people, and said, Far be it from us, that we should forsake Yahweh, - to serve other gods;read more.
for, as for Yahweh our God, he, brought up both us and our fathers, out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of servants, - and who did before our eyes, these great signs, and preserved us throughout all the way wherein we journeyed, and among all the peoples through the midst of whom we passed; then did Yahweh drive out all the peoples, even the Amorites were dwelling in the land, from before us, - we too, will serve Yahweh, for, he, is our God. Then said Joshua unto the people - Ye cannot serve Yahweh, for, a holy God, he is, a jealous GOD, he is, he will not forgive your transgression, nor your sins. When ye forsake Yahweh, and serve the gods of a stranger, then will he turn, and inflict on you calamity, and consume you, after that he hath dealt well with you. But the people said unto Joshua, - Nay! but, Yahweh, will we serve. Then said Joshua unto the people - Witnesses, are ye, against yourselves, that, ye yourselves, have chosen you Yahweh, to serve him. And they said: Witnesses! Now, therefore, put ye away the gods of the stranger, that are in your midst, - and incline your heart unto Yahweh, God of Israel. And the people said unto Joshua, - Yahweh our God, will we serve, and, unto his voice, will we hearken.

And it came to pass, on that night, that Yahweh said unto him - Take the young bullock that belongeth to thy father, even the second bullock of seven years, - and throw thou down the altar of Baal, that belongeth to thy father, and, the sacred stem that is by it, shalt thou cut down. Then shalt thou build an altar, unto Yahweh thy God, on the top of this fort, with the pile, - and shalt take the second bullock, and cause it to go up as an ascending-sacrifice, with the wood of the sacred stem which thou shalt cut down. So Gideon took ten men from among his servants, and did as Yahweh had spoken unto him, - and so it was that, as he too much feared the house of his father, and the men of the city, to do it by day, he did it by night.

Then Jehu gathered together all the people, and said unto them, - Ahab, served Baal, a little, - Jehu, will serve him, much. Now, therefore, all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and all his priests, call ye for me; do not let, a man, be missing; for, a great sacrifice, have I, to Baal, no one that is missing, shall live. But, Jehu, acted, craftily, to the end he might destroy the servants of Baal. And Jehu said - Hallow ye a solemn festival unto Baal. And they made proclamation.read more.
And Jehu sent throughout all Israel, and all the servants of Baal came in, so that there was not left remaining a man, who had not come in, - and they entered the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled, from door to door. Then said he to him who was over the wardrobe chamber, Bring forth vestments for all the servants of Baal. And he brought forth for them the vestments. Then entered Jehu, with Jehonadab son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, - and he said unto the servants of Baal - Search ye and see, that there be not here, with you, any of the servants of Yahweh, none but the servants of Baal, alone. And, when they entered to offer sacrifices and ascending-offerings, Jehu, set him, outside, eighty men, and said - The man who shall escape, of the men whom I am bringing into your power, his own life, shall be for, his life. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the ascending-sacrifice, that Jehu said to the runners and to the officers - Enter, smite them, let not, a man, get out. So they smote them, with the edge of the sword, - and the runners and the officers cast them out, and then went as far as the city of the house of Baal, and brought forth the idolatrous pillars that were in the house of Baal, and then burned it; and they brake down the pillars of Baal, - and brake down the house of Baal, and appointed it for a sewer-house - until this day.

And Jehoiada solemnised a covenant between Yahweh, and the king, and the people, that they should become a people unto Yahweh, - also between the king and the people. And all the people of the land entered the house of Baal, and brake it down, his altars and his images, brake they in pieces, utterly, and, Mattan the priest of Baal, they slew before the altars, - and the priest appointed officers over the house of Yahweh.

And Jehoiada solemnised a covenant, between himself and all the people, and the king, - that they should become a people unto Yahweh. Then all the people entered into the house of Baal and brake it down, and, his altars and his images, brake they in pieces, - and, Mattan the priest of Baal, they slew, before the altars.

howbeit, good things, are found with thee,-for that thou hast consumed the Sacred Stems out of the land, and hast fixed thy heart to seek God.

And he removed the gods of the foreigner and the image, out of the house of Yahweh, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of the house of Yahweh, and in Jerusalem, - and he cast them forth outside the city.

Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry, -

Dear children! Guard yourselves from idols.

and he put away the male devotees out of the land, - and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. Moreover also, even Maachah his mother, he removed from being queen, because she had made a monstrous thing to the Sacred Stem, - and Asa cut down her monstrous thing and burned it in the Kidron ravine.

And, when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he strengthened himself, and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had captured out of the hill country of Ephraim, - and renewed the altar of Yahweh, that was before the porch of Yahweh.

And he gathered together all Judah and Benjamin, and the sojourners with them, out of Ephraim and out of Manasseh, and out of Simeon, - for they fell unto him out of Israel, in great numbers, because they saw that, Yahweh his God, was with him. So they gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem, in the third month of the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. And they sacrificed unto Yahweh, on that day, out of the spoil they had brought in, - oxen, seven hundred, and sheep, seven thousand.read more.
And they entered into a covenant, to seek Yahweh, God of their fathers, - with all their heart, and with all their soul; and, whosoever would not seek unto Yahweh God of Israel, should be put to death, - whether small or great, whether man or woman. So they bound themselves by oath unto Yahweh, with a loud voice, and with shouting, - and with trumpets and with horns. And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for, with all their heart, had they sworn, and, with all their good will, had they sought him, and he was found of them, - and Yahweh gave them rest round about.

He, removed the high places, and brake in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Sacred Stem, - and beat in pieces the serpent of bronze that, Moses, had made, because, until those days, had the sons of Israel been burning incense thereunto, so he called it Nehushtan.

Now, when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went forth unto the cities of Judah, and brake in pieces the pillars - and cut down the Sacred Stems - and threw down the high places and the altars, out of all Judah and Benjamin - and throughout Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had made an end, - then all the sons of Israel returned every man to his own possession, unto their own cities.

He, in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of Yahweh, and repaired them. And he brought in the priests, and the Levites, - and gathered them together in the broadway on the east; and said unto them, Hear me, O Levites! Now, hallow yourselves, and hallow the house of Yahweh, God of your fathers, and take forth the impure thing out of the holy place.read more.
For our fathers have acted unfaithfully and done the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh our God, and have forsaken him,-and have turned round their faces from the habitation of Yahweh, and have offered their backs. Moreover they have shut up the doors of the porch, and have quenched the lamps, and, incense, have they not burned,-and, ascending-sacrifice, have they not caused to go up in the holy place, unto the God of Israel.

Now, is it near my heart, to solemnise a covenant unto Yahweh, God of Israel, - that he may turn from him the glow of his anger. My sons! now, do not be faulty, - for, of you, hath Yahweh made choice, to stand before him, and to wait upon him, and to be his attendants and burners of incense.

Then sent Hezekiah unto all Israel and Judah, moreover also, letters, wrote he unto Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come unto the house of Yahweh, in Jerusalem, - to keep a passover unto Yahweh, God of Israel. Yea, the king and his rulers and all the convocation in Jerusalem, had taken counsel, - to keep the passover in the second month. For they were unable to keep it at that time, - because, the priests, had not hallowed themselves in sufficient numbers, and, the people, had not gathered themselves unto Jerusalem.read more.
And the thing was right, in the eyes of the king, - and in the eyes of all the convocation. So they established a decree, to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even unto Dan, that they should come in to keep a passover unto Yahweh the God of Israel, in Jerusalem, - for, not for a long time, had they kept it as written. The runners, therefore, went with letters from the hand of the king and his rulers, throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, - Ye sons of Israel, return ye unto Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and he will return unto the remnant, that which is left to you, out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. And be not ye like your fathers, or like your brethren, who acted unfaithfully with Yahweh, God of your fathers, - who therefore delivered them up for an astonishment, as, ye yourselves, can see. Now, do not stiffen your neck, like your fathers, - stretch forth the hand unto Yahweh, and enter into his sanctuary which he hath hallowed unto times age-abiding, and serve Yahweh your God, that he may turn from you the glow of his anger. For, by your returning unto Yahweh, your brethren and your children, shall find compassion before their captors, so as to return unto this land. For, gracious and compassionate, is Yahweh your God, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye will return unto him. So the runners were passing from city to city throughout the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun, - -but they were laughing them to scorn, and mocking them. Howbeit, some, out of Asher and Manasseh and out of Zebulun, humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. Also, upon Judah, came the hand of God, to give them one heart, - to keep the commandment of the king and the rulers, as the word of Yahweh. And there gathered themselves unto Jerusalem much people, to keep the festival of unleavened cakes, in the second month, - an exceeding large convocation. Then rose they up, and removed the altars, which were in Jerusalem,-and, all the censers, removed they, and cast them into the Kidron ravine. Then slaughtered they the passover, on the fourteenth of the second month, - and, the priests and the Levites, were put to shame, and hallowed themselves, and brought in the ascending-sacrifices of the house of Yahweh. And they stood in their place, according to their regulation, according to the law of Moses the man of God, - the priests, dashing the blood, which they received at the hand of the Levites. For there were many in the convocation, who had not hallowed themselves, - but, the Levites, were over the slaughtering of the passover-lambs, for every one who was, not pure, to hallow him unto Yahweh. For, the multitude of the people, many out of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, for they did eat the passover, otherwise than as was written, - for Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, May Yahweh the Good, put a propitiatory-covering about every one who hath prepared, his heart, to seek God, even Yahweh, God of his fathers, - though not according to the purification of the sanctuary! And Yahweh hearkened unto Hezekiah, and healed the people. And so the sons of Israel who were found in Jerusalem kept the festival of unleavened cakes seven days, with great rejoicing, - and the Levites and the priests, were offering praise unto Yahweh day by day, with loud instruments, unto Yahweh. And Hezekiah spake unto the heart of all the Levites who were giving good instruction respecting Yahweh, - and they did eat the appointed feast seven days, sacrificing the peace-offerings, and offering praise unto Yahweh, God of their fathers. Then all the convocation took counsel, to keep seven days more, - and they kept seven days, with rejoicing. For, Hezekiah king of Judah, presented to the convocation, a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep, and, the rulers, presented to the convocation, a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep,-and, priests in great numbers, hallowed themselves. So all the convocation of Judah, and the priests and the Levites, and all the convocation that came in out of Israel, rejoiced, - also the sojourners who were coming in out of the land of Israel, and the dwellers in Judah. Thus was there great rejoicing, in Jerusalem, - for, since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel, there had not been the like of this, in Jerusalem. Then rose up the priests the Levites, and blessed the people, and there was a hearkening unto their voice, - and their prayer entered into his holy dwelling-place, even into the heavens.

And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests, and the Levites, over their courses, every man according to the requirements of his service, both priests and Levites, for ascending-sacrifice and for peace-offerings, - to be in attendance and to give thanks and to offer praise, in the gates of the camps of Yahweh; also the portion of the king out of his own substance, for the ascending-sacrifices, - even for the ascending-sacrifices of the morning and of the evening, and the ascending-sacrifices for the sabbaths, and for the new moons and for the appointed feasts, - as written in the law of Yahweh. And he bade the people who were dwelling in Jerusalem give the portion of the priests and the Levites, - to the end they might persevere in the law of Yahweh.read more.
And, as soon as the thing spread abroad, the sons of Israel caused to abound the firstfruit of corn, new wine, and oil, and honey, and all the increase of the field,-yea, the tithe of all - in abundance, brought they in. And, as for the sons of Israel and Judah who were dwelling in the cities of Judah, even they, a tithe of oxen, and sheep, and a tithe of hallowed things, which had been hallowed unto Yahweh their God, did bring in and pile up - heaps, heaps. In the third month, began they the heaps, at the foundation, - and, in the seventh, they finished. And Hezekiah and the rulers came, and saw the heaps, - and blessed Yahweh, and his people Israel. Then applied Hezekiah unto the priests and the Levites, concerning the heaps. And Azariah, the chief priest of the house of Zadok, spake unto him, - and said - From the time of beginning to bring in, the heave-offering, into the house of Yahweh - to eat and to be full, there hath still been left, even to this abundance. For, Yahweh, hath blessed his people, and, that which is left, is this great plenty. Then Hezekiah gave word to prepare chambers, in the house of Yahweh, and they prepared them; and brought in the heave-offering and the tithe and the hallowed things, faithfully, - and, over them, as chief ruler, was Cononiah the Levite, and Shimei his brother, next; and Jehiel and Azaziah and Nahath and Asahel and Jerimoth and Jozabad, and Eliel and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, - overseers under the direction of Cononiah and Shemei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the chief ruler of the house of God. And, Kore, son of Imnah the Levite, the door-keeper on the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, - to give the heave-offering of Yahweh, and the most holy things. And, under his direction, were Eden and Miniamin and Jeshua and Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in trust to give unto their brethren by courses, as the great so the small; besides registering them by males, from three years old and upward, unto every one that entered into the house of Yahweh, in the need of a day upon its day, - by their service, in their watches, according to their courses: both the registering of the priests, by their ancestral houses, and the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, - in their watches, in their courses; even to the registering of all their little ones, their wives and their sons and their daughters, unto all the convocation, - for, in their trust, they hallowed themselves in holiness; also unto the sons of Aaron the priests in the fields of the pasture land of their cities, in every several city, men who were expressed by name, - to give portions to every male among the priests, and to all registered among the Levites.

And it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan son of Azaliah son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of Yahweh, saying - Go up unto Hilkiah, the high priest, that he pour out the silver that hath been brought into the house of Yahweh, - which the keepers of the entrance-hall have gathered from the people, that they may give it into the hand of the doers of the work, who have oversight of the house of Yahweh, that they may give it to the doers of the work, who are in the house of Yahweh, to repair the breaches of the house;read more.
to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, - and to buy timber, and hewn stones, for repairing the house. Howbeit there used to be no reckoning made with them, as to the silver that was given into their hand, - because, with faithfulness, were they dealing.

And, in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purified the land and the house, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city and Joah son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of Yahweh his God. So they went in unto Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the silver that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites who kept the entrance-hall had collected from the hand of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin, - and returned to Jerusalem. And the overseers in the house of Yahweh, delivered it into the hand of the doer of the work, - yea they delivered it to the doers of the work, because they were working in the house of Yahweh, in searching and repairing the house:read more.
yea they delivered it to the artificers and to the builders, to buy carved stones and timbers for the joinings, - and to build up the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed. Now, the men, were working faithfully in the work, and over them as overseers, were - Jahath and Obadiah, Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to preside, - and Levites, all who had understanding in instruments of song; also over the burden-bearers, and such as took the lead, for everyone who was working in any manner of service, - and, of the Levites, were scribes and officers and doorkeepers.

Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the entrance-hall, to bring forth, out of the temple of Yahweh, all the vessels that had been made for Baal and for the Sacred Stem, and for all the army of the heavens, - and he burned them up outside Jerusalem, in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them to Bethel; and he put down the idol-priests, whom the kings of Judah had appointed, so that incense might be burned in the high places, in the cities of Judah, and round about Jerusalem, - them also that burned incense to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the constellations, and to all the army of the heavens; and he brought forth the Sacred Stem out of the house of Yahweh, outside Jerusalem, into the Kidron ravine, and burned it in the Kidron ravine, and crushed it to powder, - and cast the powder upon the graves of the sons of the people;read more.
and he brake down the houses of the male devotees, which were in the house of Yahweh, - where the women did weave houses to the Sacred Stem; and be brought in all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where, the priests, had burned incense, from Geba unto Beer-sheba, - and brake down the high places of the gates, that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua, the governor of the city, which were on one's left hand, in the gate of the city; howbeit, the priests of the high places came not up unto the altar of Yahweh, in Jerusalem, save only that they did eat unleavened bread in the midst of their brethren; and he defiled Topheth, which was in the valley of the son of Hinnom, - so that no man might cause his son or his daughter to pass through the fire unto Molech; and he did away with the horses, which the kings of Judah had devoted to the sun, at the entrance of the house of Yahweh, near the chamber of Nathan-melech the courtier, which was in the suburbs, also, the chariots of the sun, burned he with fire; and, the altars which were on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, also the altars which Manasseh had made, in the two courts of the house of Yahweh, did the king break down, - and hurried away from thence, and cast out the powder of them into the Kidron ravine; and, the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of destruction, which Solomon king of Israel had built unto Ashtoreth - the abomination of the Zidonians, and unto Chemosh - the abomination of the Moabites, and unto Milcom - the disgusting thing of the sons of Ammon, did the king defile; and he brake in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Sacred Stems, - and filled their place with human bones: moreover also, the altar that was in Bethel, the high place which Jeroboam son of Nebat made, wherewith he caused, Israel, to sin, - even that altar, and the high place, brake he down, - and burned the high place, crushing it to powder, and burned a Sacred Stem. And, when Josiah turned, and saw the graves which were there, in the mount, he sent and took the bones out of the graves, and burned upon the altar, and defiled it, - according to the word of Yahweh, which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. Then said he - What is yonder erection, which I do see? And the men of the city said unto him - The grave of the man of God, who came in out of Judah, and proclaimed these things, which thou hast done, concerning the altar of Bethel. And he said - Let him rest, let, no man, disturb his bones. So they let his bones rest, with the bones of the prophet who came in out of Samaria. Moreover also, all the houses of the high places which were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made, so as to provoke Yahweh to anger, did Josiah remove, - and he did to them according to all the doings which he had done in Bethel; and he sacrificed all the priests of the high places, who were there, by the altars, and burned human bones thereupon, - and returned to Jerusalem. Then did the king command all the people, saying, Keep ye a passover unto Yahweh, your God, - such as is written in this book of the covenant. Surely there had not been held such a passover as this, from the days of the Judges who judged Israel, - nor all the days of the kings of Israel, and the kings of Judah; save only, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, when this passover was held unto Yahweh, in Jerusalem. Moreover also, them who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the household gods, and the manufactured gods, and the abominations which were to be seen in the land of Judah, and in Jerusalem, did Josiah consume, - that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of Yahweh.

And, in the eighth year of his reign, he, being yet a boy, he began to seek unto the God of David his father,-and, in the twelfth year, he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, from the high places and the Sacred Stems, and the carved images and the molten images. And they threw down before him, the altars of the Baalim, and, the sun-pillars which were on high above them, he hewed down, - and, the Sacred Stems and the carved images and the molten images, brake he in pieces and ground to dust, and tossed over the face of the graves, of them who had been sacrificing unto them. And, the bones of the priests, burned he upon their altars, - and so purified Judah and Jerusalem:read more.
also throughout the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even as far as Naphtali, - searched he their houses, round about. And, when he had thrown down the altars and the Sacred Stems, and, the images, he had beaten to powder, and, the sun-pillars, he had hewn down throughout all the land of Israel, then returned he to Jerusalem.

And Josiah removed all the abominations, out of all the lands which belonged to the sons of Israel, and caused all that were present in Jerusalem to serve, yea to serve, Yahweh their God, - all his days, turned they not aside from following Yahweh, God of their fathers.

And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam son of Shaphan, and Achbor son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying: Go ye - enquire of Yahweh, for me and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book which hath been found, - for, great, is the wrath of Yahweh, in that it hath fired up against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according to all which is written concerning us.read more.
So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas keeper of the vestments, she having her dwelling in Jerusalem, in the new city, - and they spake unto her. And she said unto them, Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, Say ye unto the man who hath sent you unto me: Thus, saith Yahweh, Behold me! about to bring calamity upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, - all the words of the book, which, the king of Judah, hath read: Because they have forsaken me, and burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger, with all the workmanship of their hands; and so my wrath shall fire up against this place, and shall not be quenched: But, unto the king of Judah, who hath sent you to enquire of Yahweh, thus, shall ye say unto him, - Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard: Because, tender, was thy heart, and thou didst humble thyself before Yahweh when thou heardest what I had spoken against this place and against the inhabitants thereof - that they should become a desolation and a curse, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me, therefore also, I, have hearkened - declareth Yahweh. For this cause, behold me! about to gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered unto thy graves, in peace, and so thine eyes shall not look upon all the misfortune which I am about to bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. Then did the king command Hilkiah - and Ahikam son of Shaphan - and Abdon son of Micah - and Shaphan the scribe - and Asaiah servant of the king, saying: Go, enquire of Yahweh for me, and for the remnant in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book which hath been found, - for great is the wrath of Yahweh, which hath been poured out upon us, because our fathers, kept not, the word of Yahweh, to do according to all that is written in this book.read more.
So Hilkiah and they whom the king had named went into Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum son of Tokhath son of Hasrah keeper of the wardrobe, she, having her dwelling in Jerusalem, in the new city, - and they spake unto her accordingly. And she said unto them, Thus, saith Yahweh God of Israel, - Say ye unto the man who hath sent you unto me: Thus, saith Yahweh, Behold me bringing in calamity 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: Because they have forsaken me, and burned incense unto other gods, so as to provoke me to anger, with all the works of their hands, therefore hath my wrath been poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched. But, unto the king of Judah, who hath sent you to enquire of Yahweh, thus, shall ye say unto him, - Thus, saith Yahweh God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard: Because tender was thy heart, and thou didst humble thyself before God when thou heardest his words against this place and against the inhabitants thereof, and didst humble thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes and weep before me, therefore, I also, have heard, is the declaration of Yahweh. Behold me! gathering thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered unto thy sepulchres in peace, and thine eyes shall not look upon all the calamity which, I, am bringing in upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof. And they returned, unto the king, the message.

Then the king sent, - and there were gathered unto him, all the elders of Judah, and Jerusalem; and the king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great, - and he read in their ears, all the words of the book of the covenant, which had been found in the house of Yahweh. And the king took his stand by the pillar, and solemnised a covenant before Yahweh - to follow Yahweh, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all their heart and with all their soul, to confirm the words of this covenant, written in this book. And all the people took their stand in the covenant.

Then the king sent, - and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up to the house of Yahweh - and all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem - and the priests and the Levites, and all the people, from the great even unto the small, - and he read in their ears, all the words of the book of the covenant, which had been found in the house of Yahweh. And the king stood in his place, and solemnised the covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, 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 that are written in this book.read more.
And he caused to take a stand, all that were present in Jerusalem, and Benjamin, - and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

And the king took his stand by the pillar, and solemnised a covenant before Yahweh - to follow Yahweh, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all their heart and with all their soul, to confirm the words of this covenant, written in this book. And all the people took their stand in the covenant.

And the king stood in his place, and solemnised the covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, 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 that are written in this book. And he caused to take a stand, all that were present in Jerusalem, and Benjamin, - and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

Then did the king command all the people, saying, Keep ye a passover unto Yahweh, your God, - such as is written in this book of the covenant. Surely there had not been held such a passover as this, from the days of the Judges who judged Israel, - nor all the days of the kings of Israel, and the kings of Judah; save only, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, when this passover was held unto Yahweh, in Jerusalem.

And Josiah kept, in Jerusalem, a passover unto Yahweh, - and they slaughtered the passover, on the fourteenth of the first month. And he set the priests over their charges, - and encouraged them unto the service of the house of Yahweh; and said to the Levites who gave instruction to all Israel as to the things which were hallowed unto Yahweh, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon son of David king of Israel did build, it is not yours as a burden on the shoulder, - Now, serve ye Yahweh your God, and his people Israel;read more.
and prepare yourselves by your ancestral houses, according to your courses, - by the writing of David king of Israel, and by what hath been written by Solomon his son; and stand ye in the holy place, by the divisions of the ancestral house, for your brethren, the sons of the people, and the partitioning of an ancestral house, for the Levites. So slaughter ye the passover, - and hallow yourselves, and prepare for your brethren, that they may do according to the word of Yahweh, by the hand of Moses. And Josiah presented to the sons of the people - of flocks, young sheep and the young of the goats, the whole for the passover offerings, for all present, to the number of thirty thousand, and, of bullocks, three thousand, - these, out of the substance of the king. And, his rulers, willingly, to the people and to the priests and to the Levites, presented, - Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, chief rulers of the house of God, unto the priests, did give, for passover offerings, two thousand and six hundred, and, of bullocks, three hundred; and, Conaniah, and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, rulers of the Levites, presented to the Levites, for passover offerings, five thousand, and, of bullocks, five hundred. Thus was the service prepared, - and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the commandment of the king. So they slaughtered the passover, and the priests dashed the blood received at their hand, and the Levites were flaying the offerings . Then they removed the ascending-sacrifice, that they might give them - by the divisions of each ancestral house - unto the sons of the people, to offer unto Yahweh, as it is written in the Book of Moses, - and, in like manner, with the bullocks. And they cooked the passover with fire, according to the regulation, - but, the hallowed things, cooked they in cauldrons and in pots and in bowls, and then took quickly, unto all the sons of the people. And, afterwards, prepared they for themselves and for the priests, because, the priests, the sons of Aaron, had been engaged in offering up the ascending-sacrifice and the fat pieces, until night, - the Levites, therefore prepared for themselves, and for the priests, the sons of Aaron. the singers also, the sons of Asaph, were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the seer of the king, and, the doorkeepers, were at the several doors, - there was no need for them to remove from their service, for, their brethren the Levites, prepared for them. Thus was all the service of Yahweh prepared on that day; to keep the passover, and to offer up the ascending-sacrifice, upon the altar of Yahweh, - according to the commandment of King Josiah. So the sons of Israel who were present kept the passover at that time, - and the festival of unleavened cakes, seven days. And there had not been kept, a passover like it, in Israel, since the days of Samuel the prophet, - yea, none of the kings of Israel, had kept such a passover as was kept by Josiah and the priests and the Levites and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah, was kept this passover.

Then responded Shecaniah son of Jehiel of the sons of Elam, and said unto Ezra, We, have been faithful with our God, and have married foreign women from among the peoples of the land, - yet, now, there is hope for Israel concerning this thing. Now, therefore, let us solemnize a covenant unto our God - to put away all the women and such as have been born of them, in the counsel of my lord, and them who tremble at the commandment of our God, - and, according to the law, let it be done.

Now, when these things were ended, the rulers drew near unto me, saying, The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not kept themselves separate from the peoples of the lands, - in view of their abominations-even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites; for they have taken of their daughters, for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have intermingled themselves among the peoples of the lands, - and, the hand of the rulers and the deputies, hath, in this unfaithfulness, been, foremost. When I heard this thing, I rent my garment, and my robe, - and tore out of the hair of my head and my beard, and sat stunned.read more.
Then, unto me, were gathered, all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, concerning the unfaithfulness of them who had been exiled, - but, I, sat stunned, until the evening gift. And, at the evening gift, I arose from mine affliction, which had been accompanied by the rending of my garment and my robe, - and I bowed upon my knees, and spread forth my hands unto Yahweh my God; and said, O my God, I turn pale and am ashamed, to lift up, O my God, my face unto thee, - for, our iniquities, have multiplied above the head, and our guilt hath magnified itself unto the heavens. Since the days of our fathers, we, have been in great guilt, until this day, - and, for our iniquities, have we been given up - we, our kings, our priests, - into the hand of the kings of the lands, by sword and by captivity and by spoiling and by a turning pale of face, as at this day. And, now, for a very little moment, hath come favour from Yahweh our God, in leaving to us a remnant to escape, and in giving to us a nail in his holy place, - that our God may enlighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. For, bondmen, we are, but, in our bondage, hath our God not forsaken us, - but extended unto us lovingkindness before the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up on high the house of our God, to raise up the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. But, now, what can we say, O our God, after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments, which thou didst command by the hand of thy servants the prophets, saying, As for the land which, ye, are entering to possess, an impure land, it is, with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, - with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to the other, with their uncleanness. Now, therefore, your daughters, do not ye give to their sons, and, their daughters, do not ye take for your sons, neither shall ye seek their prosperity nor their pleasure unto times age-abiding, - to the end ye may become strong, and may eat the good of the land, and may suffer your children to possess I, unto times age-abiding. And, after all that hath come upon us, for our wicked doings, and for our great guilt - For, thou, O our God, hast spared us, punishing us less than our iniquities deserved, and hast given us a deliverance such as this, should we again break thy commandments and join ourselves by affinity of marriage with the peoples of these abominations, - wouldst thou not be angry with us, unto a full end, that there should be neither remainder nor deliverance? O Yahweh, God of Israel, righteous thou art, for we have had left us a deliverance as at this day, - here we are, before thee, in our guilty deeds, for there is no standing before thee, because of this thing!

Then arose Ezra and made the rulers of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, swear to do according to this word - and they sware. Then arose Ezra from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, - and, when he came thither, bread, did he not eat, and, water, did he not drink, for he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of them of the Exile. Then made they a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem, unto all the Sons of the Exile, to gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;read more.
and, whosoever should not come within three days, according to the counsel of the rulers and the elders, all his goods should be devoted, - and, himself, be separated from the convocation of them of the Exile. Then were gathered together all the men of Judah and Benjamin unto Jerusalem, within three days, the same, was the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month, - and all the people remained in the broadway of the house of God, trembling concerning the thing, and because of the heavy rains. Then arose Ezra the priest, and said unto them, Ye, have acted unfaithfully, and have married foreign women, - to add unto the guilt of Israel. Now, therefore, make confession unto Yahweh God of your fathers, and do his pleasure, - and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women. Then responded all the convocation and said, with a loud voice, - Thus, according to thy word concerning us, must it be done. Nevertheless, the people, are many, and, the season, is that of the heavy rains, and we are not able to stand outside, - and, the business, is not one for a single day, nor yet for two, for we have abundantly transgressed, in this thing. Let, we beseech thee, our rulers take up their station for all the convocation, and, all who, throughout our cities, have married foreign women, let them come in at times appointed, and, with them, the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the glow of the anger of our God be turned from us, concerning this matter. Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, made a stand against this, - and, Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, helped them. But the Sons of the Exile, did thus, and Ezra the priest separated to himself certain men - ancestral heads by their ancestral houses, and all of them by name, - and they took their seats on the first day of the tenth month to search into the matter; and they made an end with all the men who had married foreign women, - by the first day of the first month.

Moreover, in these days, saw I the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, of Moab; and, their children, were one-half speaking the language of Ashdod, and understood not how to speak the language of the Jews, - but after the tongue of both people. So I contended with them, and laid a curse upon them, and I smote, from among them, certain men, and pulled out their hair, - and I put them on oath by God, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take of their daughters, for your sons nor for yourselves.read more.
Was it not, over these things, that Solomon king of Israel sinned - though, among many nations, there was no king such as he, and he was, beloved by his God, and so God gave him to be king over all Israel, - even him, did foreign women, cause to sin. Unto you, then, shall we hearken, to do all this great wickedness, to act unfaithfully with our God, - by marrying foreign wives?

Now, before this, Eliashib the priest, who was set over a chamber of the house of God, was allied unto Tobiah; so he prepared him a large chamber, where aforetime they used to lay the meal-offering, the frankincense, and the utensils, and the tithe of the corn, the new wine and the oil, in charge of the Levites, and the singers, and the doorkeepers, - and the heave-offerings for the priests. But, throughout all this time , was I not in Jerusalem, - for, in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon, I came unto the king, and, at the end of certain days, obtained I leave of the king;read more.
and came to Jerusalem, - and had intelligence of the wickedness which Eliashib had committed for Tobiah, in preparing for him a chamber, in the courts of the house of God; and it grieved me exceedingly, - and I cast forth all the household utensils of Tobiah, outside of the chamber. Then commanded I, and they purified the chambers, - and I put back there, the utensils of the house of God, the meal-offering and the frankincense. Then came I to know, that, the portions of the Levites, had not been given them , - so that the Levites and the singers, who had been doing the work, had fled every one to his field. Therefore contended I with the deputies, and said, Wherefore is the house of God, forsaken? So I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then, all Judah, brought in the tithe of corn, and new wine, and oil, unto the treasuries; and I made treasurers over the treasuries - Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah from among the Levites, and, next unto them, Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, - for faithful were they accounted, and it was laid upon them to distribute unto their brethren.

In those days, saw I in Judah - some treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves and lading asses, moreover also wine, grapes, and figs, and every kind of burden, which they were bringing into Jerusalem on the sabbath day, - so I protested against it, as a day for them to sell provisions.

And, men of Tyre, dwelt therein, who were bringing in fish - and every kind of ware for sale, - and were selling, on the sabbath, to the sons of Judah, and in Jerusalem; so I contended with the nobles of Judah, - and said unto them, What is this wicked thing which, ye, are doing, and profaning the sabbath day? Was it not, thus, your fathers did, and our God brought upon us all this calamity, and upon this city? - and, ye, would add indignation against Israel, by profaning the sabbath!read more.
And it came to pass, when the gates of Jerusalem made a shadow before the sabbath, then gave I word, and they shut the doors, and I gave word, that they should not open them, until after the sabbath, - and, some of my young men, set I near the gates, so that no burden should be brought in, on the sabbath day. But the traders and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. Therefore I testified against them, and said unto them, Wherefore are ye lodging against the wall? if ye do it again, a hand, will I thrust upon you, - From that time, they came not on the sabbath. And I gave word to the Levites, that they should be purifying themselves and coming in, as keepers of the gates, to hallow the sabbath day. This also, remember to me, O my God, and have pity upon me, according to the abundance of thy lovingkindness.

Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. Nevertheless, as for the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused, Israel, to commit, Jehu turned not away from following them, - the calves of gold, one being in Bethel, and the other in Dan.

But, the high places, removed he not, - nevertheless, the heart of Asa, was blameless with Yahweh, all his days.

But, the high places, were not taken away out of Israel, - only, the heart of Asa, was perfect, all his days.

And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, only, not like his father, nor like his mother, - but he put away the pillars of Baal which, his father, had made; nevertheless, unto the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat which he caused Israel to commit, he did cleave, - he turned not away therefrom

And Jehoash did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh all his days, - whereunto, Jehoiada the priest, instructed him: save only, that, the high places, took they not away, - still were the people sacrificing and burning incense in the high places.

Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts God of Israel, Amend your ways, and your doings, - That I may cause you to dwell in this place.

if my people upon whom my Name is called shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will, I myself, hear out of the heavens, and forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Wash you make you clean, Put away the wickedness of your doings from before mine eyes, - Cease to do evil. Learn to do well - Seek justice, Correct the oppressor, - Vindicate the fatherless, Plead the cause of the widow,

Seek Yahweh while he may be found, - Call ye upon him while he is near: Let the lawless forsake his way, And the man of iniquity, his thoughts, - And let him return unto Yahweh That he may have compassion upon him, And unto our God, For he will abundantly pardon.

Now, therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the men of Judah and concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem saying, Thus, saith Yahweh, - Lo! I am fashioning against you calamity, and devising against you, a device, - Return I pray you every man from his wicked way, And amend your ways and your doings.

Now, therefore amend your ways, and your doings, and hearken unto the voice of Yahweh your God, - that Yahweh may repent him, as to the calamity which he hath spoken concerning you.

And I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, betimes, sending, saying, Return I pray you - every man from his wicked way, And amend your doings, And do not go after other gods to serve them, So shall ye remain on the soil which I gave to you, and to your fathers, - but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened, unto me.

therefore shalt thou say unto them, Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, Return ye unto me, urgeth Yahweh of hosts, - that I may return unto you, saith Yahweh of hosts.

Repent ye, therefore, and turn, - unto the blotting out of your sins; to the end that in that case, there may come seasons of refreshing from the face of the Lord, And he may send forth him who had been fore-appointed for you - Christ Jesus: Unto whom, indeed, heaven must needs give welcome, until the times of the due establishment of all things, of which God hath spoken through the mouth of his holy age-past prophets.read more.
Moses, indeed, said - A prophet, unto you, shall the Lord God raise up among your brethren, like unto me: unto him, shall ye hearken respecting all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you. And it shall be - every soul, whatsoever, which shall not hearken unto that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. But, indeed, all the prophets, - from Samuel and those following after, as many as have spoken, have even announced these days. Ye, are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God covenanted unto your fathers, saying unto Abraham - And, in thy seed, shall be blessed, all the families of the ground. Unto you first, God - having raised up his Servant - hath sent him forth, ready to bless you, when ye are turning away, each one, from your wickednesses.

Become thou watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, that were about to die; for I have not found thy works fulfilled before my God. Remember, therefore, how thou hast received, and didst hear, and keep it and repent. If then thou shall not watch, I will have come as a thief, and in nowise shalt thou get to know, during what sort of hour, I will have come upon thee.

On all hands, there is reported to be among you - fornication, and such fornication as this - which, not among the nations, is found , - as that one should have, his father's wife: - And, ye, have become puffed up, and have not rather mourned, in order that he might be removed out of your midst, who, this deed, hath wrought. For, I, indeed, - being absent in the body, but present in the spirit, have already judged, as present, him who, thus, this thing hath perpetrated: -read more.
In the name of our Lord Jesus, ye being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, To deliver such a one as this, unto Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, - that, the spirit, may be saved in the day of the Lord. Unseemly, is your boast! Know ye not that, a little leaven, doth leaven, the whole of the lump? Purge ye out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, - even as ye are unleavened; for, our passover, hath even been sacrificed - Christ: So then, let us be keeping the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of baseness and wickedness, - but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote a unto you in my letter - not to be mixing yourselves up with fornicators; - Not at all, meaning the fornicators of this world, or the covetous and extortioners, or idolaters, - else had ye been obliged, in that case, to go out of the world! But, now, I have written unto you not to be mixing yourselves up, - if anyone named a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such a one as this, not so much, as to be eating together, For what have I to do to be judging them who are without? Do, ye, not judge, them who are within, Whereas, them who are without, God, judgeth? Remove ye the wicked man from among, yourselves.

Remember, therefore, whence thou hast fallen, and repent, and do, thy first works; otherwise, I come unto thee, and will remove thy lamp out of its place, except thou repent.

I know thy works; - that neither, cold, art thou, nor hot: I would that, cold, thou hadst been, or hot. Thus, because, lukewarm, thou art, and neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, Rich, am I, and have become enriched, and, of nothing, have I need, and knowest not that, thou, art the wretched one, and pitiable, and destitute, and blind, and naked,read more.
I counsel thee to buy of me, gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich, - and white raiment, that thou mayest array thyself, and, the shame of thy nakedness, may not be made manifest, - and eye-salve, to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see. I, as many as I tenderly love, I convict and put under discipline: be zealous, therefore, and repent. Lo! I am standing at the door, and knocking; if anyone shall hearken unto my voice, and open the door, I will come in unto him, and will sup with him, and, he, with, me.

Wherefore, putting away all filthiness and overflow of baseness, in meekness, welcome ye the word fitted for inward growth, which is able to save your souls:

And be not configuring yourselves unto this age, but be transforming yourselves by the renewing of your mind, to the end ye may be proving what is the thing willed by God - the good and acceptable and perfect.

That ye were to strip off - as regardeth the former behaviour - the old man, who corrupteth himself according to his deceitful covetings, And were to be getting young again in the spirit of your mind, And were to put on the man of new mould, who, after God, hath been created in his truthful righteousness and loving kindness.

Make dead, therefore, your members that are on the earth - as regardeth fornication, impurity, passion, base coveting, and greed, the which, is idolatry, - On account of which things cometh the anger of God, - Wherein, ye also, walked, at one time, when ye were living in these things;read more.
But, now, do, ye also, put them all away, - anger, wrath, baseness, defamation, shameful talk out of your mouth: Be not guilty of falsehood one to another: having stript off the old man, together with his practices, And having put on the new - who is being moulded afresh unto personal knowledge, after the image of him that hath created him, -

Become ye doers of the word, and not hearers only - reasoning yourselves astray; Because, if any is, a word-hearer, and not a doer, the same, is like unto a man observing his natural face in a mirror, - For he observed himself, and is gone away, and, straightway, it hath escaped him, - what manner of man, he was!read more.
But, he that hath obtained a nearer view into the perfect law of liberty, and hath taken up his abode by it, becoming - not a forgetful hearer, but a work doer, the same, happy in his doing, shall be.

Range yourselves, therefore, under God, but withstand the adversary, and he will flee from you: Draw near unto God, and he will draw near unto you. Cleanse hands, sinners! Chasten hearts, double souls! Be miserable and lament and weep, let, your laughter, into lamentation, be turned, and, your joy, into dejection;read more.
Be made low in presence of the Lord, and he will lift you up.