"Thusthey answeredus, saying,'We are the servantsof the Godof heavenand earthand are rebuildingthe templethat was builtmanyyearsago,which a greatkingof Israelbuiltand finished.
and I will make you swearby the LORD,the Godof heavenand the Godof earth,that you shall not takea wifefor my sonfrom the daughtersof the Canaanites,amongwhomI live,
In the eleventhyear,in the monthof Bul,whichis the eighthmonth,the housewas finishedthroughout allits partsand according to allits plans.So he was sevenyearsin buildingit.
It cameabout at the endof twentyyearsin whichSolomonhad builtthe twohouses,the houseof the LORDand the king'shouse
"We alsoaskedthem their namesso as to informyou, and that we might writedownthe namesof the menwhowere at their head.
I will also speakof Your testimoniesbeforekingsAnd shall not be ashamed.
Givethanksto the Godof heaven,For His lovingkindnessis everlasting.
ThenNebuchadnezzarcamenearto the doorof the furnaceof blazingfire;he respondedand said,"Shadrach,Meshachand Abed-nego,comeout, you servantsof the MostHighGod,and comehere!"ThenShadrach,Meshachand Abed-negocameout of the midstof the fire.
He saidto them, "I am a Hebrew,and I fearthe LORDGodof heavenwhomadethe seaand the dryland."
"ThereforeeveryonewhoconfessesMe beforemen,I will alsoconfesshim beforeMy Fatherwho is in heaven.
"And I sayto you, everyonewhoconfessesMe beforemen,the Sonof Manwill confesshim alsobeforethe angelsof God;
"For thisvery nightan angelof the Godto whomI belongand whomI servestood beforeme,
For I am not ashamedof the gospel,for it is the powerof Godfor salvationto everyonewho believes,to the Jewfirstand alsoto the Greek.
Do you not knowthat whenyou presentyourselvesto someone[as] slavesfor obedience,you are slavesof the one whomyou obey,eitherof sinresultingin death,orof obedienceresultingin righteousness?
But may it neverbe that I would boast,exceptin the crossof our LordJesusChrist,throughwhichthe worldhas been crucifiedto me, and I to the world.
"Ifit is disagreeablein your sightto servethe LORD,choosefor yourselves todaywhomyou will serve:whetherthe godswhichyour fathersservedwhichwere beyondthe River,or the godsof the Amoritesin whoselandyou are living;but as for me and my house,we will servethe LORD."
