For Ezrahad sethis heartto studythe lawof the LORDand to practice[it], and to teach[His] statutesand ordinancesin Israel.
preachthe word;be readyin season[and] out of season;reprove,rebuke,exhort,with greatpatienceand instruction.
"Thereforeeveryonewhohearsthesewordsof Mineand actson them, may be comparedto a wisemanwhobuilthis houseon the rock.
"For the lipsof a priestshould preserveknowledge,and men should seekinstructionfrom his mouth;for he is the messengerof the LORDof hosts.
"Ifyou knowthese things,you are blessedifyou dothem.
But his delightis in the lawof the LORD,And in His lawhe meditatesdayand night.
"You, Ezra,according to the wisdomof your Godwhichis in your hand,appointmagistratesand judgesthat they may judgeallthe peoplewhoare in [the province] beyondthe River,[even] allthose who knowthe lawsof your God;and you may teachanyone whois ignorant[of them].
The lawof the LORDis perfect,restoringthe soul;The testimonyof the LORDis sure,makingwisethe simple.
"They shall teachYour ordinancesto Jacob,And Your lawto Israel.They shall putincensebeforeYou, And wholeburntofferingson Your altar.
"O LORD,the Godof Abraham,Isaacand Israel,our fathers,preservethisforeverin the intentionsof the heartof Your people,and directtheir heartto You;
O LORD,You have heardthe desireof the humble;You will strengthentheir heart,You will inclineYour ear
ThisEzrawentup from Babylon,and he was a scribeskilledin the lawof Moses,whichthe LORDGodof Israelhad given;and the kinggrantedhim allhe requestedbecause the handof the LORDhis God[was] upon him.
But as for you, speakthe things whichare fittingfor sounddoctrine.
And I will walkat liberty,For I seekYour precepts.
My heartis steadfast,O God,my heartis steadfast;I will sing,yes, I will singpraises!
Then Hezekiahspokeencouraginglyto allthe Leviteswho showedgoodinsight[in the things] of the LORD.So they atefor the appointedsevendays,sacrificingpeaceofferingsand givingthanksto the LORDGodof their fathers.
"But thereis [some] goodin you, for you have removedthe Asherothfrom the landand you have setyour heartto seekGod."
He didevilbecausehe did not sethis heartto seekthe LORD.
Then Samuelspoketo allthe houseof Israel,saying,"Ifyou returnto the LORDwith allyour heart,removethe foreigngodsand the Ashtarothfrom amongyou and directyour heartsto the LORDand serveHim alone;and He will deliveryou from the handof the Philistines."
These thingsspeakand exhortand reprovewith allauthority.Let no onedisregardyou.
An overseer,then,mustbe above reproach,the husbandof onewife,temperate,prudent,respectable,hospitable,able to teach,
The firstaccountI composed,Theophilus,aboutallthat Jesusbeganto doand teach,
"You shall rememberthat you were a slavein Egypt,and you shall be carefulto observethesestatutes.
Blessedare thosewho washtheir robes,sothat they may have the rightto the treeof life,and may enterby the gatesinto the city.
"Whoeverthenannulsoneof the leastof thesecommandments,and teachesothers[to do] the same,shall be calledleastin the kingdomof heaven;but whoeverkeepsand teaches[them], he shall be calledgreatin the kingdomof heaven.
"Ifyou would directyour heartrightAnd spreadout your handto Him,
Now thisis the copyof the decreewhichKingArtaxerxesgaveto Ezrathe priest,the scribe,learnedin the wordsof the commandmentsof the LORDand His statutesto Israel:
I have inclinedmy heartto performYour statutesForever,[even] to the end.Samekh.
