For Ezrahad sethis heartto studythe lawof the LORDand to practice[it], and to teach[His] statutesand ordinancesin Israel.
"O LORD,the Godof Abraham,Isaacand Israel,our fathers,preservethisforeverin the intentionsof the heartof Your people,and directtheir heartto You;
He didevilbecausehe did not sethis heartto seekthe LORD.
"But thereis [some] goodin you, for you have removedthe Asherothfrom the landand you have setyour heartto seekGod."
Then Hezekiahspokeencouraginglyto allthe Leviteswho showedgoodinsight[in the things] of the LORD.So they atefor the appointedsevendays,sacrificingpeaceofferingsand givingthanksto the LORDGodof their fathers.
Now thisis the copyof the decreewhichKingArtaxerxesgaveto Ezrathe priest,the scribe,learnedin the wordsof the commandmentsof the LORDand His statutesto Israel:
"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].
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.
"Ifyou would directyour heartrightAnd spreadout your handto Him,
But his delightis in the lawof the LORD,And in His lawhe meditatesdayand night.
O LORD,You have heardthe desireof the humble;You will strengthentheir heart,You will inclineYour ear
I have inclinedmy heartto performYour statutesForever,[even] to the end.Samekh.
And I will walkat liberty,For I seekYour precepts.
The lawof the LORDis perfect,restoringthe soul;The testimonyof the LORDis sure,makingwisethe simple.
My heartis steadfast,O God,my heartis steadfast;I will sing,yes, I will singpraises!
"For the lipsof a priestshould preserveknowledge,and men should seekinstructionfrom his mouth;for he is the messengerof the LORDof hosts.
"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.
"Thereforeeveryonewhohearsthesewordsof Mineand actson them, may be comparedto a wisemanwhobuilthis houseon the rock.
"Ifyou knowthese things,you are blessedifyou dothem.
The firstaccountI composed,Theophilus,aboutallthat Jesusbeganto doand teach,
"You shall rememberthat you were a slavein Egypt,and you shall be carefulto observethesestatutes.
"They shall teachYour ordinancesto Jacob,And Your lawto Israel.They shall putincensebeforeYou, And wholeburntofferingson Your altar.
An overseer,then,mustbe above reproach,the husbandof onewife,temperate,prudent,respectable,hospitable,able to teach,
preachthe word;be readyin season[and] out of season;reprove,rebuke,exhort,with greatpatienceand instruction.
But as for you, speakthe things whichare fittingfor sounddoctrine.
These thingsspeakand exhortand reprovewith allauthority.Let no onedisregardyou.
Blessedare thosewho washtheir robes,sothat they may have the rightto the treeof life,and may enterby the gatesinto the city.
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."
