He spokein the presenceof his brothersand the wealthy[men] of Samariaand said,"Whatare these feebleJewsdoing?Are they going to restore[it] for themselves? Can they offersacrifices?Can they finishin a day?Can they revivethe stonesfrom the dustyrubbleeven the burnedones?"
Then the peopleof the landdiscouragedthe peopleof Judah,and frightenedthem from building,
Now at the dedicationof the wallof Jerusalemthey soughtout the Levitesfrom alltheir places,to bringthem to Jerusalemso that they might celebratethe dedicationwith gladness,with hymnsof thanksgivingand with songs[to the accompaniment] of cymbals,harpsand lyres.
and on that daythey offeredgreatsacrificesand rejoicedbecauseGodhad giventhem greatjoy,eventhe womenand childrenrejoiced,so that the joyof Jerusalemwas heardfrom afar.
Thus in Judahit was said,"The strengthof the burdenbearersis failing,Yet there is muchrubbish;And we ourselvesare unableTo rebuildthe wall."
So the wallwas completedon the twenty-fifthof [the month] Elul,in fifty-twodays.
They have said,"Come,and let us wipethem out as a nation,That the nameof Israelbe rememberednomore."
"Micahof Moreshethprophesiedin the daysof Hezekiahkingof Judah;and he spoketo allthe peopleof Judah,saying,'Thusthe LORDof hostshas said,"Zionwill be plowed[as] a field,And Jerusalemwill becomeruins,And the mountainof the houseas the highplacesof a forest."'
"Have you not observedwhatthispeoplehave spoken,saying,The twofamilieswhichthe LORDchose,He has rejectedthem'? Thus they despiseMy people,nolongerare they as a nationin their sight.
"So you are to knowand discern[that] from the issuingof a decreeto restoreand rebuildJerusalemuntilMessiahthe Prince[there will be] sevenweeksand sixty-twoweeks;it will be builtagain,with plazaand moat,even in timesof distress.
LORD,I have heardthe reportabout You [and] I fear.O LORD,reviveYour workin the midstof the years,In the midstof the yearsmakeit known;In wrathremembermercy.
"In that daythe LORDwill defendthe inhabitantsof Jerusalem,and the one who is feebleamong them in that daywill be like David,and the houseof David[will be] like God,like the angelof the LORDbeforethem.
"For whohas despisedthe dayof smallthings?But thesesevenwill be gladwhen they seethe plumblinein the handof Zerubbabel--[these are] the eyesof the LORDwhichrangeto and frothroughoutthe earth."
but Godhas chosenthe foolish thingsof the worldto shamethe wise,and Godhas chosenthe weak thingsof the worldto shamethe things which are strong,
