and they blasphemedthe Godof heavenbecauseof their painsand their sores;and they did not repentof their deeds.
Menwere scorchedwith fierceheat;and they blasphemedthe nameof Godwho hasthe powerovertheseplagues,and they did not repentso as to giveHim glory.
And hugehailstones,aboutone hundred poundseach, came downfrom heavenupon men;and menblasphemedGodbecauseof the plagueof the hail,becauseits plaguewas extremelysevere.
Sothe first[angel] wentand pouredout his bowlon the earth;and it becamea loathsomeand malignantsoreon the peoplewho hadthe markof the beastand who worshipedhis image.
And in that hourthere was a greatearthquake,and a tenthof the cityfell;seventhousandpeoplewere killedin the earthquake,and the restwere terrifiedand gavegloryto the Godof heaven.
I gaveher timeto repent,and she does not wantto repentof her immorality.
But evilmenand impostorswill proceed[from bad] to worse,deceivingand being deceived.
Givethanksto the Godof heaven,For His lovingkindnessis everlasting.
"Whateveris commandedby the Godof heaven,let it be donewith zealfor the houseof the Godof heaven,sothat there will not be wrathagainstthe kingdomof the kingand his sons.
that they may offeracceptablesacrificesto the Godof heavenand prayfor the lifeof the kingand his sons.
"ThussaysCyruskingof Persia,'The LORD,the Godof heaven,has givenme allthe kingdomsof the earthand He has appointedme to buildHim a housein Jerusalem,whichis in Judah.
"In the daysof thosekingsthe Godof heavenwill setup a kingdomwhichwill neverbe destroyed,and [that] kingdomwill not be leftfor anotherpeople;it will crushand putan endto allthesekingdoms,but it will itselfendureforever.
Then the kingsaidto me, "Whatwould you request?"So I prayedto the Godof heaven.
When I heardthesewords,I satdownand weptand mournedfor days;and I was fastingand prayingbeforethe Godof heaven.
"I, even I, KingArtaxerxes,issuea decreeto allthe treasurerswhoare [in the provinces] beyondthe River,that whateverEzrathe priest,the scribeof the lawof the Godof heaven,may requireof you, it shall be donediligently,
"Artaxerxes,kingof kings,to Ezrathe priest,the scribeof the lawof the Godof heaven,perfect[peace]. And now
"ThussaysCyruskingof Persia,'The LORD,the Godof heaven,has givenme allthe kingdomsof the earth,and He has appointedme to buildHim a housein Jerusalem,whichis in Judah.Whoeverthere is among you of allHis people,may the LORDhis Godbe with him, and let him goup!'"
He saidto them, "I am a Hebrew,and I fearthe LORDGodof heavenwhomadethe seaand the dryland."
Now in the timeof his distressthissameKingAhazbecameyetmoreunfaithfulto the LORD.
