Ezra 8:24–36

8:24 Then I set apart 12 of the leading priests, together with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and 10 of their brothers, 25and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels intended for the temple of our God—items that the king, his advisers, his officials, and all Israel who were present had contributed. 26I weighed out to them: 650 talents of silver, silver vessels worth 100 talents, 100 talents of gold, 2720 gold bowls worth 1,000 darics, and 2 exquisite vessels of gleaming bronze, as valuable as gold. 28Then I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, just as these vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are a voluntary offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. 29Be careful with them and protect them, until you weigh them out before the leading priests and the Levites and the family leaders of Israel in Jerusalem, in the storerooms of the temple of the Lord.

30Then the priests and the Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the vessels that had been weighed out, to transport them to Jerusalem to the temple of our God.

31On the twelfth day of the first month we began traveling from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from our enemies and from bandits along the way. 32So we came to Jerusalem, and we stayed there for three days. 33On the fourth day we weighed out the silver, the gold, and the vessels in the house of our God into the care of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest, and Eleazar son of Phinehas, who were accompanied by Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui, who were Levites. 34Everything was verified by number and by weight, and the total weight was written down at that time.

35The exiles who were returning from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel—12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 male lambs, along with 12 male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 36Then they presented the decrees of the king to the king’s satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who assisted the people and the temple of God.

Ps. 115

115:1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us,

but to your name bring honor,

for the sake of your loyal love and faithfulness.

2Why should the nations say,

“Where is their God?”

3Our God is in heaven.

He does whatever he pleases.

4Their idols are made of silver and gold—

they are man-made.

5They have mouths, but cannot speak;

eyes, but cannot see;

6ears, but cannot hear;

noses, but cannot smell;

7hands, but cannot touch;

feet, but cannot walk.

They cannot even clear their throats.

8Those who make them will end up like them,

as will everyone who trusts in them.

9O Israel, trust in the Lord.

He is their deliverer and protector.

10O family of Aaron, trust in the Lord.

He is their deliverer and protector.

11You loyal followers of the Lord, trust in the Lord.

He is their deliverer and protector.

12The Lord takes notice of us; he will bless—

he will bless the family of Israel,

he will bless the family of Aaron.

13He will bless his loyal followers,

both young and old.

14May he increase your numbers,

yours and your children’s.

15May you be blessed by the Lord,

the Creator of heaven and earth.

16The heavens belong to the Lord,

but the earth he has given to mankind.

17The dead do not praise the Lord,

nor do any of those who descend into the silence of death.

18But we will praise the Lord

now and forevermore.

Praise the Lord!

1 Peter 1:13–25

1:13 Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, 15but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, 16for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.” 17And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence. 18You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed—not by perishable things like silver or gold, 19but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ. 20He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart. 23You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For

all flesh is like grass

and all its glory like the flower of the grass;

the grass withers and the flower falls off,

25but the word of the Lord endures forever.

And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.