Ezra 4:1-5:17
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Now when g the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the Lord, the God of Israel,
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they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' houses and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever h since the days of i Esarhaddon king of Assyria j who brought us here."
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But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers' houses in Israel said to them, k "You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the Lord, the God of Israel, l as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us."
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Then m the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build
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and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
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And in the reign of n Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
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In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and o Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written p in Aramaic and translated.
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Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:
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Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, the q judges, the r governors, the officials, the Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the s Elamites,
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and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble t Osnappar deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River.
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(This is a copy of the letter that they sent.) "To Artaxerxes the king: Your servants, the men of the province Beyond the River, send greeting. And now
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be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are v finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.
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Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay w tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired.
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Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king's dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king,
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in order that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will find in the book of the records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that sedition was stirred up in it from of old. That was why this city was laid waste.
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We make known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the River."
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The king sent an answer: "To Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River, greeting. And now
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the letter that you sent to us has been x plainly read before me.
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And I made a decree, and search has been made, and it has been found that this city from of old has risen against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it.
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And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, y who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom z tribute, custom, and toll were paid.
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Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me.
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And take care not to be slack in this matter. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the king?"
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Then, when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went in haste to the Jews at Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease.
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Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Ezra 5
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Now the prophets, a Haggai and b Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.
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c Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and d Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were e with them, supporting them.
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At the same time f Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: g "Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?"
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They also asked them this: "What are the names of the men who are building this building?"
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But h the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it.
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This is a copy of the letter that f Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and his associates, the i governors who were in the province Beyond the River, sent to Darius the king.
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They sent him a report, in which was written as follows: "To Darius the king, all peace.
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Be it known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands.
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Then we asked those elders and spoke to them thus: g 'Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?'
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We also asked them their names, for your information, that we might write down the names of their leaders.
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And this was their reply to us: 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, j which a great king of Israel built and k finished.
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l But because our fathers had angered the God of heaven, he m gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia.
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n However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt.
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o And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, these Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was p Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
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and he said to him, "Take these vessels, go and put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site."
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Then this p Sheshbazzar came and q laid the foundations of the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been in building, and it is r not yet finished.'
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Therefore, if it seems good to the king, s let search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by Cyrus the king for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send us his pleasure in this matter."
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Cross References
Ezra 4:7 - 10
In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.
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Cross References
2 Kings 17:24
And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.
2 Kings 17:32 - 33
They also feared the Lord and appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places.
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Cross References
2 Kings 19:37
And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.
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Cross References
Ezra 4:10
And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River.
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Cross References
Nehemiah 2:20
Then I replied to them, "The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.
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Cross References
Ezra 1:1 - 3
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
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Cross References
Ezra 3:3
They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening.
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Cross References
Esther 1:1
Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces.
Daniel 9:1
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans -
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Cross References
Ezra 1:8
Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
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Cross References
2 Kings 18:26
Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.
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Cross References
2 Kings 17:24
And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.
2 Kings 17:30 - 31
The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima.
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Cross References
Ezra 5:6
This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and his associates, the governors who were in the province Beyond the River, sent to Darius the king.
Ezra 6:6
Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates the governors who are in the province Beyond the River, keep away.
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Cross References
Isaiah 11:11
In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.
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Cross References
Ezra 4:2
They approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' houses and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here.
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Cross References
Ezra 5:3
At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: "Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?
Ezra 5:9
Then we asked those elders and spoke to them thus: 'Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?
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Cross References
Ezra 4:20
And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid.
Ezra 7:24
We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
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Cross References
Nehemiah 8:8
They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
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Cross References
1 Kings 4:21
Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
Psalms 72:8
May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!
Genesis 15:18
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.
Joshua 1:4
From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.
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Cross References
Ezra 4:13
Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired.
Ezra 7:24
We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
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Cross References
Haggai 1:1
In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest:
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Cross References
Zechariah 1:1
In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying.
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Cross References
Ezra 3:2
Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.
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Cross References
Ezra 3:2
Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.
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Cross References
Ezra 6:14
And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
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Cross References
Ezra 6:6
Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates the governors who are in the province Beyond the River, keep away.
Ezra 6:13
Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered.
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Cross References
Ezra 4:12
Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.
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Cross References
Psalms 33:18
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love.
Ezra 7:6
This Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
Ezra 7:28
And who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
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Cross References
Ezra 5:3
At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: "Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?
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Cross References
Ezra 4:9
Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, the judges, the governors, the officials, the Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites.
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Cross References
Ezra 5:3
At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: "Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?
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Cross References
1 Kings 6:1
In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord.
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Cross References
Ezra 4:12
Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.
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Cross References
2 Chronicles 36:16 - 17
But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy.
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Cross References
2 Kings 24:2
And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldeans and bands of the Syrians and bands of the Moabites and bands of the Ammonites, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by his servants the prophets.
2 Kings 25:8 - 11
In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month - that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon - Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
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Cross References
Ezra 1:1
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
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Cross References
Ezra 1:7 - 8
Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods.
Ezra 6:5
And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple that is in Jerusalem, each to its place. You shall put them in the house of God.
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Cross References
Ezra 1:8
Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
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Cross References
Ezra 5:14
And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, these Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.
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Cross References
Ezra 3:8
Now in the second year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to supervise the work of the house of the Lord.
Ezra 3:10
And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the directions of David king of Israel.
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Cross References
Ezra 6:15
And this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
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Cross References
Ezra 6:1 - 2
Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in Babylonia, in the house of the archives where the documents were stored.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.