However, the people are numerous and it is the rainy season. ¹  We are unable to stand here outside. Furthermore, this business cannot be resolved in a day or two, for we have sinned greatly in this matter.

I gave instructions ¹  that Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a certain Levite named Pedaiah be put in charge of ²  the storerooms, and that Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, be their assistant, ³  for they were regarded as trustworthy. It was then their responsibility to oversee the distribution to their colleagues. ⁴ 

The slave masters were pressuring ¹  them, saying, “Complete ²  your work for each day, just like when there was straw!”

He said to them, “Why do you behave in this way? For I hear about these evil things from all these ¹  people.

They went through all the land and after nine months and twenty days came back to Jerusalem. ¹ 

That day David first gave to Asaph and his colleagues this song of thanks to the Lord:

Jahath was the oldest and Zizah the second oldest. Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were considered one family with one responsibility.

Each morning I will destroy all the wicked people in the land, and remove all evildoers from the city of the Lord.

For all day long ¹  his work produces pain and frustration, ²  and even at night his mind cannot relax! ³  This also is futile!

Do not rush out of the king’s presence in haste – do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, ¹  for he can do whatever he pleases.

I have given orders to my chosen soldiers; ¹  I have summoned the warriors through whom I will vent my anger, ²  my boasting, arrogant ones. ³ 

The Lord said to me, ¹  “I have made you like a metal assayer to test my people like ore. ²  You are to observe them and evaluate how they behave.” ³ 

“Woe to you ¹  when all people ²  speak well of you, for their ancestors ³  did the same things to the false prophets.

I did not recognize ¹  him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.” ² 

to assume the task ¹  of this service ²  and apostleship from which Judas turned aside ³  to go to his own place.” ⁴ 

Through him ¹  we have received grace and our apostleship ²  to bring about the obedience ³  of faith ⁴  among all the Gentiles on behalf of his name.

Therefore after I have completed this and have safely delivered this bounty to them, ¹  I will set out for Spain by way of you,

And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

On the contrary, when they saw ¹  that I was entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised ²  just as Peter was to the circumcised ³ 

and to enlighten ¹  everyone about God’s secret plan ²  – a secret that has been hidden for ages ³  in God ⁴  who has created all things.