and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things ¹  are a gift from God.

You must speak my words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.

Yet I will appoint them to keep charge of the temple, all of its service and all that will be done in it.

Moreover, they will teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the ceremonially unclean and the clean. ¹ 

They do not jostle one another; ¹  each of them marches straight ahead. ²  They burst through ³  the city defenses ⁴  and do not break ranks.

yet you ¹  hate what is good, ²  and love what is evil. ³  You flay my people’s skin ⁴  and rip the flesh from their bones. ⁵ 

For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge of sacred things, and people should seek instruction from him ¹  because he is the messenger of the Lord who rules over all.

“Who then is the faithful and wise slave, ¹  whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves ²  their food at the proper time?

I know ¹  what to do so that when I am put out of management, people will welcome me into their homes.’ ² 

And the king ¹  said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful ²  in a very small matter, you will have authority ³  over ten cities.’

But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, ¹  his faith is credited as righteousness.

For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Are you not to judge those inside?

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor in turn can the head say to the foot, “I do not need you.”

to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you.

You, however, be self-controlled ¹  in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.

Now Moses was faithful in all God’s ¹  house ²  as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken.

So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Dear friends, do not be astonished ¹  that a trial by fire is occurring among you, ²  as though something strange were happening to you.

I for my part will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians ¹  whenever they come to us. You for your part go ahead and harvest the wine, the dates, the figs, ²  and the olive oil, and store them in jars. Go ahead and settle down in the towns that you have taken over.” ³ 

They should gather all the excess food ¹  during these good years that are coming. By Pharaoh’s authority ²  they should store up grain so the cities will have food, ³  and they should preserve it. ⁴