But ¹  no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it.

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures, ¹ 

and in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, because the sky is red and darkening.’ ¹  You know how to judge correctly the appearance of the sky, ²  but you cannot evaluate the signs of the times.

The sons of Javan were Elishah, ¹  Tarshish, ²  the Kittim, ³  and the Dodanim. ⁴ 

from the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai, and Zaccur, ¹  and with them ²  70 men.

Then I say, “Look! I come! What is written in the scroll pertains to me. ¹ 

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John appeared. ¹ 

There was also an inscription ¹  over him, “This is the king of the Jews.”

And again another scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.” ¹ 

Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. ¹  There is no end to the making ²  of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body. ³ 

At that time ¹  the deaf will be able to hear words read from a scroll, and the eyes of the blind will be able to see through deep darkness. ² 

When they had heard it all, ¹  they expressed their alarm to one another. ²  Then they said to Baruch, “We must certainly give the king a report about everything you have read!” ³ 

Neither he nor any of his attendants showed any alarm when they heard all that had been read. Nor did they tear their clothes to show any grief or sorrow. ¹ 

Then say, ‘O Lord, you have announced that you will destroy this place so that no people or animals live in it any longer. Certainly it will lie desolate forever!’

“So when you see the abomination of desolation ¹  – spoken about by Daniel the prophet – standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

Messengers ¹  delivered the letters from the king and his officials throughout Israel and Judah. This royal edict read: ²  “O Israelites, return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so he may return ³  to you who have been spared from the kings of Assyria. ⁴ 

Elisha ¹  just stared at him until Hazael became uncomfortable. ²  Then the prophet started crying.

The report they sent to him was written as follows: ¹  “To King Darius: All greetings! ² 

Surely ¹  I would wear it proudly ²  on my shoulder, I would bind ³  it on me like a crown;

The Lord always proves faithful and reliable ¹  to those who follow the demands of his covenant. ²