“ The words of a priest’s lips should preserve knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priest is the messenger of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

祭司的嘴里当存知识，人也当由他口中寻求律法，因为他是万军之耶和华的使者。

祭司的嘴唇当守护知识，人也当从他口中寻求训诲，因为他是万军之耶和华的使者。

祭司的嘴唇当守护知识，人也当从他口中寻求训诲，因为他是万军之耶和华的使者。

祭司的嘴唇应持守知识，人民应从他口中寻求训诲，因为他是万军之耶和华的使者。

祭司的嘴当保存知识，人要从他的口中寻求教训，因为他是万军耶和华的使者。

祭司的嘴当谨守知识，人当从他口中寻求训诲，因为他是万军之耶和华的使者。”

祭司的嘴裏當存知識，人也當由他口中尋求律法，因為他是萬軍之耶和華的使者。

祭司的嘴唇當守護知識，人也當從他口中尋求訓誨，因為他是萬軍之耶和華的使者。

祭司的嘴唇當守護知識，人也當從他口中尋求訓誨，因為他是萬軍之耶和華的使者。

祭司的嘴唇應持守知識，人民應從他口中尋求訓誨，因為他是萬軍之耶和華的使者。

祭司的嘴當保存知識，人要從他的口中尋求教訓，因為他是萬軍耶和華的使者。

因為祭司嘴裏應當保存着知識，人也應該從他口中尋求禮節規矩，因為他是萬軍之永恆主的使者。

祭司的嘴當謹守知識，人當從他口中尋求訓誨，因為他是萬軍之耶和華的使者。」

祭司之脣、宜存智識、人當求法律於其口、以其為萬軍耶和華之使也、

維彼祭司、宜有智慧、既為萬有之主耶和華所遣、人當就彼、諮諏法度、

知識宜在祭司之口、原文作祭司之唇當守知識既為萬有之主之使者、人當由其口求律法、

“ For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.

“ The lips of a priest should guard knowledge. After all, he is the messenger of the Lord who rules over all. And people seek instruction from his mouth.

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should desire instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Armies.

For the lips of a priest should maintain knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of armies.

“ For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts.

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts.

For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he[ is] the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

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

For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of Armies.

And you must teach the Israelites all the decrees that the Lord has given them through Moses.”

Then the people said,“ Come on, let’s plot a way to stop Jeremiah. We have plenty of priests and wise men and prophets. We don’t need him to teach the word and give us advice and prophecies. Let’s spread rumors about him and ignore what he says.”

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.

Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord:“ I am with you, says the Lord!”

Then the Levitical priests must step forward, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in the Lord’s name. They are to decide all legal and criminal cases.

“ Suppose a case arises in a local court that is too hard for you to decide— for instance, whether someone is guilty of murder or only of manslaughter, or a difficult lawsuit, or a case involving different kinds of assault. Take such legal cases to the place the Lord your God will choose,and present them to the Levitical priests or the judge on duty at that time. They will hear the case and declare the verdict.You must carry out the verdict they announce and the sentence they prescribe at the place the Lord chooses. You must do exactly what they say.After they have interpreted the law and declared their verdict, the sentence they impose must be fully executed; do not modify it in any way.

“ This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says. Ask the priests this question about the law:‘ If one of you is carrying some meat from a holy sacrifice in his robes and his robe happens to brush against some bread or stew, wine or olive oil, or any other kind of food, will it also become holy?’” The priests replied,“ No.”Then Haggai asked,“ If someone becomes ceremonially unclean by touching a dead person and then touches any of these foods, will the food be defiled?” And the priests answered,“ Yes.”

I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”

This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.

But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself.

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead,“ Come back to God!”

She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting,“ These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”

Again he said,“ Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand.He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. To his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. To his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted,“ Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.The Levites— Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah— then instructed the people in the Law while everyone remained in their places.They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.

Who is as blind as my own people, my servant? Who is as deaf as my messenger? Who is as blind as my chosen people, the servant of the Lord?

He sent Levites along with them, including Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob adonijah. He also sent out the priests Elishama and Jehoram.They took copies of the Book of the Law of the Lord and traveled around through all the towns of Judah, teaching the people.

But I carry out the predictions of my prophets! By them I say to Jerusalem,‘ People will live here again,’ and to the towns of Judah,‘ You will be rebuilt; I will restore all your ruins!’

Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites regarding the skill they displayed as they served the Lord. The celebration continued for seven days. Peace offerings were sacrificed, and the people gave thanks to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

“ Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“ In all cases involving serious skin diseases, be careful to follow the instructions of the Levitical priests; obey all the commands I have given them.

This is how the Lord responds:“ If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!

When direction from the Lord is needed, Joshua will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will use the Urim— one of the sacred lots cast before the Lord— to determine his will. This is how Joshua and the rest of the community of Israel will determine everything they should do.”