I gave a warning to the officials. I asked them,“ Why aren’t you taking care of God’s house?” Then I brought the Levites and musicians together. I stationed them in their proper places. I put them back to work.

我就斥责官长说：“为何离弃神的殿呢？”我便招聚利未人，使他们照旧供职。

我就斥责官长说：“你们为何不顾上帝的殿呢？”于是我召集利未人，使他们在自己的岗位上供职。

我就斥责官长说：“你们为何不顾神的殿呢？”于是我召集利未人，使他们在自己的岗位上供职。

我斥责众首领说：“为何忽略上帝的殿？”然后，我招聚利未人，叫他们各归各职。

于是我责备众官长说：“为什么疏忽供应神的殿呢？”我就再召集利未人，使他们重站原来的岗位。

我就斥責官長說：「為何離棄神的殿呢？」我便招聚利未人，使他們照舊供職。

我就斥責官長說：「你們為何不顧上帝的殿呢？」於是我召集利未人，使他們在自己的崗位上供職。

我就斥責官長說：「你們為何不顧神的殿呢？」於是我召集利未人，使他們在自己的崗位上供職。

我斥責眾首領說：「為何忽略上帝的殿？」然後，我招聚利未人，叫他們各歸各職。

於是我責備眾官長說：“為甚麼疏忽供應神的殿呢？”我就再召集利未人，使他們重站原來的崗位。

我就譴責官長們說：『你們為甚麼將上帝的殿棄而不顧呢？』我便招集了利未人，重立他們的地位。

遂斥責民長曰、上帝之室、何遺棄之、因招集利未人、復供厥職、

我聞此、責諸伯曰、上帝之殿何不恪守、遂招徠利未人、使復厥職。

我斥責諸民長曰、天主之殿、何為遺棄、遂招集利未人、使仍供其職、

So I rebuked the officials and asked them,“ Why is the house of God neglected?” Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.

So I confronted the officials and said,“ Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.

I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded,“ Why has the Temple of God been neglected?” Then I called all the Levites back again and restored them to their proper duties.

Therefore, I rebuked the officials, asking,“ Why has the house of God been neglected?” I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts.

So I reprimanded the officials and said,“ Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered them together and stationed them at their posts.

So I contended with the rulers, and said,“ Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their place.

Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

Therefore, I rebuked the officials, saying,“ Why has the house of God been neglected?” I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts.

Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

So I registered a complaint with the leaders, asking“ Why is the temple of God neglected?” Then I gathered them and reassigned them to their positions.

Then I contended with the rulers, and said,“ Why is God’s house forsaken?” I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

The people of Israel, including the Levites, must bring their gifts. They must bring grain, olive oil and fresh wine. They must put them in the storerooms where the objects for the temple are kept. That’s also where the objects are kept for the priests serving at the temple, the musicians and the men who guard the gates.“ We won’t forget to take care of the house of our God.”

I gave a warning to the nobles of Judah. I said,“ Why are you doing such an evil thing? You are misusing the Sabbath day!

So I gave them a warning. I cursed them. I beat up some of them. I pulled their hair out. I had them make a promise in God’s name. I said,“ You must promise not to give your daughters to be married to their sons. You must promise not to let their daughters marry your sons. And you must not marry their daughters either.

That sin of Eli’s sons was very great in the Lord’ s sight. That’s because they were not treating his offering with respect.

I heard them when they cried out. And I was very angry when I heard what they were saying.I thought it over for a while. Then I accused the nobles and officials of breaking the law. I told them,“ You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large group of people to handle the matter.I said,“ Our Jewish brothers and sisters were sold to other nations. We’ve done everything we could to buy them back and bring them home. But look at what you are doing! You are actually selling your own people! Now we’ll have to buy them back too!” The people kept quiet. They couldn’t think of anything to say.So I continued,“ What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you show respect for our God? Shouldn’t you live in a way that will keep our enemies from saying bad things about us?I’m lending the people money and grain. So are my relatives and my men. But we must stop charging interest!Give the people’s fields back to them. Give them back their vineyards, olive groves and houses. Do it right away. Give everything back to them. Also give them back the one percent on the money, grain, fresh wine and olive oil you have charged them.”“ We’ll give it back,” they said.“ And we won’t require anything more from them. We’ll do exactly as you say.” Then I sent for the priests. I made the nobles and officials promise to do what they had said.I also shook out my pockets and emptied them. I said,“ Someone might decide not to keep this promise they have made. If that happens, may God shake them out of their house! May he empty them of everything they own!” The whole community said,“ Amen.” They praised the Lord. And the leaders did what they had promised to do.

“ Will a mere human being dare to steal from God? But you rob me!“ You ask,‘ How are we robbing you?’“ By holding back your offerings. You also steal from me when you do not bring me a tenth of everything you produce.So you are under my curse. In fact, your whole nation is under my curse. That is because you are robbing me.Bring the entire tenth to the storerooms in my temple. Then there will be plenty of food. Test me this way,” says the Lord.“ Then you will see that I will throw open the windows of heaven. I will pour out so many blessings that you will not have enough room to store them.I will keep bugs from eating up your crops. And your grapes will not drop from the vines before they are ripe,” says the Lord.

Those who turn away from instruction praise sinners. But those who learn from it oppose them.

I was never afraid of the crowd. I never worried that my relatives might hate me. I didn’t have to keep quiet or stay inside.