34 Afterward, Joshua read aloud all the words of the law—the blessings as well as the curses—according to all that is written in the book of the law.

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34 Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law.(A)

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The Book of the Law Found

The high priest Hilkiah told the court secretary Shaphan, “I have found the book of the law(A) in the Lord’s temple,” and he gave the book to Shaphan, who read it.

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Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law(A) in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it.

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While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate,(A) he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively[a] to the book of the law.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 8:3 Lit The ears of all the people listened

He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate(A) in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

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They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.

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They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear[a] and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 8:8 Or God, translating it

18 Ezra[a] read out of the book of the law of God(A) every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 8:18 Some Hb mss, Syr read They

18 Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read(A) from the Book of the Law(B) of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation,(C) there was an assembly.(D)

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While they stood in their places,(A) they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day and spent another fourth of the day(B) in confession(C) and worship of the Lord their God.

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They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God.

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The priests quit asking, “Where is the Lord?”
The experts in the law no longer knew me,(A)
and the rulers(B) rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by[a] Baal(C)
and followed useless idols.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:8 = in the name of

The priests did not ask,
    ‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who deal with the law did not know me;(A)
    the leaders(B) rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,(C)
    following worthless idols.(D)

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Warning to the Priests

“Therefore, this decree(A) is for you priests: If you don’t listen, and if you don’t take it to heart(B) to honor my name,” says the Lord of Armies, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings.(C) In fact, I have already begun to curse them because you are not taking it to heart.

“Look, I am going to rebuke your descendants,(D) and I will spread animal waste[a] over your faces, the waste from your festival sacrifices,(E) and you will be taken away with it. Then you will know that I sent you this decree, so that my covenant with Levi(F) may continue,” says the Lord of Armies. “My covenant with him was one of life and peace,(G) and I gave these to him; it called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.(H) True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me(I) in peace and integrity and turned many from iniquity.(J) 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.(K)

“You, on the other hand, have turned from the way.(L) You have caused many to stumble(M) by your instruction. You have violated[b] the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of Armies. “So I in turn have made you despised(N) and humiliated before all the people because you are not keeping my ways but are showing partiality in your instruction.”(O)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:3 Dung or entrails
  2. 2:8 Lit corrupted

Additional Warning to the Priests

“And now, you priests, this warning is for you.(A) If you do not listen,(B) and if you do not resolve to honor(C) my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse(D) on you, and I will curse your blessings.(E) Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.

“Because of you I will rebuke your descendants[a]; I will smear on your faces the dung(F) from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it.(G) And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi(H) may continue,” says the Lord Almighty. “My covenant was with him, a covenant(I) of life and peace,(J) and I gave them to him; this called for reverence(K) and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction(L) was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked(M) with me in peace(N) and uprightness,(O) and turned many from sin.(P)

“For the lips of a priest(Q) ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger(R) of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.(S) But you have turned from the way(T) and by your teaching have caused many to stumble;(U) you have violated the covenant(V) with Levi,”(W) says the Lord Almighty. “So I have caused you to be despised(X) and humiliated(Y) before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality(Z) in matters of the law.”(AA)

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Footnotes

  1. Malachi 2:3 Or will blight your grain