Revelation 2; Nehemiah 3; Psalms 97

Revelation 2

1 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: "The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands says:

2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.

3 You also possess endurance and have tolerated [many things] because of My name, and have not grown weary.

4 But I have this against you: you have abandoned the love [you had] at first.

5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent.

6 Yet you do have this: you hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

8 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: "The First and the Last, the One who was dead and came to life, says:

9 I know your tribulation and poverty, yet you are rich. [I know] the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10 Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have tribulation for 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11 "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor will never be harmed by the second death.

12 "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: "The One who has the sharp, two-edged sword says:

13 I know where you live-where Satan's throne is! And you are holding on to My name and did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan lives.

14 But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the sons of Israel: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.

15 In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

16 Therefore repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17 "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

18 "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: "The Son of God, the One whose eyes are like a fiery flame, and whose feet are like fine bronze says:

19 I know your works-your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. Your last works are greater than the first.

20 But I have this against you: you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and teaches and deceives My slaves to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols.

21 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.

22 Look! I will throw her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her practices.

23 I will kill her children with the plague. Then all the churches will know that I am the One who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

24 I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven't known the deep things of Satan-as they say-I do not put any other burden on you.

25 But hold on to what you have until I come.

26 The victor and the one who keeps My works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations-

27 and He will shepherd them with an iron scepter; He will shatter them like pottery - just as I have received [this] from My Father.

28 I will also give him the morning star.

29 "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

Nehemiah 3

1 Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and installed its doors. [After building the wall] to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated it.

2 The men of Jericho built next to Eliashib, and next to them Zaccur son of Imri built.

3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars.

4 Next to them Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Beside them Meshullam son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok son of Baana made repairs.

5 Beside them the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help their supervisors.

6 Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate. They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars.

7 Next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, and the men of Gibeon and Mizpah, who were under the authority of the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River.

8 After him Uzziel son of Harhaiah, the goldsmith, made repairs, and next to him Hananiah son of the perfumer made repairs. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.

9 Next to them Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler over half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs.

10 After them Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.

11 Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab made repairs to another section, as well as to the Tower of the Ovens.

12 Beside him Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler over half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs-he and his daughters.

13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars, and repaired 500 yards of the wall to the Dung Gate.

14 Malchijah son of Rechab, ruler over the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars.

15 Shallun son of Col-hozeh, ruler over the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and roofed it. Then he installed its doors, bolts, and bars. He also made repairs to the wall of the Pool of Shelah near the king's garden, as far as the stairs that descend from the city of David.

16 After him Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler over half the district of Beth-zur, made repairs up to [a point] opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Warriors.

17 Next to him the Levites made repairs [under] Rehum son of Bani. Beside him Hashabiah, ruler over half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district.

18 After him their fellow [Levites] made repairs [under] Binnui son of Henadad, ruler over half the district of Keilah.

19 Next to him Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler over Mizpah, made repairs to another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the Angle.

20 After him Baruch son of Zabbai diligently repaired another section, from the Angle to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

21 Beside him Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs to another section, from the door of Eliashib's house to the end of his house.

22 And next to him the priests from the surrounding area made repairs.

23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs opposite their house. Beside them Azariah son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house.

24 After him Binnui son of Henadad made repairs to another section, from the house of Azariah to the Angle and the corner.

25 Palal son of Uzai [made repairs] opposite the Angle and tower that juts out from the upper palace of the king, by the courtyard of the guard. Beside him Pedaiah son of Parosh,

26 and the temple servants living on Ophel [made repairs] opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the tower that juts out.

27 Next to him the Tekoites made repairs to another section from [a point] opposite the great tower that juts out, as far as the wall of Ophel.

28 Each of the priests made repairs above the Horse Gate, each opposite his own house.

29 After them Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. And beside him Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, guard of the East Gate, made repairs.

30 Next to him Hananiah son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph made repairs to another section. After them Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs opposite his room.

31 Next to him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs to the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far as the upper room of the corner.

32 The goldsmiths and merchants made repairs between the upper room of the corner and the Sheep Gate.

Psalms 97

1 The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coasts and islands be glad.

2 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.

3 Fire goes before Him and burns up His foes on every side.

4 His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.

5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord - at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim His righteousness; all the peoples see His glory.

7 All who serve carved images, those who boast in idols, will be put to shame. All the gods must worship Him.

8 Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice because of Your judgments, Lord.

9 For You, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; You are exalted above all the gods.

10 You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of His godly ones; He rescues them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light dawns for the righteous, gladness for the upright in heart.

12 Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones, and praise His holy name.