Speak to the priests who carry the ark of the covenant. Tell them,‘ When you reach the edge of the Jordan River, go into the water and stand there.’ ”

你要吩咐抬约柜的祭司说：‘你们到了约旦河的水边上，就要在约旦河水里站住。’”

你要吩咐抬约柜的祭司说：‘你们到了约旦河的水边，要在约旦河中站着。’”

你要吩咐抬约柜的祭司说：‘你们到了约旦河的水边，要在约旦河中站着。’”

你要吩咐抬约柜的祭司走到约旦河边，站在水中。”

你要吩咐抬着约柜的祭司说：‘你们到了约旦河水边的时候，要站在约旦河中。’”

你要吩咐擡約櫃的祭司說：『你們到了約旦河的水邊上，就要在約旦河水裏站住。』」

你要吩咐抬約櫃的祭司說：『你們到了約旦河的水邊，要在約旦河中站着。』」

你要吩咐抬約櫃的祭司說：『你們到了約旦河的水邊，要在約旦河中站着。』」

你要吩咐抬約櫃的祭司走到約旦河邊，站在水中。」

你要吩咐抬著約櫃的祭司說：‘你們到了約旦河水邊的時候，要站在約旦河中。’”

你要吩咐抬約櫃的祭司說：「你們到了約但河的水邊，就要在約但河那裏站着。」』

當命舁約匱之祭司、至約但濱、立於水中、

爾當命舁法匱之祭司、至約但河、立於水濱。

當命舁約匱之祭司曰、爾至約但水濱、當立於約但、或作爾至約但當立於水濱

Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant:‘ When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”

And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant,‘ When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”

Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant:‘ When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.’”

Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: When you reach the edge of the water, stand in the Jordan.”

So you shall command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying,‘ When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’ ”

You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying,‘ When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.’”

And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, ye shall stand still in the Jordan.

Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.”

And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.

Instruct the priests carrying the ark of the covenant,‘ When you reach the bank of the Jordan River, wade into the water.’”

You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying,‘ When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”

They gave orders to the people. They said,“ Watch for the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. The priests, who are Levites, will be carrying it. When you see it, you must move out from where you are and follow it.

The priests carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord. They stopped in the middle of the river and stood on dry ground. They stayed there until the whole nation of Israel had gone across on dry ground.

Moses answered the people. He said,“ Don’t be afraid. Stand firm. You will see how the Lord will save you today. Do you see those Egyptians? You will never see them again.

Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. The offering began. Singing to the Lord also began. The singing was accompanied by the trumpets and by the instruments of David. He had been king of Israel.

God helped the people of Judah. He helped them agree with one another. So they did what the king and his officials had ordered. They did what the Lord told them to do.

David sent for Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. He also sent for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab. They were Levites.He said to them,“ You are the leaders of the families of Levi. You and the other Levites must set yourselves apart to serve the Lord and his people. You must carry up the ark of the Lord. He is the God of Israel. Put the ark in the place I’ve prepared for it.

He brought the priests and Levites in. He gathered them together in the open area on the east side of the temple.He said,“ Levites, listen to me! Set yourselves apart to the Lord. Set apart the temple of the Lord. He’s the God of your people who lived long ago. Remove anything‘ unclean’ from the temple.Our people weren’t faithful. They did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God. They deserted him. They turned their faces away from the place where he lives. They turned their backs on him.They also shut the doors of the temple porch. They put the lamps out. They didn’t burn incense at the temple. They didn’t sacrifice burnt offerings there to the God of Israel.So the Lord has become angry with Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them look so bad that everyone is shocked when they see them. They laugh at them. You can see it with your own eyes.That’s why our fathers have been killed by swords. That’s why our sons and daughters and wives have become prisoners.So I’m planning to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel. Then he’ll stop being angry with us.My sons, don’t fail to obey the Lord. He has chosen you to stand in front of him and work for him. He wants you to serve him and burn incense to him.”

I commanded the Levites to make themselves pure. Then I told them to go and guard the gates. I wanted the Sabbath day to be kept holy. You are my God. Remember me because of the good things I’ve done. Be kind to me according to your great love.

The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah and Jeshua. Jeshua was the son of Kadmiel. Those who helped them stood across from them to sing praises and give thanks. One group would sing back to the other. That’s what David, the man of God, had ordered.Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub stood at the gates of the temple. They guarded the storerooms at the gates.They served in the days of Joiakim. He was the son of Joshua. Joshua was the son of Jozadak. They also served in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra. Nehemiah was the governor. Ezra was a priest and the teacher of the Law.The wall of Jerusalem was set apart to God. For that occasion, the Levites were gathered together from where they lived. They were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate that happy occasion. They celebrated the fact that the wall was being set apart to God. They did it by singing and giving their thanks to him. They celebrated by playing music on cymbals, harps and lyres.The musicians were also brought together. Some of them came in from the area around Jerusalem. Others came from the villages where the people of Netophah lived.

Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the piles.Azariah the chief priest answered him. He said,“ The people have been bringing their gifts to the Lord’ s temple. Ever since they began to bring them, we’ve had enough to eat. We have even had plenty to spare. That’s because the Lord has blessed his people. So we have a large amount left over.” Azariah was from the family line of Zadok.

Some Levites were with them. Their names were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob- Adonijah. Elishama and Jehoram, the priests, were also with them.They taught people all through Judah. They took the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went around to all the towns of Judah. And they taught the people.

One of the sons of Joiada was the son- in- law of Sanballat the Horonite. Joiada, the son of Eliashib, was the high priest. I drove Joiada’s son away from me.

It is good when people wait quietly for the Lord to save them.

The king and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord. They used the words of David and Asaph the prophet. They sang praises with joy. They bowed down and worshiped the Lord.

All these Levites gathered the other Levites together. They set themselves apart to the Lord. Then they went in to purify the Lord’ s temple. That’s what the king had ordered them to do. They did what the Lord told them to.

Josiah appointed the priests to their duties. He cheered them up as they served the Lord at his temple.The Levites taught all the people of Israel. The Levites had been set apart to the Lord. Josiah said to them,“ Put the sacred ark of the covenant in the temple Solomon built. He was the son of David and king of Israel. The ark must not be carried around on your shoulders. Serve the Lord your God. Serve his people Israel.Prepare yourselves by families in your groups. Do it based on the directions written by David, the king of Israel, and by his son Solomon.“ Stand at the temple. Stand there with a group of Levites for each group of families among your people.Kill the Passover lambs. Set yourselves apart to the Lord. Prepare the lambs for your people. Do what the Lord commanded through Moses.”