Contemplative Bible Reading

Ezra 9:2 (New Living Translation) 2 For the men of Israel have married women from these people and have taken them as wives for their sons. So the holy race has become polluted by these mixed marriages. Worse yet, the leaders and officials have led the way in this outrage. Notice the second sentence: So […]

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Ezra 9:3-4 (New Living Translation) 3 When I heard this, I tore my cloak and my shirt, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down utterly shocked. 4 Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel came and sat with me because of this outrage committed by the returned […]

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Ezra 6:22 (New Living Translation) 22 Then they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There was great joy throughout the land because the Lord had caused the king of Assyria to be favorable to them, so that he helped them to rebuild the Temple of God, the God of Israel. Other translations […]

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Ezra 8:21-22 (New Living Translation) 21 And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled. 22 For I was ashamed to ask […]

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Ezra 1:2 (New Living Translation) “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Strange words coming from the King of Persia, you know, one of […]

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Ezra 7:26 (New Living Translation) Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment. This is part of a letter from a Gentile ruler to Ezra, a Jew. Note the last word, imprisonment. God’s law, […]

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Ezra 1:1-2 (New Living Translation) 1 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom: 2 “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, […]

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Ezra 9:9 (New Living Translation) For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery. Instead, he caused the kings of Persia to treat us favorably. He revived us so we could rebuild the Temple of our God and repair its ruins. He has given us a […]

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Ezra 8:21-22 (New International Version 2011) 21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect […]

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Ezra 7:18 (New International Version) You and your brother Jews may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. These are the words that Artaxerxes the King wrote to Ezra. Artaxerxes is sending treasures with Ezra back to Jerusalem to help rebuild […]

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