Sing to God, sing in praise of His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before Him -- His name is the LORD.A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His Holy dwelling.God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.  (Psalm 68:4-6). My heart is gripped by the very poignant things the Psalmist rev...  Read More

I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. "What is it you are doing?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king?"I answered them by saying, "The Go...  Read More

So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king's letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a f...  Read More

So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king's letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a f...  Read More

In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill?" . . . The king said to me, "What is it you want?"Then I prayed to the God of heaven and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your...  Read More

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven. Then I said:"LORD, the God of Heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, t...  Read More