MAL edits/corrections

This is the message that Yahweh gave to me, Habakkuk the prophet.

From Bob Johnson
Tom Warren

00-UDB_front&back/UDB-1-Intro.md

@@ -1,16 +1,47 @@
-# Introduction to the Unlocked Dynamic Bible
+  - James N. Pohlig, MDiv; M.A. in Linguistics; D.Litt. in Biblical Languages
+  - W. Thomas Warren, B.A. in Bible; M.Div.; D.Min.
+  - Larry Sallee, D.Min.
+  - C. Harry Harriss, M.Div.
+  - Hendrik "Henry" de Vries
+  - Henry Whitney, B.A. in Education; Bible Translator; Summer Institute of Linguistics, 1982-2001
+  - John Hutchins, B.A. in Bible and Theology; M.A. in New Testament; M.A. in Biblical languages
+  - Perry Oakes, Ph.D. in Old Testament; M.A. in Linguistics
+  - Susan R. Quigley, M.A. in Linguistics
+  - Robert W. Johnson, B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering
+  - Forest Deal
+  - Door43 World Missions Community
+  - Wycliffe Associates Staff# Introduction to the Unlocked Dynamic Bible
 
-The Unlocked Dynamic Bible (UDB) is an open-licensed translation of the Bible based on A Translation For Translators by Ellis W. Deibler, Jr., which is licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://git.door43.org/Door43/T4T). The UDB is intended to be used as a supplemental resource for Bible translation alongside the Unlocked Literal Bible (ULB). Its purpose is to unpack the meaning of **many of** the figures of speech, idioms, abstract nouns, and difficult grammatical forms that occur in the ULB as a reflection of those things in the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts. 
+The Unlocked Dynamic Bible (UDB) is a translation of the Bible that is intended to help translators understand the meanings of words and phrases in the Unlocked Literal Bible (ULB). It is not meant to be used as a source text, but as an aid to understanding the source text. The UDB is also not meant to be a refined, polished English version.
 
-By using the UDB as a supplemental resource to the ULB, translators will be able to 1) see in the ULB many of the figures of speech, idioms, and other forms of the original Bible, and then 2) see in the UDB what their meaning is. Translators can use the forms from the ULB that are clear and natural in their language. When those forms are not clear or natural in their language, they can use the UDB and the translationNotes to help them choose other forms in their language that have the same meaning as the ULB.
+By using the UDB as a supplemental resource to the ULB, translators will be able to 1) see in the ULB many of the expressions used in the original Bible, and then 2) see in the UDB what their meaning is. Translators can use the forms from the ULB that are clear and natural in their language. When those forms are not clear or natural in their language, they can use the UDB, Translation Notes, and Translation Words to help them choose other forms in their language that have the same meaning as the ULB.
 
-The UDB is not meant to be a refined, polished English version. Because it avoids figures of speech, **difficult grammatical structures, and difficult vocabulary**, it does not have the elegant or sophisticated language of an end-user Bible. 
+**You can learn more about the UDB** in the Appendix to the UDB [[rc://en_ulb/00-About_the_UDB/UDB-3-Appendix.md.]]  It has the following sections: 
+* Origin and Purpose of the UDB
+* Characteristics of the UDB
+* Decisions Concerning the UDB
+* Avoiding Translation Difficulties
+* Contributors to the UDB (Fuller list)
 
 ## Viewing
+To read or print the UDB, see "Unlocked Dynamic Bible on the "Translations" page of [Bible in Every Language](https://bibleineverylanguage.org/translations/)  (https://bibleineverylanguage.org/translations/). 
 
-To read or print the ULB, see the ULB project on Bible in Every Language (https://door43.org/u/Door43/en_ulb/).   
-To read or print the UDB, see the UDB project on Bible in Every Language (https://door43.org/u/Door43/en_udb/). 
+The Unlocked Dynamic Bible is also integrated into BTT Writer and VMAST so that translators can have  immediate access to it while translating. These tools are available on the Tools page of [Bible in Every Language](https://bibleineverylanguage.org/tools/) (https://bibleineverylanguage.org/tools/).
 
-## Appendix to the ULB
+## Questions, comments, and suggestions
+We welcome questions, comments, and suggestions. You may send them to helpdesk@techadvancement.com or training_wa@wycliffeassociates.org.
 
-You can learn more about the ULB in the [[rc://en_ulb/00-About_the_UDB/UDB-3-Appendix.md.]] It has Characteristics of the UDB, Decisions Concerning the UDB, Avoiding Translation Difficulties, and Additional Contributors to the UDB.
+## Contributors to the UDB
+  - James N. Pohlig, M.Div., MA in Linguistics, D. Litt. in Biblical Languages
+  - W. Thomas Warren, BA (Bible), M.Div., D.Min
+  - Larry Sallee, D.Min.
+  - C. Harry Harriss, M.Div.
+  - Hendrik "Henry" de Vries
+  - Henry Whitney, BA, Education, Translator, Summer Institute of Linguistics 1982-2001
+  - John Hutchins, BA, Bible and Theology, MA, New Testament, MA, Biblical languages
+  - Perry Oakes, PhD in Old Testament, MA in Linguistics
+  - Robert W. Johnson, B.S./M.S., Chemical Engineering
+  - Susan R. Quigley, MA in Linguistics
+  - Forest Deal
+  - Door43 World Missions Community
+  - Wycliffe Associates Staff

00-UDB_front&back/UDB-3-Appendix.md

@@ -1,11 +1,17 @@
-# Appendix to the UDB
+# Appendix to the Unlocked Dynamic Bible
+
+## Origin and Purpose of the UDB
+The Unlocked Dynamic Bible (UDB) is an open-licensed translation of the Bible based on <u>A Translation For Translators</u> by Ellis W. Deibler, Jr., which is licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://git.door43.org/Door43/T4T). The UDB is intended to be used as a supplemental resource for Bible translation alongside the Unlocked Literal Bible (ULB). Its purpose is to unpack the meaning of many of the figures of speech, idioms, abstract nouns, and difficult grammatical forms that occur in the ULB as a reflection of those things in the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts. 
+
+By using the UDB as a supplemental resource to the ULB, translators will be able to 1) see in the ULB many of the figures of speech, idioms, and other forms of the original Bible, and then 2) see in the UDB what their meaning is. Translators can use the forms from the ULB that are clear and natural in their language. When those forms are not clear or natural in their language, they can use the UDB, Translation Notes, the Translation Words, to help them choose other forms in their language that have the same meaning as the ULB.
+
+The UDB is not meant to be a refined, polished English version. Because it avoids figures of speech, difficult grammatical structures, and difficult vocabulary, it does not have the elegant or sophisticated language of an end-user Bible. 
 
 ## Characteristics of the UDB
 The UDB (Unlocked Dynamic Bible) seeks to represent the plain meaning of the original Bible text. 
   * The UDB uses English grammatical structures.
-  * *The ULB reflects more than the UDB the parts of speech of the biblical languages. The ULB, for example, seeks to use nouns where the original language uses nouns, adjectives where the original language uses adjectives, and so forth.*
-  * *The ULB reflects the semantically complex vocabulary of the original languages more than the UDB does. (These two points in italics would need to be reworded. SQ)*
-  * When reproducing the form of the logical connections in the biblical languages would result in ambiguity, the UDB seeks to represent the most logical meaning. Thus, for example, in the phrase "the righteousness of faith" in Romans 4:13, the logical relationship between righteousness and faith is not further specified. (Is it the righteousness that comes by faith? Is it the righteousness that vindicates faith?) The UDB seeks to choose the most likely logical relationship. (Other likely logical relationships are sometimes presented in the translationNotes.)
+  * The UDB sometimes uses different parts of speech than the orginal languages. For example, where the Greek might use a noun to refer to an event, the ULB often uses a verb.  
+  * When reproducing the form of the logical connections in the biblical languages would result in ambiguity, the UDB seeks to represent the most logical meaning. Thus, for example, in the phrase "the righteousness of faith" in Romans 4:13, the logical relationship between righteousness and faith is not further specified. (Is it the righteousness that comes by faith? Is it the righteousness that vindicates faith?) The UDB seeks to choose the most likely logical relationship. (Other likely logical relationships are sometimes presented in the Translation Notes.)
   * When the linear succession of ideas found in the original would be strange or confusing in English, the UDB presents the ideas in an order that English prefers.
   * When information is implied in the original, the UDB sometimes makes it explicit. For example, in Matthew 26:5 the leaders said "Not during the festival, so that a riot does not arise among the people." The implicit information is "Let us not arrest Jesus [during the festival].” The UDB makes that explicit with "We must not do it during the Passover festival, because if we do it then, the people might riot."
 
@@ -15,7 +21,7 @@ The following are decisions that have been made concerning the UDB. This is not
 ### UDB Style
 The following are details concerning the use  of punctuation, capitalization, and vocabulary in the UDB.
   * Quotation marks are used at the beginning and ending of direct speech. They are not used at the beginning of each verse, even though the speech may span several verses.
-  * Contractions are not used in the ULB.
+  * Contractions are not used in the UDB.
   * Punctuation is normally (not always) inside the quotation marks.
   * Capitalization issues: in general, we follow the practice of the 2011 NIV.
   * Titles are capitalized. (Son of Man, King David, the Christ)
@@ -40,106 +46,6 @@ The UDB explicitly includes:
 1. Participants where these are unclear  
 2. Implied information that is necessary for understanding
 
-### Examples
-The following are examples of ways that the text of the Bible can be unclear for some languages and what the UDB does to overcome those problems. 
-#### Passive Voice
-Passive voice is a grammatical construction that is common in Greek and English but it is not used in many other languages, so it can be very confusing. For that reason, it is not used in the UDB. In passive voice, the receiver of the action changes places with the actor. In English, the actor normally comes first in the sentence. But in passive voice, the receiver of the action comes first. Often, the actor is left unstated. In that case, the UDB will fill in the actor. See "Missing Participants" below.
-For example, the ULB of Romans 2:24 says:  
-"the name of God is blasphemed  among the Gentiles because of you."  
-The action is "blaspheme," the actors are "the Gentiles" (non-Jews), and the receiver of the action is "the name of God." The reason for the action is "because of you." The UDB rearranges the verse to put the actor and the receiver of the action in a more normal order.
-The UDB of Romans 2:24 says:  
-"Because of the evil things that you Jews do, the non-Jews say insulting things about God."
-#### Abstract Nouns
-The UDB uses verbs and adjectives instead of abstract nouns when it does not make the phrase overly complex.
-The ULB of Romans 2:10 says:  
-"But praise, honor, and peace will come to everyone who practices good..."  
-In this verse, the words "praise," "honor," "peace," and "good" are abstract nouns. That is, they are words that refer to things that we cannot see or touch. They are ideas. The ideas that these nouns express are closer to actions or descriptions than they are to things. In many languages, therefore, these ideas must be expressed by verbs or description words, not by nouns. For this reason, the UDB expresses these nouns as actions or descriptions.
-The UDB of Romans 2:10 says:  
-"But God will praise, honor, and give a peaceful spirit to every person who habitually does good deeds."
-#### Long, Complex Sentences
-The UDB avoids using long or complex sentences. In many languages, long or complex sentences are unnatural and unclear.
-The ULB translates the first three verses of Romans as one complex sentence. It says:  
-"1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand by his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh."
-The UDB breaks that into five sentences that are more simple in form. It says:  
-"1 I, Paul, who serve Christ Jesus, am writing this letter to all of you believers in the city of Rome. God chose me to be an apostle, and he appointed me in order that I should proclaim the good news that comes from him. 2 Long before Jesus came to earth, God promised that he would reveal this good news by means of what his prophets wrote in the sacred scriptures. 3 This good news is about his Son. As to his Son's physical nature, he was born a descendant of King David."
-#### Missing Participants
-The UDB often fills in the participants when these are lacking in the original Bible and the ULB. In the original biblical languages, these participants could be left out and still understood by the reader. But in many languages these must be included for the translation to be clear and natural.
-In the ULB, Romans 1:1 says:  
-"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God..."
-In this verse, there is a participant that is left unstated, but still understood. This participant is God. It is God who called Paul to be an apostle and who set him apart for the Gospel. In some languages, this participant must be stated.
-Therefore the UDB of Romans 1:1 says:  
-"God chose me to be an apostle, and he appointed me in order that I should proclaim the good news that comes from him."
-#### Events out of Order
-The UDB often tells about events in the order they happened.
-The ULB of Luke 2:6-7 says:  
-"6 Now it came about that while they were there, the time came for her to deliver her baby. 7 She gave birth to a son, her firstborn child, and she wrapped him in long strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
-In some languages, events need to be told in the order in which they happened, or else the story will be confusing and hard to understand. People might understand from these verses that Mary delivered her baby outside in the street, and then looked for somewhere to stay and, after a long search, ended up putting him in an animal feeding trough. The UDB tells these events in the order in which they happened, so that it is clear that Mary was already in the shelter for animals when she gave birth.
-The UDB says:  
-"6-7 When they arrived in Bethlehem, there was no place for them to stay in a place where visitors usually stayed. So they had to stay in a place where animals slept overnight. While they were there the time came for Mary to give birth and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in wide strips of cloth and laid him down where the food was kept for the animals inside the barn."
-#### Figures of Speech
-The UDB expresses the meanings of the scripture without using figures of speech.
-The ULB of Romans 2:21 says:  
-"You who preach against stealing, do you steal?"
-This is a figure of speech called a rhetorical question. It is not a real question that is used to seek an answer. It is used to make a point. In this case, Paul is using it to scold his audience and to condemn their hypocrisy. Many languages do not use rhetorical questions, or they do not use them in this way.
-To show how to translate this meaning without a rhetorical question, the UDB says:  
-"You who preach that people should not steal things, it is disgusting that you yourself steal things!"
-#### Idioms
-The UDB expressing the meanings of the scripture without using idioms.
-The ULB of Deuteronomy 32:10 says:  
-"he guarded him as the apple of his eye."
-The word "apple" here does not refer to a kind of fruit, but instead refers to the pupil, the dark center of a person's eye. The phrase "the apple of his eye" is an idiom that refers to anything that is extremely precious to a person, or the one thing that is the most precious to a person. In many languages this idiom makes no sense.
-To show the meaning of this verse, the UDB expresses this in plain language, without an idiom.
-The UDB says:
-"He protected them and took care of them, as every person takes good care of his own eyes."
-The translationNotes add another way to translate this that makes the meaning clear. It says, "He protected the people of Israel as something most valuable and precious."
-#### People Speaking of Themselves in Third Person
-THe UDB uses first person pronouns when people speak about themselves.
-The ULB of Genesis 18:3 says:  
-He said, "My Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass by your servant."
-Here Abraham refers to himself in the third person as "your servant." To make it clear that Abraham is referring to himself, the UDB adds the first person pronoun "me."
-The UDB of Genesis 18:3 says:
-He said to one of them, "Lord, if you are pleased with me, stay here with me, your servant, for a little while."
-#### Implied Information
-The UDB make explicit any information that is needed for a clear understanding of the text.
-The ULB of Mark 1:44 says:  
-He said to him, "Be sure to say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
-This was all that Jesus needed to say to the man whom he had just healed of leprosy, because the man was Jewish and knew all about the laws concerning being clean and unclean. But most modern readers of our Bible translations do not know that information. For that reason, the UDB makes this information explicit that was left implied in the text. This information is indicated in italics below.
-The UDB of Mark 1:44 says:
-UDB: He said, "Do not tell anyone *what just happened*. Instead, go to a priest and show yourself to him *in order that he may examine you and see that you no longer have leprosy*. Then make the offering that Moses commanded *for people whom God has healed from leprosy*. This will be the testimony to *the community that you are healed*."
-
 ## Contributors to the UDB
-  - 'Door43 World Missions Community'
-  - 'Wycliffe Associates Staff'
-  - 'Alrick G. Headley, M.Div., Th.M.'
-  - 'Adam W. Nagelvoort, M.Div. Academic Ministries, Columbia International University'
-  - 'Dave Statezni, BA Theology-Biblical Literature, M.Div. Biblical Literature and Missions focus'
-  - 'Bram van den Heuvel, M.A.'
-  - 'C. Harry Harriss, M.Div.'
-  - 'David Trombold, M. Div.'
-  - 'Elizabeth Oakes, BA in Religious Studies, Linguistics'
-  - 'George "Drew" Curley, M.Div., PhD, Professor of Biblical Languages'
-  - 'Hendrik "Henry" de Vries'
-  - 'Henry Whitney, BA, Education, Translator, Summer Institute of Linguistics 1982-2001'
-  - 'Jesse Griffin, BA Biblical Studies, MA Biblical Languages'
-  - 'James N. Pohlig, M.Div., MA in Linguistics, D. Litt. in Biblical Languages'
-  - 'John Hutchins, BA, Bible and Theology, MA, New Testament, MA, Biblical languages'
-  - 'Larry T. Brooks, M.Div., Assemblies of God Theological Seminary'
-  - 'Larry Sallee, D.Min.' 
-  - 'Paul M Fahnestock, M.Div. Reformed Theological Seminary, D. Min. Pittsburgh Theological Seminary'
-  - 'Perry Oakes, PhD in Old Testament, MA in Linguistics'
-  - 'Peter Smircich, BA Philosophy'
-  - 'Robert W. Johnson, B.S./M.S., Chemical Engineering'
-  - 'Susan R. Quigley, MA in Linguistics'
-  - 'W. Thomas Warren, BA (Bible), M.Div., D.Min'
-  - 'Timothy Neu, Ph.D. Biblical Studies'
-  - 'Ward Pyles, M.Div., Western Baptist Theological Seminary'
-  - 'David Trombold'
-  - 'Dean Ropp'
-  - 'Gene Mullen'
-  - 'James Vigen'
-  - 'Leonard Smith'
-  - 'Nicholas Alsop'
-  - 'Michael Francis'
-
-
+{{manifest}}
 

11-1KI.usfm

@@ -1307,13 +1307,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-<<<<<<< HEAD
-\v 18 So Asa told his workers to take all the silver and gold that was still in the storerooms in the temple and in the palace and give it to some of his officials. He told them to take it to Damascus and give it to King Ben-Hadad who ruled Aram. Ben-Hadad was son of Tabrimmon and grandson of Hezion. He told the officials to say this to Ben-Hadad:
-\v 19 "I want there to be a peace treaty between me and you as there was between my father and your father. For that purpose, I am giving you this silver and gold. So now please cancel the treaty that you made with Baasha king of Israel so that he will take his soldiers away from attacking mine because he will be afraid of your army."
-=======
 \v 18 So Asa told his workers to take all the silver and gold that was still in the storerooms in the temple and in the palace and gave it to some of his officials. He told them to take it to Damascus and give it to King Ben-Hadad who ruled Aram. Ben-Hadad was son of Tabrimmon and grandson of Hezion. He told the officials to say this to Ben-Hadad:
 \v 19 "I want there to be a peace treaty between me and you, like there was between my father and your father. For that purpose, I am giving you this silver and gold. So now please cancel the treaty that you made with Baasha, the king of Israel, in order that he will take his soldiers away from attacking mine, because he will be afraid of your army."
->>>>>>> Ben Hadad changed to Ben-Hadad to regularized UDB with ULB
 
 \s5
 \v 20 So the officials went and gave the message to Ben-Hadad, and he did what Asa suggested. He sent his army commanders and their soldiers to attack some of the towns in Israel. They captured Ijon, Dan, Abel of Beth Maakah, the area near the Sea of Galilee, and all the land of the tribe of Naphtali.
@@ -1655,27 +1650,16 @@
 \s5
 \c 20
 \p
-<<<<<<< HEAD
-\v 1 Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, gathered all of his army, and he brought thirty-two lesser kings to join him with their armies and horses and chariots. They marched to the city of Samaria, the capital of Israel, and surrounded it and prepared to attack it.
-\v 2 Ben-Hadad sent messengers into the city to King Ahab, and they said this to him: "This is what King Ben-Hadad says:
-\v 3 'You must give to me all of your silver and gold, your good-looking wives, and your strongest children.'"
-=======
 \v 1 Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, gathered all his army, and he brought thirty-two lesser kings to join him with their armies and horses and chariots. They marched to the city of Samaria, the capital of Israel, and surrounded it and prepared to attack it.
 \v 2 Ben-Hadad sent messengers into the city to King Ahab, and they said this to him: "This is what King Ben-Hadad says:
 \v 3 'You must give to me all your silver and gold, your good-looking wives and strongest children.'"
->>>>>>> Ben Hadad changed to Ben-Hadad to regularized UDB with ULB
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 4 The king of Israel replied to them, "Tell this to King Ben-Hadad, 'I agree to do what you requested. You can have me and everything that I own.'"
 \p
-<<<<<<< HEAD
-\v 5 The messengers told that to Ben-Hadad, and he sent them back with another message: "I sent a message to you saying that you must give me all of your silver and gold and your wives and your children.
-\v 6 But in addition to that, about this time tomorrow, I will send some of my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials and to bring to me everything that they see is valuable."
-=======
 \v 5 The messengers told that to Ben-Hadad, and he sent them back with another message: "I sent a message to you saying that you must give me all your silver and gold and your wives and your children.
 \v 6 But in addition to that, about this time tomorrow, I will send some of my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials, and to bring to me everything that they see is valuable."
->>>>>>> Ben Hadad changed to Ben-Hadad to regularized UDB with ULB
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1705,11 +1689,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 16 They started to attack at noon, while Ben-Hadad and the other rulers were getting drunk in their temporary shelters.
-<<<<<<< HEAD
-\v 17 The young soldiers advanced first. Some scouts who had been sent out by Ben-Hadad reported to him, "There are men coming out of Samaria!"
-=======
 \v 17 The young soldiers advanced first. Some scouts who had been sent out by Ben-Hadad reported to him, "There are men coming out of Samaria"!
->>>>>>> Ben Hadad changed to Ben-Hadad to regularized UDB with ULB
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1718,13 +1698,8 @@
 \v 19 The young Israelite soldiers went out of the city to attack the Aramean army, and the other soldiers in the Israelite army followed them.
 
 \s5
-<<<<<<< HEAD
-\v 20 Each Israelite soldier killed an Aramean soldier. The rest of the Aramean army then ran away, and the Israelite soldiers pursued them. But King-Ben Hadad escaped riding his horse, along with some other men riding horses.
-\v 21 Then the king of Israel went out of the city; he and his soldiers captured all the other Aramean horses and chariots and also killed a large number of Aramean soldiers.
-=======
 \v 20 Each Israelite soldier killed an Aramean soldier. The rest of the Aramean army then ran away, and the Israelite soldiers pursued them. But King Ben-Hadad escaped riding his horse, along with some other men riding horses.
 \v 21 Then the king of Israel went out of the city; he and his soldiers captured all the other Aramean horses and chariots, and also killed a large number of Aramean soldiers.
->>>>>>> Ben Hadad changed to Ben-Hadad to regularized UDB with ULB
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1760,11 +1735,7 @@
 \p
 \v 33 Ben-Hadad's officials were trying to find out if Ahab would act mercifully, and when Ahab said "brother," they were optimistic. So they replied, "Yes, he is like your brother!" Ahab said, "Go and bring him to me." So they went and brought Ben-Hadad to him. When Ben-Hadad arrived, Ahab told him to get in the chariot and sit with him.
 \p
-<<<<<<< HEAD
-\v 34 Ben-Hadad said to him, "I will give back to you the towns that my father's army took from your father. And I will allow you to set up market areas for your merchants in Damascus my capital, just as my father did in Samaria your capital." Ahab replied, "Because you agree to do that, I will not execute you." So Ahab made an agreement with Ben-Hadad and allowed him to go home.
-=======
 \v 34 Ben-Hadad said to him, "I will give back to you the towns that my father's army took from your father. And I will allow you to set up market areas for your merchants in Damascus my capital, just as my father did in Samaria your capital." Ahab replied, "Because you agree to do that, I will not execute you." So Ahab made an agreement with Ben-Hadad, and allowed him to go home.
->>>>>>> Ben Hadad changed to Ben-Hadad to regularized UDB with ULB
 
 \s5
 \p

12-2KI.usfm

@@ -447,13 +447,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-<<<<<<< HEAD
-\v 24 But some time later, Ben-Hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army, and they went to Samaria and surrounded the city for a long time.
-\v 25 Because of that, after a while there was hardly any food left inside the city so that eventually a donkey's head, which was usually worthless, cost eighty pieces of silver, and one cup of dove's dung cost five pieces of silver.
-=======
 \v 24 But some time later, Ben-Hadad the king of Aram , assembled his entire army, and they went to Samaria and surrounded the city for a long time.
 \v 25 Because of that, after a while there was hardly any food left inside the city, so that eventually a donkey's head, which was usually worthless, cost eighty pieces of silver, and one cup of dove's dung cost five pieces of silver.
->>>>>>> Ben Hadad changed to Ben-Hadad to regularized UDB with ULB
 \p
 \v 26 One day when the king of Israel was walking on top of the city wall, a woman cried out to him, "Your Majesty, help me!"
 
@@ -544,11 +539,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-<<<<<<< HEAD
-\v 7 Elisha went to Damascus, the capital of Aram, at the time when Ben-Hadad king of Aram was very sick. When someone told the king that Elisha was in Damascus,
-=======
 \v 7 Elisha went to Damascus, the capital of Aram, at the time when Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, was very sick. When someone told the king that Elisha was in Damascus,
->>>>>>> Ben Hadad changed to Ben-Hadad to regularized UDB with ULB
 \v 8 the king told one of his officials named Hazael, "Go and talk to that prophet and take a present with you to give to him. Request him to ask Yahweh if I will recover from my illness."
 \p
 \v 9 So Hazael went to talk with Elisha. He took with him forty camels that were carrying many kinds of goods that were produced in Damascus. When Hazael met him, he said to him, "Your friend Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, sent me to ask you whether you think he will recover from his illness."
@@ -568,11 +559,7 @@
 \p
 \v 14 Then Hazael left and returned to his master the king, who asked him, "What did Elisha say?"
 \p He replied, "He told me that you would certainly recover."
-<<<<<<< HEAD
-\v 15 But the next day, while the king was sleeping, Hazael took a blanket and soaked it in water. Then he spread it on the king's face so that he could not breathe, and he died. Then Hazael became the king of Aram instead of Ben-Hadad.
-=======
 \v 15 But the next day, while the king was sleeping, Hazael took a blanket and soaked it in water. Then he spread it on the king's face in order that he could not breathe, and he died. Then Hazael became the king of Aram instead of Ben-Hadad.
->>>>>>> Ben Hadad changed to Ben-Hadad to regularized UDB with ULB
 
 \s5
 \p

14-2CH.usfm

@@ -9,63 +9,63 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1 King Solomon, David's son, was able to gain complete control over his kingdom, because Yahweh his God was with him and enabled him to become a very strong king.
+\v 1 King Solomon, David's son, was able to gain complete control over his kingdom because Yahweh his God was with him and enabled him to become a very strong king.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 2-5 When David had been king, he arranged for a new sacred tent to be made in Jerusalem. Then David and the Israelite leaders brought God's sacred chest from the city of Kiriath Jearim to the new sacred tent. But when Solomon became the king, the first sacred tent was still in the city of Gibeon. There was a bronze altar there that Bezalel son of Uri and grandson of Hur, had made was also still at Gibeon, in front of the first sacred tent.
-\p Solomon called together the army commanders who directed thousands of soldiers, and the commanders who directed hundreds of soldiers, with the judges and all the other leaders in Israel. He told them to go with him to Gibeon. So they all went to the place on the hill where idols were worshiped at Gibeon. That was the same place where God had met with his people in the tent which Moses had made. There Solomon and all the others with him prayed to Yahweh.
+\v 2-5 When David had been king, he arranged for a new sacred tent to be made in Jerusalem. Then David and the Israelite leaders brought God's sacred chest from the city of Kiriath Jearim to the new sacred tent. But when Solomon became the king, the first sacred tent was still in the city of Gibeon. The bronze altar that Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur, had made was also still at Gibeon, in front of the first sacred tent.
+\p Solomon called together the army commanders who directed thousands of soldiers and the commanders who directed hundreds of soldiers, with the judges and all the other leaders in Israel. He told them to go with him to Gibeon. So they all went to the place on the hill where idols were worshiped at Gibeon. That was the same place where God had met with his people in the tent that Moses had made. There Solomon and all the others with him prayed to Yahweh.
 
 \s5
 \v 6 Then Solomon went up to the bronze altar in front of the sacred tent, and he offered one thousand animals to be killed and completely burned on the altar.
 \p
-\v 7 That night God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said to him, "Request whatever you want me to give to you."
+\v 7 That night, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said to him, "Request whatever you want me to give to you."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 8 Solomon replied to God, "You were very kind to David my father, and now you have appointed me to be the next king.
 \v 9 So Yahweh my God, you have caused me to become the king to rule people who are as many as the dust of the earth. So do what you promised to my father David.
-\v 10 Please enable me to be wise and to know what I should do, in order that I may rule these people well, because there is no one who can rule all this great nation of yours without your help."
+\v 10 Please enable me to be wise and to know what I should do so that I may rule these people well, because there is no one who can rule all this great nation of yours without your help."
 \p
-\v 11 God replied to Solomon, "You have not requested a huge amount of money or to be honored or that your enemies be killed. And you have not requested that you be enabled to live for a long time. Instead, you have requested that I enable you to be wise and to know what you should do in order that you may govern well my people whom I have appointed you to rule.
+\v 11 God replied to Solomon, "You have not requested a great amount of money or to be honored or that your enemies be killed. And you have not requested that you be enabled to live for a long time. Instead, you have requested that I enable you to be wise and to know what you should do so that you may govern well my people whom I have appointed you to rule.
 
 \s5
-\v 12 So I will enable you to be wise and to know what you should do to rule my people well. But I will also enable you to have a huge amount of money and for people everywhere to honor you, more any king before you, and more than any king who will come after you."
+\v 12 So I will enable you to be wise and to know what you should do to rule my people well. But I will also enable you to have a great amount of money and for people everywhere to honor you, more any king before you and more than any king who will come after you."
 \v 13 Then Solomon and the people who were with him all left the sacred tent at Gibeon, and they returned to Jerusalem. There he ruled the Israelite people.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 14 Solomon acquired 1,400 chariots and twelve thousand men who rode on horses. He put some of the chariots and horses in Jerusalem, and put some of them in various other cities.
+\v 14 Solomon acquired 1,400 chariots and twelve thousand men who rode on horses. He put some of the chariots and horses in Jerusalem and put some of them in various other cities.
 \v 15 During the years that Solomon was king, silver and gold were as common in Jerusalem as stones, and lumber from cedar trees were as plentiful as lumber from ordinary sycamore trees in the foothills.
 
 \s5
 \v 16 Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and from the region of Kue.
-\v 17 In Egypt his men paid seven kilograms of silver for each chariot and one and seven-tenths kilograms of silver for each horse. They also sold many of them to the kings of the Heth and Aram peoples.
+\v 17 In Egypt his men paid seven kilograms of silver for each chariot and one and seven-tenths kilograms of silver for each horse. They also sold many of them to the kings of the Hittite and Aramean peoples.
 
 \s5
 \c 2
 \p
-\v 1 Solomon decided that a temple should be built where Yahweh would be worshiped, and also that he would build a palace for himself.
+\v 1 Solomon decided that a temple should be built where Yahweh would be worshiped and also that he would build a palace for himself.
 \v 2 He commanded seventy thousand men to carry the building supplies and eighty thousand men to cut stones from quarries in the hills. He also chose 3,600 men to supervise them.
 \p
 \v 3 Solomon sent this message to King Hiram of the city of Tyre:
-\pi "Many years ago when my father David was building his palace, you sent him cedar logs. Will you send me cedar logs, too?
+\pi "Many years ago, when my father David was building his palace, you sent him cedar logs. Will you send cedar logs to me also?
 
 \s5
 \pi
 \v 4 We are about to build a temple to set it apart for Yahweh, to burn for him incense made from fragrant spices, to always display before him the bread, and to burn animal offerings every morning and evening and day of rest, as well as at every new moon and on the other special festivals to honor Yahweh our God. We want to do these things forever, as Yahweh has commanded.
-\v 5 We want this temple to be a great temple, because our God is greater than all other gods.
+\v 5 We want this temple to be a great temple because our God is greater than all other gods.
 
 \s5
-\v 6 But no one can build a place for God to live in, since even the heavens and the earth are not big enough for him. I myself an not worthy to build him a house, except as a place to offer sacrifices to him.
+\v 6 But no one can build a place for God to live in since even the heavens and the earth are not big enough for him. I myself am not worthy to build him a house, except as a place to offer sacrifices to him.
 \pi
-\v 7 Therefore, please send me someone who is very good at making things from gold and silver and bronze and iron, and at making things from purple and red and blue cloth. He should also know well how to engrave designs. I want him to work in Jerusalem and in other places in Judah with my skilled craftsmen, the ones whom my father David appointed.
+\v 7 Therefore, please send me someone who is very good at making things from gold and silver and bronze and iron and at making things from purple and red and blue cloth. He should also know well how to engrave designs. I want him to work in Jerusalem and in other places in Judah with my skilled craftsmen, the ones whom my father David appointed.
 
 \s5
 \pi
-\v 8 I know that your workers are skilled in cutting timber, so also please send me cedar logs, pine logs, and algum from the Lebanon mountains. My workers will work with your workers.
-\v 9 In that way, they will provide me with plenty of lumber. We will need plenty, because I want the temple that we will build to be large and beautiful.
-\v 10 I will pay to your workers, the men who cut the logs, 4,400 cubic meters of ground wheat, 4,400 cubic meters of barley, and 440 cubic meters of wine, and 440 cubic meters of olive oil."
+\v 8 I know that your workers are skilled in cutting timber, so also please send me cedar logs, pine logs, and algum logs from the Lebanon mountains. My workers will work with your workers.
+\v 9 In that way, they will provide me with plenty of lumber. We will need plenty because I want the temple that we will build to be large and beautiful.
+\v 10 I will pay to your workers, the men who cut the logs, 4,400 cubic meters of ground wheat, 4,400 cubic meters of barley, 440 cubic meters of wine, and 440 cubic meters of olive oil."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -75,22 +75,22 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 13 I will send to you Huram-Abi, one of my skilled craftsmen.
-\v 14 His mother was from the tribe of Dan, and his father was from here in Tyre. He is able to make things from gold and silver and bronze and iron and stone and wood, but he also makes nice things from purple and blue and red cloth, and he does all kinds of engraving. He can make things using any design that you give to him. He will work with your craftsmen, and the craftsmen who did work for your father, King David.
+\v 14 His mother was from the tribe of Dan, and his father was from here in Tyre. He is able to make things from gold and silver and bronze and iron and stone and wood, but he also makes nice things from purple and blue and red cloth, and he does all kinds of engraving. He can make things using any design that you give to him. He will work with your craftsmen and the craftsmen who did work for your father King David.
 
 \s5
 \pi
 \v 15 Now please send us the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine that you promised to send to us.
-\v 16 When you do that, my workers will cut in the Lebanon mountains all the logs that you need and bring them down to the sea. Then we will tie the logs together to form rafts with them, and float them in the sea to the city of Joppa. From there, you can arrange for men to take them up to Jerusalem."
+\v 16 When you do that, my workers will cut in the Lebanon mountains all the logs that you need and bring them down to the sea. Then we will tie the logs together to form rafts with them and float them in the sea to the city of Joppa. From there, you can arrange for men to take them up to Jerusalem."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 17 Solomon told his workers to count all the people from other countries who were living in Israel, similar to what his father David had done. There were 153,600 of them.
-\v 18 Solomon assigned seventy thousand of them to carry materials, and eighty thousand to cut stone from quarries in the hills, and 3,600 of them to supervise the others and be sure that they worked steadily.
+\v 18 Solomon assigned seventy thousand of them to carry materials, eighty thousand of them to cut stone from quarries in the hills, and 3,600 of them to supervise the others and be sure that they worked steadily.
 
 \s5
 \c 3
 \p
-\v 1 Then Solomon's workers started to build the temple for Yahweh in Jerusalem. They built it on Mount Moriah, where an angel from Yahweh had appeared to his father David. They built it on the ground that Ornan, a descendant of the Jebus people, had sold to David and where David said that it should be built.
+\v 1 Then Solomon's workers started to build the temple for Yahweh in Jerusalem. They built it on Mount Moriah, where an angel from Yahweh had appeared to his father David. They built it on the ground that Ornan, a descendant of the Jebusite people, had sold to David and where David said that it should be built.
 \v 2 They began the work on the second day of the second month, when Solomon had been ruling almost four years.
 \p
 \v 3 The foundation of the temple was twenty-seven meters long and nine meters wide.
@@ -98,16 +98,16 @@
 \s5
 \v 4 The entrance room across the front of the temple was also nine meters long, the same as the temple's width. The entrance room was also nine meters high. Solomon caused workmen to coat the interior of the entrance room with thin sheets of pure gold.
 \p
-\v 5 Solomon's workers used panels of pine wood to line the main hall of the temple. Then they covered those panels with very thin sheets of pure gold. On them they carved images of palm trees and designs that resembled chains.
+\v 5 Solomon's workers used panels of pine wood to line the main hall of the temple. Then they covered those panels with very thin sheets of pure gold. They carved images on them of palm trees and designs that resembled chains.
 
 \s5
 \v 6 They decorated the temple with very valuable stones. The gold that they used was from the land of Parvaim.
 \p
-\v 7 They covered the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls and doors of the temple with very thin sheets of gold. They also carved statues of winged creatures on the walls.
+\v 7 They covered the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls, and doors of the temple with very thin sheets of gold. They also carved statues of winged creatures on the walls.
 
 \s5
 \v 8 They also built the very holy place inside the temple. It was nine meters long, the same as the temple's width. The width of the very holy place was the same. They covered its walls with sheets of pure gold that altogether weighed about twenty thousand kilograms.
-\v 9 Each gold nails weighed about one-half a kilogram. They also covered the walls of the upper rooms with thin sheets of gold.
+\v 9 The gold nails weighed about one-half of a kilogram. They also covered the walls of the upper rooms with thin sheets of gold.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -123,21 +123,21 @@
 \s5
 \v 15 They made two bronze pillars and put them at the entrance of the temple. They were each sixteen meters high. A separate piece was attached to the top of each pillar; each of the top pieces was two and one-third meters high.
 \v 16 The workers made carvings that resembled chains and put them on top of the pillars. They made carvings that resembled pomegranates and attached them to the chains. There were one hundred of them.
-\v 17 They set up the pillars in front of the temple, one the south side of the entrance and the other on the north side. The one of the south side was named Jakin and the one on the north side was named Boaz.
+\v 17 They set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the south side of the entrance and the other on the north side. The one of the south side was named Jakin and the one on the north side was named Boaz.
 
 \s5
 \c 4
 \p
-\v 1 Solomon's workers made a square bronze altar, nine meters long on each side, and four and three-fifths meters high.
+\v 1 Solomon's workers made a square bronze altar, nine meters long on each side and four and three-fifths meters high.
 \v 2 They also made a very large round tank that was called "The Sea," and it had a circumference of fourteen meters.
-\v 3 Below the outer rim there were small figures of bulls that were set in a circle, the bulls were placed 45 centimeters apart around the whole circle. The bulls were cast together in two rows, and they were also cast together with the metal basin that was called "The Sea." (Each row had three hundred figures of bulls.)
+\v 3 Below the outer rim there were small figures of bulls that were set in a circle; the bulls were placed 45 centimeters apart around the whole circle. The bulls were cast together in two rows, and they were also cast together with the metal tank that was called "The Sea." (Each row had three hundred figures of bulls.)
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 4 "The Sea" was set on twelve large figures of bulls, with the bulls facing outward. Three bulls faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east.
+\v 4 "The Sea" was set on twelve large figures of bulls, with the bulls facing outward. Three bulls faced north, three bulls faced west, three bulls faced south, and three bulls faced east.
 \v 5 The sides of the tank were eight centimeters thick. The tank's brim was fashioned like the brim of a cup; it resembled a lily blossom. The tank held sixty-six cubic meters of water.
 \p
-\v 6 The craftsmen also made ten basins for washing the articles that were to be used in making offerings, and they set five on the south side, and five on the north side. In them the utensils used for the burnt offering were washed, and the priests washed themselves in the large bronze tank that was called "The Sea."
+\v 6 The craftsmen also made ten basins for washing the articles that were to be used in making offerings, and they set five on the south side and five on the north side. In them the utensils used for the burnt offering were washed, and the priests washed themselves in the large bronze tank that was called "The Sea."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 9 They constructed one courtyard for the priests, and a larger courtyard for the other people. They made doors for the courtyards and covered them with thin sheets of bronze.
+\v 9 They constructed one courtyard for the priests and a larger courtyard for the other people. They made doors for the courtyards and covered them with thin sheets of bronze.
 \v 10 They placed the large tank that was called "The Sea" at the southeast corner of the temple.
 
 \s5
@@ -155,24 +155,24 @@
 \v 11 They also made pots and shovels for the ashes of the altar, and other small bowls.
 \p So Huram and his workers finished the work that King Solomon had given him to do at the temple of God.
 \v 12 These were the things that they made:
-\q the two large pillars
-\q the two bowl shaped tops on top of the pillars
-\li the two sets of carvings that resembled chains to decorate the tops of the two pillars
+\q the two large pillars,
+\q the two bowl-shaped tops on top of the pillars,
+\li the two sets of carvings that resembled chains to decorate the tops of the two pillars, and
 \q
-\v 13 the four hundred carvings that resembled pomegranates that were placed in two rows, they were made to decorate the tops of the two pillars.
+\v 13 the four hundred carvings that resembled pomegranates that were placed in two rows—they were made to decorate the tops of the two pillars.
 
 \s5
 \q
-\v 14 The pomegranate carvings also were used to decorate the stands, and the basins that were placed on them,
+\v 14 The pomegranate carvings also were used to decorate the stands and the basins that were placed on them.
 \q
-\v 15 the very large tank called "The Sea," and the figures of twelve bulls underneath it,
+\v 15 They also made the very large tank called "The Sea," the figures of twelve bulls underneath it,
 \q
-\v 16 the pots, shovels, meat forks, and all the other things needed for the work at the altar.
+\v 16 the pots, the shovels, the meat forks, and all the other things needed for the work at the altar.
 \p All those things that Huram-Abi and his craftsmen made for King Solomon were of bronze that they polished for it to gleam brightly.
 
 \s5
 \v 17 They made them by pouring melted bronze into the clay molds that Huram-Abi had set up near the Jordan River between the cities of Sukkoth and Zarethan.
-\v 18 All of those things that Solomon told them to make used a very large amount of bronze, so great was the amount they used that no one knew how much it all weighed.
+\v 18 All of those things that Solomon told them to make used a very large amount of bronze; so great was the amount they used that no one knew how much it all weighed.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -180,16 +180,16 @@
 \q the golden altar,
 \q the tables on which the priests put the bread to display before God,
 \q
-\v 20 the pure gold lampstands and the pure gold lamps, in which the priests put oil to burn in front of the very holy place (as God had told Moses that the priests should do),
+\v 20 the pure gold lampstands and the pure gold lamps in which the priests put oil to burn in front of the very holy place (as God had told Moses that the priests should do),
 \q
 \v 21 the pure gold decorations that resembled flowers,
 \q and the lamps and tongs.
 
 \s5
 \q
-\v 22 The workers also made the pure gold wick trimmers and bowls for sprinkling, and dishes and incense burners,
-\li the gold doors of the temple,
-\li the gold inner doors leading to the very holy place,
+\v 22 The workers also made the pure gold wick trimmers, bowls for sprinkling, dishes, and incense burners,
+\li as well as the gold doors of the temple—
+\li the gold inner doors leading to the very holy place and
 \li the gold doors leading to the main hall.
 
 \s5
@@ -199,18 +199,18 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 2 Then King Solomon summoned to Jerusalem all the elders of Israel, all the leaders of the tribes and of the families. He wanted them to join in bringing to the temple Yahweh's sacred chest from Mount Zion, where it was in the part of the city called the city of David.
-\v 3 So all the leaders of Israel gathered together with the king, during the Festival of Shelters, in the seventh month.
+\v 2 Then King Solomon summoned to Jerusalem all the elders of Israel and all the leaders of the tribes and of the families. He wanted them to join in bringing to the temple Yahweh's sacred chest from Mount Zion, where it was in the part of the city called the city of David.
+\v 3 So all the leaders of Israel gathered together with the king during the Festival of Shelters, in the seventh month.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 4 When they had all arrived, the descendants of Levi lifted up the sacred chest,
 \v 5 and they carried it and the sacred tent and the sacred things that were inside it. The priests, who were also descended from Levi, carried them.
-\v 6 King Solomon and many of the other people of Israel who had gathered there walked in front of the sacred chest. And they sacrificed a huge amount of sheep and bulls. No one was able to count them because there were very many.
+\v 6 King Solomon and many of the other people of Israel who had gathered there walked in front of the sacred chest. And they sacrificed a great number of sheep and bulls. No one was able to count them because there were very many.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 7 The priests then brought the sacred chest into the very holy place, into the inner room of the temple, and they placed it under the wings of the figures of winged creatures.
+\v 7 The priests then brought the sacred chest into the very holy place—into the inner room of the temple—and they placed it under the wings of the figures of winged creatures.
 \v 8 The wings of those figures spread out over the sacred chest and over the poles by which it was carried.
 
 \s5
@@ -220,10 +220,10 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 11 Then the priests left the holy place in the temple. All the priests who were there set themselves apart to serve the priestly duties, without concern for which group they were from.
-\v 12 All the descendants of Levi who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, their sons and their other relatives—stood on the east side of the altar. They were wearing linen clothes, and they were playing cymbals, harps, and lyres. There were 120 other priests who were blowing trumpets.
+\v 12 All the descendants of Levi who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, their sons, and their other relatives—stood on the east side of the altar. They were wearing linen clothes, and they were playing cymbals, harps, and lyres. There were 120 other priests who were blowing trumpets.
 
 \s5
-\v 13 The men blowing trumpets, those playing the cymbals and other musical instruments, and the singers, made music together, praising Yahweh and singing this song:
+\v 13 The men blowing trumpets, those playing the cymbals and other musical instruments, and the singers made music together, praising Yahweh and singing this song:
 \q1 "Yahweh is good to us;
 \q2 he faithfully loves us forever."
 \p Then suddenly the temple was filled with a cloud.
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@
 \pi
 \v 7 Then Solomon said further, "My father David wanted to build a temple for Yahweh, the God to whom we Israelites belong.
 \v 8 But Yahweh said to him, 'It is good that you wanted to build a house for me.
-\v 9 However, you are not the one who I want to build the temple, It is one of your own sons who will build it.'
+\v 9 However, you are not the one who I want to build the temple. It is one of your own sons who will build it.'
 
 \s5
 \pi
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 12 Then Solomon stood in front of the altar that was in front of the people of Israel who had gathered there. He spread out his hands as he began to pray.
-\v 13 Now His workers had built a bronze platform there for him to stand on, which was two and one-third meters square and one and one-half meters high. They had put it in the outer courtyard. Solomon mounted that platform and then knelt down in front of all the people of Israel who had gathered there, and he spread out his arms toward heaven.
+\v 13 Now His workers had built a bronze platform there for him to stand on. It was two and one-third meters square and one and one-half meters high. They had put it in the outer courtyard. Solomon mounted that platform and then knelt down in front of all the people of Israel who had gathered there, and he spread out his arms toward heaven.
 
 \s5
 \v 14 Then he prayed,
@@ -274,11 +274,11 @@
 \s5
 \pi
 \v 18 But, my God, will you really live on earth among us? This temple I have built cannot contain you; not even the universe and heaven itself can contain you.
-\v 19 But Yahweh, my God, please listen to my prayer, while I am pleading with this day and do what I am requesting.
-\v 20 Always protect this temple, this place where you said you would be present, in order that you might always hear me when I pray, for I am your servant.
+\v 19 But Yahweh, my God, please listen to my prayer while I am pleading with this day and do what I am requesting.
+\v 20 Always protect this temple, this place where you said you would be present so that you might always hear me when I pray, for I am your servant.
 
 \s5
-\v 21 Listen to me when I pray, and listen to your Israelite people when they pray, whether we are here, or even if we just face in this direction. Listen from heaven, where you live; and when you hear us pray, forgive us.
+\v 21 Listen to me when I pray, and listen to your Israelite people when they pray, whether we are here or even if we just face in this direction. Listen from heaven, where you live; and when you hear us pray, forgive us.
 
 \s5
 \pi
@@ -287,8 +287,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \pi
-\v 24 And suppose that your Israelite people are defeated by their enemies because they sinned against you, and forced to go to some distant country. Suppose further that they turn away from their sinful behavior and face in the direction of this temple and acknowledge that you have justly punished them; and suppose that they beg you to forgive them.
-\v 25 Then please listen to them from heaven and forgive your them for the sins that they have committed, and bring them back to this land that you gave to our ancestors.
+\v 24 And suppose that your Israelite people are defeated by their enemies because they sinned against you and are forced to go to some distant country. Suppose further that they turn away from their sinful behavior and face in the direction of this temple and acknowledge that you have justly punished them, and suppose that they beg you to forgive them.
+\v 25 Then please listen to them from heaven, forgive them for the sins that they have committed, and bring them back to this land that you gave to our ancestors.
 
 \s5
 \pi
@@ -300,12 +300,12 @@
 \v 28 And when the people of this land experience famines, or if there is a plague or mildew or locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemies surround any of their cities in order to attack them—if any of these disaster happens to them—
 \v 29 and then if your Israelite people earnestly plead, or if even just one person does so—if they stretch out their hands toward this temple and pray to you because they know the weakness and sorrow in their own hearts—
 \v 30 then listen from your home in heaven and forgive them. You alone know what each person is thinking, so reward each person according to everything that he does.
-\v 31 Do this in order that they might honor you and conduct their lives as you want them to, all the time that they live in this land that you gave to our ancestors.
+\v 31 Do this so that they might honor you and conduct their lives as you want them to all the time that they live in this land that you gave to our ancestors.
 
 \s5
 \pi
 \v 32 There will be some foreigners who do not belong to your Israelite people who have come here from countries far away because they have heard that you are very great and powerful. If they turn toward this temple and pray,
-\v 33 then from your home in heaven please listen to their prayer and do for them what they request you to do. Do that in order that all the peoples in the world will honor and obey you, as your people of Israel do. And do this so that they will know that you are present in this temple that I have built.
+\v 33 then from your home in heaven please listen to their prayer and do for them what they request you to do. Do this so that all the peoples in the world will honor and obey you, as your people of Israel do. And do this so that they will know that you are present in this temple that I have built.
 
 \s5
 \pi
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@
 \pi
 \v 36 It is true that everyone sins. So when your people sin against you, and you become angry with them, you might allow their enemies to capture them and take them to their countries, even to countries that are far away.
 \v 37 When that happens, while they are in those distant countries, if they say 'We have sinned; we have done things that are wrong and have done things that are very wicked,'
-\v 38 suppose that they repent very sincerely and pray facing this land that you gave their ancestors, and facing this city that you chose, and facing this temple that I have built for you to be present in.
+\v 38 suppose that they repent very sincerely and pray facing this land that you gave their ancestors and facing this city that you chose and facing this temple that I have built for you to be present in.
 \v 39 Then from your home in heaven listen to their prayer, and listen to them while they plead for your help, and do what they ask you to do, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
 
 \s5
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@
 \q2 Cause us your people to rejoice because of all the good things that you do for us.
 \q1
 \v 42 Yahweh God, do not reject me, the king whom you have appointed to be the king of Israel;
-\q2 do not forget how faithfuly were to David, your servant, because of your covenant with him."
+\q2 do not forget how faithfully you were to David your servant because of your covenant with him."
 
 \s5
 \c 7
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 4-5 Then the king and all the people who were there dedicated the temple to Yahweh by offering more sacrifices to him. King Solomon offered twenty-two thousand cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats to be sacrificed.
-\v 6 The priests stood in their positions, and the other descendants of Levi stood in their positions holding the musical instruments to praise Yahweh, instruments that King David had ordered to be made for praising Yahweh and thanking him. They sang, "He faithfully loves us forever." Opposite the other descendants of Levi the priests stood, blowing their trumpets, while all the Israelite people were standing and listening.
+\v 6 The priests stood in their positions, and the other descendants of Levi stood in their positions holding the musical instruments to praise Yahweh—instruments that King David had ordered to be made for praising Yahweh and thanking him. They sang, "He faithfully loves us forever." Opposite the other descendants of Levi the priests stood, blowing their trumpets, while all the Israelite people were standing and listening.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -351,9 +351,9 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 8 Solomon and the other people celebrated the Festival of Shelters for seven days. There was a huge group of people who celebrated with him. Some of them came from as far away as Lebohamath in the far north and from the border of Egypt in the far south.
+\v 8 Solomon and the other people celebrated the Festival of Shelters for seven days. There was a very large group of people who celebrated with him. Some of them came from as far away as Lebo Hamath in the far north and from the border of Egypt in the far south.
 \v 9 On the eighth day they gathered again to worship Yahweh. They had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the Festival of Shelters for seven days.
-\v 10 Then on the next day Solomon sent them to their homes. They were very joyful because of all the good things that Yahweh had done for David and Solomon and for all his Israelite people.
+\v 10 Then on the next day Solomon sent them to their homes. They were very joyful because of all the good things that Yahweh had done for David and Solomon and for all of his Israelite people.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -362,20 +362,20 @@
 
 \s5
 \pi
-\v 13 When I prevent any rain from falling, or when I command locusts to eat all the crops, or when I send a plague among my people,
-\v 14 then if the people who belong to me, are sorry for their sins and stop doing them, and if they plead with me for me to forgive, then I will indeed listen from heaven. I will forgive them for having sinned, and I will cause them to prosper again.
+\v 13 When I prevent any rain from falling or when I command locusts to eat all the crops or when I send a plague among my people,
+\v 14 then if the people who belong to me are sorry for their sins and stop doing them and if they plead with me for me to forgive, then I will indeed listen from heaven. I will forgive them for having sinned, and I will cause them to prosper again.
 \v 15 I will listen to them when they pray to me in this place.
 
 \s5
-\v 16 I have decided to be present in this temple, and I have set apart it for myself. I will protect it for all time.
+\v 16 I have decided to be present in this temple, and I have set it apart for myself. I will always protect it.
 \pi
-\v 17 And as for you, if you obey me as David, your father, did, and if you do all that I command you to do, and if you obey all my laws and decrees,
-\v 18 I will make sure that your descendants will always be kings, which is what I promised to David your father, when I told him, 'Persons from your descendants will always be the kings of Israel.'
+\v 17 And as for you, if you obey me as David your father did and if you do all that I command you to do and if you obey all my laws and decrees,
+\v 18 I will make sure that your descendants will always be kings, which is what I promised to David your father when I told him, 'Persons from your descendants will always be the kings of Israel.'
 
 \s5
 \pi
-\v 19 What will I do to you Israelites when you stop worshiping me? What will I do when you disobey the decrees and commands I have given to you? And what will I do when you start worsshiping other gods?
-\v 20 This is what I will do: I will cause you to be driven away from this land that I have given to you, and I will reject the temple that I have set apart for myself. I will make people from all the other peoples laugh about what happened to house where Yahweh was worshiped.
+\v 19 What will I do to you Israelites when you stop worshiping me? What will I do when you disobey the decrees and commands I have given to you? And what will I do when you start worshiping other gods?
+\v 20 This is what I will do: I will cause you to be driven away from this land that I have given to you, and I will reject the temple that I have set apart for myself. I will make people from all the other peoples laugh about what happened to the house where Yahweh was worshiped.
 
 \s5
 \v 21 Although this temple is now so magnificent, when that happens, all the people who pass by will be appalled, and they will say, 'Why has Yahweh done terrible things like this to this country and to this temple?'
@@ -388,16 +388,16 @@
 \v 2 Then his workers rebuilt the cities that King Hiram had given back to him, and Solomon sent Israelites to live in those cities.
 
 \s5
-\v 3 Solomon's army then went to the town of Hamathzobah and captured it.
-\v 4 They also rebuilt walls around the city of Tadmor in the wilderness, and in the region of Hamath, for all the towns where they kept supplies.
+\v 3 Solomon's army then went to the town of Hamath Zobah and captured it.
+\v 4 They also rebuilt walls around the city of Tadmor in the wilderness and around all the towns in the region of Hamath where they kept supplies.
 
 \s5
-\v 5 They rebuilt the cities of Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon, and built walls around them with gates and bars for the gates.
-\v 6 They also rebuilt the city of Baalath and all the cities where supplies were kept, and the cities where Solomon's chariots and horses were kept. Solomon's workers built whatever he wanted them to build, in Jerusalem and in Lebanon, and in other places in the area that he ruled.
+\v 5 They rebuilt the cities of Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon and built walls around them with gates and bars for the gates.
+\v 6 They also rebuilt the city of Baalath and all the cities where supplies were kept and the cities where Solomon's chariots and horses were kept. Solomon's workers built whatever he wanted them to build, in Jerusalem and in Lebanon and in other places in the area that he ruled.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 7 Solomon forced people from many other groups who were not Israelites to work for him as if they were slaves. They were people from the Heth, Amor, Periz, Hiv, and Jebus peoples.
+\v 7 Solomon forced people from many other groups who were not Israelites to work for him as if they were slaves. They were people from the Hittite, Amorite, Perizzite, Hivite, and Jebusite peoples.
 \v 8 They were descendants of groups whom the Israelites had not completely destroyed. Solomon forced them to become his laborers, and they are still that at this present time.
 
 \s5
@@ -411,31 +411,31 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 12 On the altar that Solomon's workers had built in front of the entrance to the temple, Solomon brought many offerings that were to be completely burned.
-\v 13 He did that obeying what sacrifices Moses had declared should be made every day, on the Sabbath days, to celebrate each day on which there was a new moon, and on the three other festivals that were celebrated each year: the Festival of Bread with No Yeast, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters.
+\v 13 He did that to obey what sacrifices Moses had declared should be made every day, on the Sabbath days, to celebrate each day on which there was a new moon, and on the three other festivals that were celebrated each year: the Festival of Bread with No Yeast, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters.
 
 \s5
-\v 14 Obeying what his father David had commanded, Solomon appointed the groups of priests for their work, and he appointed the descendants of Levi to lead the people while they sang to praise Yahweh, and while they assisted the priests in their daily work. He also appointed groups of them to guard all the gates, because that was also what David, God's servant, had commanded.
+\v 14 Obeying what his father David had commanded, Solomon appointed the groups of priests for their work, and he appointed the descendants of Levi to lead the people while they sang to praise Yahweh and while they assisted the priests in their daily work. He also appointed groups of them to guard all the gates because that was also what David, God's servant, had commanded.
 \v 15 The priests and other descendants of Levi obeyed completely everything that the king commanded, including the order to take care of the storerooms.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 16 They did all the work of building the temple that Solomon told them to do, until it was all completed. In the way they finished building the temple.
+\v 16 They did all the work of building the temple that Solomon told them to do, until it was all completed. In that way they finished building the temple.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 17 Then some of Solomon's men went to the cities of Ezion Geber and Elath on the coast of the Sea of Reeds, next to a region that belonged to the Edom people.
-\v 18 King Hiram sent him from the city of Tyre some ships that were commanded by his officers. They were men who were experienced sailors. These men went in the ships with Solomon's men to the region of Ophir and brought back about fifteen thousand kilograms of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon.
+\v 17 Then some of Solomon's men went to the cities of Ezion Geber and Elath on the coast of the Sea of Reeds, next to a region that belonged to the Edomite people.
+\v 18 From the city of Tyre, King Hiram sent him some ships that were commanded by his officers. They were men who were experienced sailors. These men went in the ships with Solomon's men to the region of Ophir and brought back about fifteen thousand kilograms of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon.
 
 \s5
 \c 9
 \p
-\v 1 The queen who ruled the Sheba area in Arabia heard that Solomon had become famous, so she traveled to Jerusalem to ask him questions that were difficult to answer. She came with a large group of servants, and she brought camels that were loaded with spices, and valuable gems. When she arrived, she shared her thoughts with him.
-\v 2 Solomon answered all her questions. He explained everything that she asked about, even things that were very difficult.
+\v 1 The queen who ruled the Sheba area in Arabia heard that Solomon had become famous, so she traveled to Jerusalem to ask him questions that were difficult to answer. She came with a large group of servants, and she brought camels that were loaded with spices and valuable gems. When she arrived, she shared her thoughts with him.
+\v 2 Solomon answered all of her questions. He explained everything that she asked about, even things that were very difficult.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 3 The queen realized that Solomon was very wise. She saw his palace,
-\v 4 she saw the food that was served on his table every day, she saw where his officials lived, their uniforms, the servants who served the food and wine, and the sacrifices that he took to the temple to be offered. She was extremely amazed.
+\v 4 the food that was served on his table every day, where his officials lived, their uniforms, the servants who served the food and wine, and the sacrifices that he took to the temple to be offered. She was extremely amazed.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 7 The men who work for you are very fortunate! Your servants who are constantly standing in front of you and listening to the wise things that you say are also fortunate!
-\v 8 I praise Yahweh your God, who has shown that he is pleased with you by appointing you to be the king of Israel for him. God has always loved the Israelite people, and he desires to assist them forever, so he has appointed you to be their king, in order that you will rule them fairly and righteously."
+\v 8 I praise Yahweh your God, who has shown that he is pleased with you by appointing you to be the king of Israel for him. God has always loved the Israelite people, and he desires to assist them forever, so he has appointed you to be their king so that you will rule them fairly and righteously."
 
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 \p
@@ -457,7 +457,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 Each year there was brought to Solomon about twenty-two metric tons of gold. That was in addition to the taxes paid to him by the merchants and traders.
+\v 13 Each year, there was brought to Solomon about twenty-two metric tons of gold. That was in addition to the taxes paid to him by the merchants and traders.
 \v 14 Also, the kings of Arabia and the governors of the districts in Israel brought gold and silver to Solomon.
 
 \s5
@@ -479,20 +479,20 @@
 \p
 \v 22 King Solomon became richer and wiser than any other king on the earth.
 \v 23 Kings from all over the world wanted to come and listen to the wise things that Solomon said, things that God had put into his mind.
-\v 24 All the people who came to him brought presents: things made from silver or gold; they also brought robes, weapons , spices, horses, and mules. The merchants continued to do this every year.
+\v 24 All the people who came to him brought presents—things made from silver or gold; robes, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. The merchants continued to do this every year.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 25 Solomon had four thousand stalls for his horses and chariots, and twelve thousand men who rodes horses. Solomon put some of them in Jerusalem and some of them in other cities where he kept his chariots.
-\v 26 Solomon ruled over all the kings in the area from the Euphrates River in the northeast, to the region of Philistia in the west, and to the border of Egypt in the south.
+\v 25 Solomon had four thousand stalls for his horses and chariots and twelve thousand men who rode horses. Solomon put some of them in Jerusalem and some of them in other cities where he kept his chariots.
+\v 26 Solomon ruled over all the kings in the area from the Euphrates River in the northeast to the region of Philistia in the west to the border of Egypt in the south.
 
 \s5
-\v 27 During the years that Solomon was king, he caused silver to become as common in Jerusalem as stone; and he caused cedar trees in the foothills of Judah to become as plentiful as sycamore fig trees.
+\v 27 During the years that Solomon was king, he caused silver to become as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he caused cedar trees in the foothills of Judah to become as plentiful as sycamore fig trees.
 \v 28 Solomon's agents brought horses to the land of Judah from Egypt and from many other lands.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 29 Lists of all the other things that Solomon did are written in the scrolls written by the prophet Nathan, and by the prophet Ahijah from the city of Shiloh, and in the scroll in which was written the visions of the prophet Iddo (a scroll in which Iddo's visions about Jeroboam son of Nebat were also written).
+\v 29 Lists of all the other things that Solomon did are written in the scrolls written by the prophet Nathan and by the prophet Ahijah from the city of Shiloh and in the scroll in which was written the visions of the prophet Iddo (a scroll in which Iddo's visions about Jeroboam son of Nebat were also written).
 \v 30 Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all of Israel for forty years.
 \v 31 Then Solomon died; they buried him in the part of Jerusalem called 'the city of David.' And his son Rehoboam became the next king.
 
@@ -500,11 +500,11 @@
 \c 10
 \p
 \v 1 All the people of northern Israel went to the city Shechem in order to appoint Rehoboam to be their king. So Rehoboam also went there.
-\v 2 Now Jeroboam son of Nebat had fled to Egypt to escape from King Solomon. While he was in Egypt he heard about the people wanting to appoint Rehoboam to be their king, and so he returned to Israel from Egypt.
+\v 2 Now Jeroboam son of Nebat had fled to Egypt to escape from King Solomon. While he was in Egypt, he heard about the people wanting to appoint Rehoboam to be their king, so he returned to Israel from Egypt.
 
 \s5
 \v 3 So the leaders of the northern tribes summoned Jeroboam, and he went with them to talk to Rehoboam. They said to Rehoboam,
-\v 4 "Your father Solomon forced us to work very hard, but if you charge us fewer taxes than we were paying to him, and if you make us work not so much we will serve you faithfully."
+\v 4 "Your father Solomon forced us to work very hard, but if you charge us fewer taxes than we were paying to him and if you do not make us work so much, we will serve you faithfully."
 \p
 \v 5 He replied, "Come back three days from now, and I will give you my answer." So those leaders and Jeroboam left.
 
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 8 But he did not agree with what the older men advised him to do. Instead, he consulted the younger men who had grown up with him, who were now his advisors.
+\v 8 But he did not agree with what the older men advised him to do. Instead, he consulted the younger men who had grown up with him and who were now his advisors.
 \v 9 He said to them, "What do you say that I should answer the men who are asking me to reduce the work and taxes that my father required from them?"
 
 \s5
@@ -526,12 +526,12 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 12 Three days later, Jeroboam and all the leaders came to King Rehoboam again, as he had instructed them to do.
+\v 12 Three days later, Jeroboam and all the leaders came to King Rehoboam again as he had instructed them to do.
 \v 13 The king ignored the advice of the older men and spoke harshly to the Israelite leaders.
 \v 14 He told them what the younger men had advised. He said, "My father put heavy burdens of work and taxes on you, but I will put heavier burdens on you. It was as though he beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!"
 
 \s5
-\v 15 So the king did not pay any attention to the people's leaders. All this happened in order that what Yahweh wanted would occur, what he had told the prophet Ahijah about Jeroboam becoming king of the ten tribes out of the twelve.
+\v 15 So the king did not pay any attention to the people's leaders. All this happened so that what Yahweh wanted would occur—what he had told the prophet Ahijah about Jeroboam becoming king of ten out of the twelve tribes.
 
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 \p
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@
 \s5
 \c 11
 \p
-\v 1 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he gathered 180,000 of the best soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. He wanted them to fight against the northern tribes of Israel and defeat them, in order that he could rule all twelves tribes again.
+\v 1 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he gathered 180,000 of the best soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. He wanted them to fight against the northern tribes of Israel and defeat them so that he could rule all twelves tribes again.
 
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 \p
@@ -563,20 +563,20 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and his workers built walls around several of the cities and towns in Judah to protect them against enemy attacks.
-\v 6 In the area that belonged to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin they built walls around Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
+\v 6 In the area that belonged to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, they built walls around Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
 \v 7 Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam,
 \v 8 Gath, Mareshah,
 \v 9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
 \v 10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron.
 
 \s5
-\v 11 He also appointed an army commander in each of those cities and towns, and gave them supplies of food, olive oil, and wine.
+\v 11 He also appointed an army commander in each of those cities and towns and gave them supplies of food, olive oil, and wine.
 \v 12 He put shields and spears in all the cities and made them well-protected. So he continued to control the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 13 The priests and other descendants of Levi throughout Israel supported Rehoboam.
-\v 14 The descendants of Levi abandoned their property and their pastureland, and they came to Jerusalem and to other places in Judah, because Jeroboam and his sons would not allow them to do the work of priests of Yahweh.
+\v 14 The descendants of Levi abandoned their property and their pastureland, and they came to Jerusalem and to other places in Judah because Jeroboam and his sons would not allow them to do the work of priests of Yahweh.
 \v 15 Instead, Jeroboam appointed the priests that he wanted to work at the altars he commanded to be built on the hills all around the cities, to offer sacrifices to the idols that he commanded to be made that resembled goats and calves.
 
 \s5
@@ -589,13 +589,13 @@
 \v 19 Rehoboam and Mahalath had three sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.
 
 \s5
-\v 20 Later Rehoboam married Maakah, the daughter of Absalom, and they had four sons: Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
+\v 20 Later, Rehoboam married Maakah, the daughter of Absalom, and they had four sons: Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
 \v 21 Rehoboam loved Maakah more than he loved any other of his wives and slave wives. Altogether he had eighteen wives and sixty slave wives, and twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 22 Rehoboam appointed his son Abijah to be the leader of his older and younger brothers, because he wanted to appoint Abijah to be the next king.
-\v 23 He very wisely sent some of his other sons to other cities in the areas of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and to other cities that had walls around them. He gave them plenty of supplies and many wives.
+\v 22 Rehoboam appointed his son Abijah to be the leader of his older and younger brothers because he wanted to appoint Abijah to be the next king.
+\v 23 He very wisely sent some of his other sons to other cities in the areas of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and to other cities that had walls around them. He gave them plenty of supplies and many wives.
 
 \s5
 \c 12
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 2 As a result, after Rehoboam had been king for almost five years, Yahweh sent Shishak, the king of Egypt, with his army to attack Jerusalem.
-\v 3 He brought with his army twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand soldiers who rode horses and a very large number of troops from two regions in Libya, and from Ethiopia.
+\v 3 He brought with his army twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand soldiers who rode horses and a very large number of troops from two regions in Libya and from Ethiopia.
 \v 4 They captured many of the cities in Judah that had walls around them, and they came as far as Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
@@ -621,21 +621,21 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 9 When Shishak's army attacked Jerusalem, they took away the valuable things that were in the temple of Yahweh and in the king's palace. They took everything that was valuable, including the gold shields that Solomon's workers had made.
-\v 10 So King Rehoboam's workers made bronze shields to be used instead of the gold ones, and gave the bronze shields to the commanders of the men who guarded the entrance to the his palace.
+\v 10 So King Rehoboam's workers made bronze shields to be used instead of the gold ones and gave the bronze shields to the commanders of the men who guarded the entrance to the his palace.
 
 \s5
 \v 11 After that, whenever the king went to the temple, the guards went with him, carrying those bronze shields. Then when the king left, they would return the shields to the guards' room.
 \p
-\v 12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, Yahweh stopped being angry with him, and did not get rid of him. Instead, he caused good things to happen in Judah.
+\v 12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, Yahweh stopped being angry with him and did not get rid of him. Instead, he caused good things to happen in Judah.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 King Rehoboam again obtained complete control in Jerusalem, and continued to be the king of Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became the king. He ruled for seventeen years in Jerusalem, which is the city that Yahweh had chosen from all the tribes in Israel to be the place in which people were to worship him.
-\v 14 Rehoboam's mother's name was Naamah. She was from the Ammon people. Rehoboam did evil things because he did not try to find out what Yahweh wanted him to do.
+\v 13 King Rehoboam again obtained complete control in Jerusalem and continued to be the king of Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became the king. He ruled for seventeen years in Jerusalem, which is the city that Yahweh had chosen from all the tribes in Israel to be the place in which people were to worship him.
+\v 14 Rehoboam's mother's name was Naamah. She was from the Ammonite people. Rehoboam did evil things because he did not try to find out what Yahweh wanted him to do.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 15 An account of all the things that Rehoboam did while he was the king, and lists of the members of his family, are in the scrolls written by the prophets Shemaiah and Iddo. The armies of Rehoboam and Jeroboam were constantly fighting each other.
+\v 15 An account of all the things that Rehoboam did while he was the king and lists of the members of his family are in the scrolls written by the prophets Shemaiah and Iddo. The armies of Rehoboam and Jeroboam were constantly fighting each other.
 \v 16 When Rehoboam died, he was buried in the part of Jerusalem called the city of David. Then his son Abijah became the king.
 
 \s5
@@ -657,7 +657,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 8 And now you are planning to fight against the kingdom that Yahweh established to be governed by David's descendants. It is true that you have a huge army, and you and your soldiers have brought with you the golden statues of calves that Jeroboam's workers made to be your gods.
+\v 8 And now you are planning to fight against the kingdom that Yahweh established to be governed by David's descendants. It is true that you have a very large army, and you and your soldiers have brought with you the golden statues of calves that Jeroboam's workers made to be your gods.
 \v 9 But you drove out the priests that Yahweh appointed, men who are descendants of Aaron the first high priest. You also drove out the descendants of Levi, and you appointed the priests that you wanted, like the people of other countries do. And so one may even come to set himself apart for the work of a priest, even sacrificing a young bull and seven rams as a sign of his ordination and his dedication to become a priest. But what kind of priest is he? He is consecrated to serve idols that are not gods at all!
 
 \s5
@@ -676,13 +676,13 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 16 The soldiers of Israel fled from the soldiers of Judah, and God enabled the army of Judah to defeat them.
-\v 17 Abijah and his troops struck the capable soldiers of Israel and killed 500,000 of them, the best soldiers there were in Israel.
+\v 17 Abijah and his troops struck the capable soldiers of Israel and killed 500,000 of them—the best soldiers there were in Israel.
 \p
 \v 18 So the soldiers of Israel were defeated, and the soldiers of Judah won the battle because they trusted in Yahweh, the God to whom their ancestors belonged.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 19 Abijah's army pursued the army of Jeroboam, and they captured from the people of Israel the cities of Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, and the surrounding villages.
+\v 19 Abijah's army pursued the army of Jeroboam, and they captured from the people of Israel the cities of Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron as well as their surrounding villages.
 \v 20 During the remaining time that Abijah ruled, Jeroboam did not become powerful again. Then Yahweh caused him to become very ill, and he died.
 \p
 \v 21 But Abijah became more powerful. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
@@ -699,7 +699,7 @@
 \v 4 Asa commanded the people of Judah to worship only Yahweh, the God whom their ancestors worshiped, and to seek his will and obey his commands.
 
 \s5
-\v 5 His workers destroyed all the places where idols were worshiped on the hilltops, and the altars for burning incense to idols, in every town in Judah. As a result, there was peace while Asa ruled the kingdom of Judah.
+\v 5 In every town in Judah, his workers destroyed all the places where idols were worshiped on the hilltops and the altars for burning incense to idols. As a result, there was peace while Asa ruled the kingdom of Judah.
 \v 6 His workers built cities and constructed walls around them. No army attacked Judah during those years, because Yahweh enabled them to have peace.
 
 \s5
@@ -713,12 +713,12 @@
 \v 9 Zerah, a man from Ethiopia, attacked Judah with an army of one million men and three hundred chariots. He came to Mareshah, southwest of Jerusalem.
 \v 10 Asa went with his army to fight against them, and both armies took their positions in the Zephathah Valley.
 \p
-\v 11 Then Asa cried out to Yahweh his God, saying, "Yahweh, there is no one like you who can help those who have very little power to resist large armies. We have come to fight against this huge army. Yahweh, you are our God; do not allow anyone to defeat you."
+\v 11 Then Asa cried out to Yahweh his God, saying, "Yahweh, there is no one like you who can help those who have very little power to resist large armies. We have come to fight against this great army. Yahweh, you are our God; do not allow anyone to defeat you."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 12 Then Yahweh enabled Asa and the army of Judah to defeat the army from Ethiopia. They fled,
-\v 13 and Asa and his army pursued them to the southwest as far as Gerar. A huge number of the soldiers from Ethiopia were killed, with the result that those who were not killed were unable to fight anymore. They were completely defeated by Yahweh and his army, and the men of Judah carried away a great amount of their possessions.
+\v 13 and Asa and his army pursued them to the southwest as far as Gerar. A very large number of the soldiers from Ethiopia were killed, with the result that those who were not killed were unable to fight anymore. They were completely defeated by Yahweh and his army, and the men of Judah carried away a great amount of their possessions.
 
 \s5
 \v 14 The men of Judah were able to destroy the villages near to the city of Gerar because Yahweh had caused the people there to become terrified and unable to fight. The army of Judah took away all the valuable things from those villages.
@@ -732,7 +732,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 3 For many years the Israelite people did not have the true God, and they did not have priests or God's laws.
-\v 4 But when they experienced trouble, they turned to Yahweh, our God, and requested him to help them. And he helped them.
+\v 4 But when they experienced trouble, they turned to Yahweh our God and requested him to help them. And he helped them.
 \v 5 At that time, people were not safe when they traveled, because all the people who lived in those countries were experiencing many difficulties.
 
 \s5
@@ -741,16 +741,16 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 8 Asa was encouraged when he heard what Azariah son of Oded, prophesied. Asa commanded his workers to remove all the detestable idols from everywhere in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and from the towns that his soldiers had captured in the hills of the tribe of Ephraim. Asa's workers repaired the altar where people offered sacrifices to Yahweh that was in front of the entrance to the temple in Jerusalem.
-\v 9 He gathered together all the people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and many people had come from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were living among them. He was able to do that because many people had left those tribes in Israel, when they realized that Yahweh was helping him.
+\v 8 Asa was encouraged when he heard what Azariah son of Oded prophesied. Asa commanded his workers to remove all the detestable idols from everywhere in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns that his soldiers had captured in the hills of the tribe of Ephraim. Asa's workers repaired the altar where people offered sacrifices to Yahweh that was in front of the entrance to the temple in Jerusalem.
+\v 9 He gathered together all the people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and many people had come from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were living among them. He was able to do that because many people had left those tribes in Israel when they realized that Yahweh was helping him.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 10 After Asa had been ruling for almost fifteen years, in the third month of that year, those people gathered in Jerusalem.
-\v 11 At that time they sacrificed to Yahweh seven hundred bulls and seven thousand sheep and goats, from the animals that they had captured when they defeated the army of Ethiopia.
+\v 11 At that time they sacrificed to Yahweh seven hundred bulls and seven thousand sheep and goats from the animals that they had captured when they defeated the army of Ethiopia.
 
 \s5
-\v 12 They solemnly made an agreement to worship very sincerely Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors worshiped.
+\v 12 They solemnly made an agreement to very sincerely worship Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors worshiped.
 \v 13 They promised to execute all those who would not worship Yahweh, including those who were important and who were not important, both men and women.
 
 \s5
@@ -759,8 +759,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 16 King Asa's grandmother Maakah had made a disgusting pole for worshiping the goddess Asherah. So Asa commanded his workers to cut down that pole, chop it into pieces, and burn it in the Kidron Valley. He did not allow Maakah to continue to influence the people because she was the mother of the previous king.
-\v 17 Although Asa's workers did not get rid of places where people worshiped idols, and those high places remained on the hills throughout Asa's reign. But still, Asa was determined to do what pleased Yahweh all during the years that he was alive.
+\v 16 King Asa's grandmother Maakah had made a disgusting pole for worshiping the goddess Asherah. So Asa commanded his workers to cut down that pole, chop it into pieces, and burn it in the Kidron Valley. He did not allow Maakah to continue to influence the people, because she was the mother of the previous king.
+\v 17 However, Asa's workers did not get rid of places where people worshiped idols, and those high places remained on the hills throughout Asa's reign. Nevertheless, Asa was determined to do what pleased Yahweh all during the years that he was alive.
 
 \s5
 \v 18 He ordered his workers to bring into God's temple all the silver and gold and other valuable items that he and his father had dedicated to God.
@@ -770,12 +770,12 @@
 \s5
 \c 16
 \p
-\v 1 When Asa had been ruling Judah for almost thirty-six years, King Baasha of Israel went with his army to attack Judah. They captured the town of Ramah north of Jerusalem and started to build a wall around it, in order to prevent any people from entering or leaving the area in Judah that King Asa ruled.
+\v 1 When Asa had been ruling Judah for almost thirty-six years, King Baasha of Israel went with his army to attack Judah. They captured the town of Ramah north of Jerusalem and started to build a wall around it to prevent any people from entering or leaving the area in Judah that King Asa ruled.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 2 So Asa told his workers to take all the silver and gold that was in the storerooms of the temple and in his own palace, and take and give it to Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. He sent him a message, saying,
-\v 3 "I want there to be a peace treaty between me and you, like there was between my father and your father. Look, I am sending you much silver and gold. So please cancel the treaty that you have made with Baasha, the king of Israel, in order that he will take his soldiers away from attacking mine, because he will be afraid of your army."
+\v 2 So Asa told his workers to take all the silver and gold that was in the storerooms of the temple and in his own palace and take and give it to Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. He sent him a message, saying,
+\v 3 "I want there to be a peace treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Look, I am sending you much silver and gold. So please cancel the treaty that you have made with Baasha, the king of Israel, so that he will take his soldiers away from attacking mine because he will be afraid of your army."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -786,7 +786,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 7 At that time the prophet Hanani went to King Asa and said to him, "Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on Yahweh our God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from you.
-\v 8 Remember that the huge armies from Ethiopia were very powerful. But when you relied on Yahweh, he enabled your army to defeat them.
+\v 8 Remember that the great armies from Ethiopia were very powerful. But when you relied on Yahweh, he enabled your army to defeat them.
 
 \s5
 \v 9 That happened because Yahweh sees what is happening all over the earth, and he strengthens those who completely trust him. You have done a very foolish thing, so from now on other armies will be fighting your army."
@@ -800,7 +800,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 13 Asa had been ruling for about forty-one years when he died.
-\v 14 People buried him in the tomb that his workers had made for him in the part of Jerusalem called "the city of David." They laid his corpse on a bed covered with spices and various perfumes that had been mixed together. They also lit a huge fire to honor him.
+\v 14 People buried him in the tomb that his workers had made for him in the part of Jerusalem called the city of David. They laid his corpse on a bed covered with spices and various perfumes that had been mixed together. They also lit a huge fire to honor him.
 
 \s5
 \c 17
@@ -815,7 +815,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 5 Yahweh enabled him to completely control his kingdom. All the people of Judah brought gifts to him, with the result that he became very rich and was greatly honored.
-\v 6 He was completely devoted to doing what pleased Yahweh. His workers got rid of the places on hilltops were idols were worshiped and the places where poles were set up and used to worship the goddess Asherah all throughout Judah.
+\v 6 He was completely devoted to doing what pleased Yahweh. His workers got rid of the places on hilltops where idols were worshiped and the places where poles were set up and used to worship the goddess Asherah all throughout Judah.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -832,7 +832,7 @@
 \p
 \v 12 Jehoshaphat continued to become more powerful. His workers built forts and places to store supplies in various towns in Judah.
 \v 13 Then they put large amounts of supplies in those storehouses.
-\p Jehoshaphat also placed in Jerusalem soldiers who were experienced.
+\p Jehoshaphat also placed experienced soldiers in Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
 \v 14 The leaders and numbers from each tribe were as follows:
@@ -840,7 +840,7 @@
 \q
 \v 15 His assistant was Jehohanan, who commanded 280,000 soldiers.
 \q
-\v 16 Next was Zicri's son Amasiah, who volunteered to serve Yahweh in this way; he commanded 200,000 courageous soldiers.
+\v 16 Next was Zikri's son Amasiah, who volunteered to serve Yahweh in this way; he commanded 200,000 courageous soldiers.
 
 \s5
 \q
@@ -854,20 +854,20 @@
 \c 18
 \p
 \v 1 Jehoshaphat became very wealthy and was greatly honored. But then he arranged for one of his family to marry someone from the family of King Ahab of Israel.
-\v 2 Several years later, he went down from Jerusalem to Samaria to visit Ahab. Ahab welcomed him, and the people who had come with him by slaughtering many sheep and cattle for a feast.
+\v 2 Several years later, he went down from Jerusalem to Samaria to visit Ahab. Ahab welcomed him and the people who had come with him by slaughtering many sheep and cattle for a feast.
 \v 3 Then he asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you and your army go with my army to attack the city of Ramoth in the region of Gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied, "My soldiers and I are at your orders. We will go to war when you tell us to go."
 
 \s5
 \v 4 Then he added, "But we should ask Yahweh first, to find out what he wants us to do."
 \p
-\v 5 So the king of Israel gathered all his four hundred prophets and asked them, "Should we go to fight the people of Ramoth, or should we not?"
-\p They replied, "Yes, go and attack them because God will enable your army to defeat them."
+\v 5 So the king of Israel gathered all of his four hundred prophets and asked them, "Should we go to fight the people of Ramoth, or should we not?"
+\p They replied, "Yes, go and attack them, because God will enable your army to defeat them."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 6 But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there no prophet of Yahweh here whom we can ask?"
 \p
-\v 7 The king of Israel replied, "There is still one man here, whom we can ask to find out what Yahweh wants, His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never says that anything good about me. He always predicts that bad things will happen to me."
+\v 7 The king of Israel replied, "There is still one man here whom we can ask to find out what Yahweh wants. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never says anything good about me. He always predicts that bad things will happen to me."
 \p Jehoshaphat replied, "King Ahab, you should not say that!"
 \p
 \v 8 So the king of Israel told one of his officials to summon Micaiah immediately.
@@ -876,8 +876,8 @@
 \p
 \v 9 Now the king of Israel and the king of Judah were sitting there on thrones, wearing their royal robes. They were sitting by the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were busy saying words of prophecy to them.
 \p
-\v 10 One of them whose name was Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, had made from iron something that resembled the horns of a bull. He proclaimed to Ahab, "This is what Yahweh says: 'With horns like these, your army will keep attacking the army of Aram like a bull attacks another animal, until you completely destroy them.'"
-\v 11 All the other prophets of Ahab agreed. They said, "Yes! If you attack Ramoth in Gilead, you will be successful, because Yahweh will enable you to defeat them."
+\v 10 One of them, whose name was Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, had made from iron something that resembled the horns of a bull. He proclaimed to Ahab, "This is what Yahweh says: 'With horns like these, your army will keep attacking the army of Aram like a bull attacks another animal, until you completely destroy them.'"
+\v 11 All the other prophets of Ahab agreed. They said, "Yes! If you attack Ramoth in Gilead, you will be successful because Yahweh will enable you to defeat them."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -886,11 +886,11 @@
 \v 13 But Micaiah said, "As surely as Yahweh lives, I will tell him only what he tells me to say."
 \p
 \v 14 When Micaiah arrived, the king of Israel asked him, "Should we go to attack Ramoth, or not?"
-\p Micaiah replied, "Sure, go! Yahweh will enable your army to defeat them!"
+\p Micaiah replied sarcastically, "Sure, go and you will be successful! Yahweh will enable your army to defeat them!"
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 15 But King Ahab wished to appear reverent toward Yahweh in front of Jehoshaphat. He said to Miciaiah, "I keep telling you to say only what Yahweh tells you to say!"
+\v 15 Then the king said angrily to Micaiah, "I have told you many times that you must always tell only the truth when you say what Yahweh has revealed to you!"
 \p
 \v 16 Then Micaiah replied, "The truth is that in a vision I saw all the troops of Israel scattered on the mountains. They seemed to be like sheep that did not have a shepherd. And Yahweh said, 'Their master has been killed. So tell them all to go home peacefully.'"
 
@@ -898,15 +898,15 @@
 \p
 \v 17 Ahab turned to Jehoshaphat and said, "I told you that Micaiah never says anything good will happen to me! He only predicts bad things for me."
 \p
-\v 18 But Micaiah continued, saying, "Listen to what Yahweh showed to me! In a vision I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, with all the armies of heaven standing around him, on his right side and on his left side.
+\v 18 But Micaiah continued, saying, "Listen to what Yahweh showed to me! In a vision I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne with all the armies of heaven standing around him on his right side and on his left side.
 
 \s5
-\v 19 And Yahweh said, 'Who can persuade Ahab, the king of Israel, to go to fight against the people of Ramoth, in order that he may be killed there?'
+\v 19 And Yahweh said, 'Who can persuade Ahab, the king of Israel, to go to fight against the people of Ramoth so that he may be killed there?'
 \p Some suggested one thing, and others suggested something else.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 20 Finally one spirit forward and said, 'I can do it!'
+\v 20 Finally one spirit came forward and said, 'I can do it!'
 \p Yahweh asked him, 'How will you do it?'
 \p
 \v 21 The spirit replied, 'I will go and inspire all of Ahab's prophets to tell lies.' Yahweh said, 'You will be successful; go and do it!'
@@ -931,7 +931,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 28 So the king of Israel and the king of Judah led their armies to Ramoth in Gilead.
-\v 29 King Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "I will put on different clothes, in order that no one will recognize that I am the king. But you should wear your royal robe." So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they both went into the battle.
+\v 29 King Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "I will put on different clothes so that no one will recognize that I am the king. But you should wear your royal robe." So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they both went into the battle.
 \p
 \v 30 The king of Aram had told his soldiers who were driving the chariots, "Attack only the king of Israel! Do not attack anyone else."
 
@@ -941,41 +941,41 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 33 But one Aramean soldier shot an arrow at Ahab, without knowing who he was. The arrow struck Ahab between the places where the parts of his armor joined together. Ahab told the driver of his chariot, "Turn the chariot around and take me out of here! I have been severely wounded!"
-\v 34 The battle continued all the day. Ahab was sitting propped up in his chariot, facing the Aramean soldiers. And late in the afternoon, when the sun was setting, he died.
+\v 33 But one Aramean soldier shot an arrow at Ahab without knowing who he was. The arrow struck Ahab between the places where the parts of his armor joined together. Ahab told the driver of his chariot, "Turn the chariot around and take me out of here! I have been severely wounded!"
+\v 34 The battle continued all the day. Ahab was sitting propped up in his chariot facing the Aramean soldiers. And late in the afternoon, when the sun was setting, he died.
 
 \s5
 \c 19
 \p
 \v 1 When King Jehoshaphat returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem,
-\v 2 the prophet Jehu son of the prophet Hanani, went out of the city to meet the king, and said to him, "It was not right for you to help a wicked man and to love those who hate Yahweh. Because of what you have done, Yahweh is angry with you.
+\v 2 the prophet Jehu, son of the prophet Hanani, went out of the city to meet the king, and said to him, "It was not right for you to help a wicked man and to love those who hate Yahweh. Because of what you have done, Yahweh is angry with you.
 \v 3 But you have done some good things; you got rid of the poles in this country for worshiping the goddess Asherah, and you have been determined to do what pleases God."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. But one time, like he had done once previously, he went out among all the people in the country, from the city of Beersheba in the far south to the hill country of the tribe of Ephraim in the far north, and he convinced them to return to worshiping Yahweh, the God whom their ancestors worshiped.
-\v 5 He appointed judges throughout Judah, in each of the cities that had walls around them.
+\v 4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. But as he had done once previously, he went out among all the people in the country, from the city of Beersheba in the far south to the hill country of the tribe of Ephraim in the far north, and he convinced them to return to worshiping Yahweh, the God whom their ancestors worshiped.
+\v 5 He appointed judges throughout Judah in each of the cities that had walls around them.
 
 \s5
-\v 6 He told them, "Make your decisions carefully, because you are judging cases not in order to please people, but to please Yahweh. And he will be watching you whenever you make a decision.
-\v 7 So now revere Yahweh and judge cases carefully and do not forget that Yahweh our God never acts unjustly, and that he never does what people want because they offer him money."
+\v 6 He told them, "Make your decisions carefully, because you are judging cases not to please people but to please Yahweh. And he will be watching you whenever you make a decision.
+\v 7 So now revere Yahweh and judge cases carefully and do not forget that Yahweh our God never acts unjustly and that he never does what people want because they offer him money."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 8 In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat also appointed some priests and other descendants of Levi and some leaders of Israelite families to be judges. He told them to do what Yahweh's laws said was right when they settled disputes. Those men lived in Jerusalem.
+\v 8 In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat also appointed some priests and other descendants of Levi and some leaders of Israelite families to be judges. He told them to do what Yahweh's law said was right when they settled disputes. Those men lived in Jerusalem.
 \v 9 He told them this: "You must always do your work faithfully, honoring Yahweh.
 
 \s5
-\v 10 In every dispute that your fellow Israelites who live in the cities want you to settle, you must warn them to not sin against Yahweh by telling lies during the trial—regardless of whether the trial is about murder, or about various laws, or about various royal decress. If you do not warn them, God will punish you. Do this so that he does not become angry with you or your fellow Israelites.
+\v 10 In every dispute that your fellow Israelites who live in the cities want you to settle, you must warn them not to sin against Yahweh by telling lies during the trial—regardless of whether the trial is about murder, about various laws, or about various royal decrees. If you do not warn them, God will punish you. Do this so that he does not become angry with you or your fellow Israelites.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 11 Amariah, the high priest, will supervise you in any matter that Yahweh is concerned about, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will supervise you in any matter that I am concerned about. And the descendants of Levi will assist you. Act courageously, and I pray that Yahweh will help those who do their work well."
+\v 11 Amariah the high priest will supervise you in any matter that Yahweh is concerned about, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will supervise you in any matter that I am concerned about. And the descendants of Levi will assist you. Act courageously, and I pray that Yahweh will help those who do their work well."
 
 \s5
 \c 20
 \p
-\v 1 Later armies from Moab and Ammon and some soldiers from region of Meun, near Edom, came to fight against Jehoshaphat's army.
+\v 1 Later, armies from Moab and Ammon and some soldiers from the region of Meun, near Edom, came to fight against Jehoshaphat's army.
 \p
 \v 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A huge army is coming to attack your army. They are coming from the region of Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. They have already come to Hazezon Tamar!" Another name for that place is En Gedi.
 
@@ -988,7 +988,7 @@
 \v 5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in front of the people of Judah in front of the new courtyard of the temple,
 \v 6 and he prayed this:
 \pi "Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors belonged to, you rule from heaven. You rule over all the kings and nations on earth. You can do anything; no one can successfully oppose you.
-\v 7 Our God, you drove out the people who lived in this land while your Israelite people advanced into it, and you certainly gave it to us who are descendants of Abraham, so that the land would belong to us forever.
+\v 7 Our God, you drove out the people who lived in this land while your Israelite people advanced into it, and you certainly gave it to us who are descendants of Abraham so that the land would belong to us forever.
 
 \s5
 \v 8 Our ancestors lived here and built a temple at which to worship you. At that time they prayed:
@@ -1000,28 +1000,28 @@
 \v 11 We did good things for them. But now look at how they are repaying us by trying to drive out us from the land that you gave to our ancestors to belong to them and their descendants forever!
 
 \s5
-\v 12 So, our God, please punish them. We cannot defeat the enormous army that is coming to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are depending on you to help us."
+\v 12 So, our God, please punish them. We cannot defeat the huge army that is coming to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are depending on you to help us."
 \p
 \v 13 All the men of Judah and their wives, children, and babies were standing there in the presence of Yahweh while Jehoshaphat prayed.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 14 Then the Spirit of Yahweh came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, who was son of Benaiah, who was son of Jeiel, who was son of Mattaniah. He was a descendant of Levi and a descendant of Asaph. He stood up in front of the whole group that was gathered there,
+\v 14 Then the Spirit of Yahweh came upon Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Benaiah, who was the son of Jeiel, who was the son of Mattaniah. He was a descendant of Levi and a descendant of Asaph. He stood up in front of the whole group that was gathered there
 \v 15 and said, "King Jehoshaphat and all you who live in Jerusalem and in other places in Judah, listen! This is what Yahweh says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this huge army that is coming to attack you, because it is not you who will win this battle. It is God who will win it.
 
 \s5
-\v 16 Tomorrow march down toward them. They will be climbing up through the pass of Ziz north of En Gedi. You will meet them at the end of the gorge near wilderness of Jeruel.
-\v 17 But you will not need to fight this battle. You soldiers from Jerusalem and other places in Judah, just take your positions, and then stand still and watch what will happen. You will see Yahweh rescue you. Do not be afraid or discouraged. March toward them tomorrow, and Yahweh will be with you.'"
+\v 16 Tomorrow, march down toward them. They will be climbing up through the pass of Ziz north of En Gedi. You will meet them at the end of the gorge near the wilderness of Jeruel.
+\v 17 But you will not need to fight this battle. You soldiers from Jerusalem and other places in Judah, just take your positions, then stand still and watch what will happen. You will see Yahweh rescue you. Do not be afraid or discouraged. March toward them tomorrow, and Yahweh will be with you.'"
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 18 Jehoshaphat prostrated himself with his face touching the ground, and all the people of Jerusalem and other places in Judah who were there knelt down to worship Yahweh.
-\v 19 Then some descendants of Levi who were descendants of Kohath and Korah stood up and loudly praised Yahweh, the God whom the Israelites belonged to.
+\v 19 Then some descendants of Levi who were descendants of Kohath and Korah stood up and loudly praised Yahweh, the God to whom the Israelites belonged.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 20 Early the next morning the army left to go to the desert near the town of Tekoa. While they were leaving, Jehoshaphat stood up and said to them, "You people of Jerusalem and other places in Judah, listen to me! Trust in Yahweh our God; if you do that, you will be strong. Trust in what his prophets have said; if you do that, you will be successful."
-\v 21 Then, after consulting with the people's leaders, Jehoshaphat assigned some persons to sign praise ot Yahweh for his greatness, and for these individuals to lead the entire army to the enemy. They were singing,
+\v 20 Early the next morning, the army left to go to the desert near the town of Tekoa. While they were leaving, Jehoshaphat stood up and said to them, "You people of Jerusalem and other places in Judah, listen to me! Trust in Yahweh our God; if you do that, you will be strong. Trust in what his prophets have said; if you do that, you will be successful."
+\v 21 Then, after consulting with the people's leaders, Jehoshaphat assigned some persons to sing praise to Yahweh for his greatness and for these individuals to lead the entire army to the enemy. They were singing,
 \q2 "Thank Yahweh,
 \q2 because he faithfully loves us forever."
 
@@ -1036,41 +1036,41 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 25 So Jehoshaphat and his soldiers went to take the possessions of their enemies, and they saw that there was a lot of equipment and clothing and other valuable things; there was more than they could carry away. There were very many things, with the result that it took three days for them to collect them all.
-\v 26 The following day they gathered in Berakah Valley and praised Yahweh there. That is why that valley is still called Berakah, which means praise.
+\v 25 So Jehoshaphat and his soldiers went to take the possessions of their enemies, and they saw that there was much equipment and clothing and other valuable things; there was more than they could carry away. There were very many things, with the result that it took three days for them to collect them all.
+\v 26 The following day, they gathered in Berakah Valley and praised Yahweh there. That is why that valley is still called Berakah, which means 'praise.'
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 27 Then while Jehoshaphat led them, all the soldiers who were from Jerusalem and other places in Judah returned to Jerusalem. They were happy because Yahweh had enabled them to defeat their enemies.
+\v 27 Then, while Jehoshaphat led them, all the soldiers who were from Jerusalem and other places in Judah returned to Jerusalem. They were happy because Yahweh had enabled them to defeat their enemies.
 \v 28 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they went to the temple, playing harps, lutes, and trumpets.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 29 People in the kingdoms of the nearby countries became very afraid when they heard how Yahweh had fought against the enemies of the Israelites.
-\v 30 Then there was peace in the kingdom that Jehoshaphat ruled, because God had enabled him to have peace throughout the country.
+\v 30 Then there was peace in the kingdom that Jehoshaphat ruled because God had enabled him to have peace throughout the country.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 31 Jehoshaphat continued to rule Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.
-\v 32 He did things that were pleasing to Yahweh, like his father Asa had done, and he did not stop doing those things.
-\v 33 But he did not get rid of the places where idols were worshiped on the hills in the countryside, and most of the people still not erious about obeying the God whom their ancestors had worshiped.
+\v 32 He did things that were pleasing to Yahweh as his father Asa had done, and he did not stop doing those things.
+\v 33 But he did not get rid of the places where idols were worshiped on the hills in the countryside, and most of the people were still not serious about obeying the God whom their ancestors had worshiped.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 34 A record of the other things that Jehoshaphat did while he ruled, from the beginning until he died, is in the scrolls written by the prophet Jehu son of Hanani. They are also in the scroll on which was written a record of the activities of the kings of Israel.
+\v 34 A record of the other things that Jehoshaphat did while he ruled, from the beginning until he died, is in the account written by the prophet Jehu son of Hanani, which is included in the book of the kings of Israel.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 35 Later, Jehoshaphat made a treaty with Ahaziah, the king of Israel, who was a very wicked king.
 \v 36 They agreed that their workers would build a fleet of ships to use to buy and sell things with other countries. After those ships were built at Ezion Geber,
-\v 37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu of the city of Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, "You have made an alliance with Ahaziah, who is a wicked king. Therefore, Yahweh will destroy the ships that your workers have made." And the ships were wrecked, and were never able to sail to other countries.
+\v 37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu of the city of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, "You have made an alliance with Ahaziah, who is a wicked king. Therefore, Yahweh will destroy the ships that your workers have made." And the ships were wrecked and were never able to sail to other countries.
 
 \s5
 \c 21
 \p
 \v 1 Then Jehoshaphat died and was buried where his ancestors were buried in the part of Jerusalem called the city of David. His son Jehoram became the next king of Judah.
 \v 2 Jehoram's younger brothers were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah.
-\v 3 Before Jehoshaphat died, he had given them large gifts of silver and gold and other valuable things. He also appointed them to rule various cities in Judah that had walls around them. But he appointed Jehoram to be the king of Judah, because Jehoram was his oldest son.
+\v 3 Before Jehoshaphat died, he had given them large gifts of silver and gold and other valuable things. He also appointed them to rule various cities in Judah that had walls around them. But he appointed Jehoram to be the king of Judah because Jehoram was his oldest son.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1079,55 +1079,55 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 6 But he did many of the evil things that the kings of Israel had done. He did many things that Yahweh said were evil, things that the family of Ahab had done, because he married one of Ahab's daughters.
-\v 7 However, because of the covenant that Yahweh had made with King David, Yahweh did not want to get rid of the descendants Judah.
+\v 7 However, because of the covenant that Yahweh had made with King David, Yahweh did not want to get rid of the descendants of David. He had promised that David's descendants would always be the ones who ruled Judah.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 8 While Jehoram was ruling, the people in the region of Edom rebelled against the king of Judah and appointed their own king.
-\v 9 So Jehoram and his officers and his men in chariots went to Edom. There, the army of Edom surrounded them. However, Jerhoram and his army attacked them and broke free from them; then they escaped during the night.
+\v 9 So Jehoram and his officers and his men in chariots went to Edom. There, the army of Edom surrounded them. However, Jehoram and his army attacked them and broke free from them, then they escaped during the night.
 \v 10 But the king of Judah was never able to regain control of Edom, and Edom is still not controlled by Judah. The people in the city of Libnah between Judah and Philistia also rebelled against Judah. Those things happened because Jehoram stopped obeying Yahweh, the God whom his ancestors belonged to.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 11 On the hilltops in Judah he had also built high places, where they worshiped idols. He caused the people of Judah to stray away from Yahweh by worshiping foreign gods.
+\v 11 On the hilltops in Judah, he had also built high places where they worshiped idols. He caused the people of Judah to stray away from Yahweh by worshiping foreign gods.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 12 One day, Jehoram received a letter from the prophet Elijah. Elijah had written this:
-\li "This is what Yahweh, the God whom your ancestor King David worshiped, says: 'You have not done things that please me like your father Jehoshaphat did or what King Asa did.
+\li "This is what Yahweh, the God whom your ancestor King David worshiped, says: 'You have not done things that please me as your father Jehoshaphat did or as King Asa did.
 \v 13 Instead, you have continually done the evil things that the kings of Israel have done. You have encouraged the people in Jerusalem and other places in Judah to stop worshiping Yahweh and to be unfaithful to him. And you have killed your brothers, men who were better than you are.'
 \li
-\v 14 So now Yahweh is about to cause disasters to strike very severely the people in your kingdom and even your own children and your wives, and everything that you own.
+\v 14 So now Yahweh is about to cause disasters to very severely strike the people in your kingdom and even your own children, your wives, and everything that you own.
 \v 15 And you yourself will have an intestinal disease that will continue to become worse, and you will suffer from it until you die."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 16 Then Yahweh stirred up some men from the Philistia people and some Arabs who lived near the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, where people from Ethiopia had settled, to come against Jehoram.
+\v 16 Then Yahweh stirred up some men from the Philistine people and some Arabs who lived near the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, where people from Ethiopia had settled, to come against Jehoram.
 \v 17 Their army invaded Judah and took away from Jerusalem all the valuable things that they found in the king's palace; they also took away his sons and wives. His youngest son, Jehoahaz, was the only one of his sons whom they did not take away.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 18 After that happened, Yahweh caused Jehoram to be afflicted with an intestinal disease that no doctor could cure.
-\v 19 About two years later, while he had great pain, he died because of that disease. The people of Judah had made bonfires to honor his ancestors when they died, but they did not make a bonfire for Jehoram.
+\v 19 About two years later, while he was in great pain, he died because of that disease. The people of Judah had made bonfires to honor his ancestors when they died, but they did not make a bonfire for Jehoram.
 \p
 \v 20 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became the king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for eight years. No one regretted it when he died. His corpse was buried in the part of Jerusalem called the city of David, but he was not buried where the other kings of Judah had been buried.
 
 \s5
 \c 22
 \p
-\v 1 The people of Jerusalem appointed Jehoram's youngest son Ahaziah to be their king, because the men from Philistia who had invaded Judah with some Arabs had killed all of Jehoram's other sons. So Ahaziah started to rule Judah.
+\v 1 The people of Jerusalem appointed Jehoram's youngest son Ahaziah to be their king because the men from Philistia who had invaded Judah with some Arabs had killed all of Jehoram's other sons. So Ahaziah started to rule Judah.
 \p
 \v 2 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for one year. His mother's name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of King Omri of Israel.
 \p
-\v 3 King Ahab conducted his life just like the members of Ahab's family had done, because his mother encouraged him to do things that are wrong.
+\v 3 King Ahab conducted his life just as the members of Ahab's family had done because his mother encouraged him to do things that were wrong.
 
 \s5
-\v 4 He did many things that Yahweh said were evil, like the descendants of Ahab had done, because after Ahaziah's father died, they became his advisors. And Ahaziah died as a result of heeding their bad advice.
-\v 5 Before he died, he did what they encourage him to do by going with Joram son of King Ahab of Israel, to fight against the army of Hazael, the king of Aram, at Ramoth Gilead. Joram was wounded there by the Arameans.
+\v 4 He did many things that Yahweh said were evil, as the descendants of Ahab had done, because after Ahaziah's father died they became his advisors. And Ahaziah died as a result of heeding their bad advice.
+\v 5 Before he died, he did what they encourage him to do by going with Joram son of King Ahab of Israel to fight against the army of Hazael, the king of Aram, at Ramoth Gilead. Joram was wounded there by the Arameans.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 6 After he was wounded, Joram went back to the city of Jezreel to recover from his battle wounds. Then King Ahaziah went down to Jezreel to see Joram son of King Ahab, because he had been wounded.
+\v 6 After he was wounded, Joram went back to the city of Jezreel to recover from his battle wounds. Then King Ahaziah went down to Jezreel to see Joram son of King Ahab because he had been wounded.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1135,7 +1135,7 @@
 \v 8 While Jehu and the men who were with him were killing Ahab's descendants, they found the leaders of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's relatives who had been working for Ahaziah, and they killed all of them also.
 
 \s5
-\v 9 Then Jehu went to find Ahaziah, and his soldiers found Ahaziah while he was hiding in the city of Samaria. They brought him to Jehu and executed him. Then they buried his corpse, because they said, "He deserves to be buried, because he was a descendant of Jehoshaphat, who tried hard to please Yahweh." After that, there were no descendants of Ahaziah who were powerful enough to become the kings of Judah.
+\v 9 Then Jehu went to find Ahaziah, and his soldiers found Ahaziah while he was hiding in the city of Samaria. They brought him to Jehu and executed him. Then they buried his corpse because they said, "He deserves to be buried because he was a descendant of Jehoshaphat, who tried hard to please Yahweh." After that, there were no descendants of Ahaziah who were powerful enough to become the kings of Judah.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1146,9 +1146,9 @@
 \s5
 \c 23
 \p
-\v 1 The next year, Jehoiada decided that it was necessary to do something. So he made an agreement with the army commanders of groups of one hundred soldiers: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri.
+\v 1 The next year, Jehoiada decided that it was necessary to do something. So he made an agreement with the army commanders of groups of one hundred soldiers: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri.
 \v 2 They went throughout Judah and gathered the descendants of Levi and the leaders of Israelite families from all the cities. When they came to Jerusalem,
-\v 3 the whole group went to the temple and made an agreement with the young king there. Jehoiada said to them, "This is the son of the previous king of Judah. So he is the one who must rule, like Yahweh promised that the descendants of King David must do.
+\v 3 the whole group went to the temple and made an agreement with the young king there. Jehoiada said to them, "This is the son of the previous king of Judah. So he is the one who must rule, as Yahweh promised that the descendants of King David must do.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1157,11 +1157,11 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 6 Only the priests and the descendants of Levi who work there are allowed to enter the temple, because they are set apart for that work. All the others must remain in the courtyard, obeying what Yahweh has commanded.
-\v 7 You descendants of Levi must stand around the young king, each of you with your weapon in your hand. You must kill anyone else who tries to enter the temple. And stay close to the king, wherever he goes."
+\v 7 You descendants of Levi must stand around the young king, each of you with your weapon in your hand. You must kill anyone else who tries to enter the temple. And stay close to the king wherever he goes."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 8 So the descendants of Levi and all the men of Judah did what Jehoiada had told them. He did not allow anyone to go home after he finished his work on that day. Each commander took his men, the ones who were finishing their work on that Sabbath day and those who were starting their work on that day.
+\v 8 So the descendants of Levi and all the men of Judah did what Jehoiada had told them. He did not allow anyone to go home after finishing work on that day. Each commander took his men, the ones who were finishing their work on that Sabbath day and those who were starting their work on that day.
 \v 9 Then Jehoiada gave each of the commanders the spears and the large and small shields that had been put there in the temple by King David.
 
 \s5
@@ -1185,13 +1185,13 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 18 Then Jehoiada appointed the priests, who were also descended from Levi, to take care of the temple. They were part of the group to whom King David had given various work at the temple, to sacrifice the animals that were to be completely burned on the altar, doing what was written in the laws that Moses had given to them. He also told them to rejoice and sing, which was also what David had commanded.
-\v 19 He also put gatekeepers at the gates of the temple in order that anyone who was unacceptable to God would not be allowed to enter.
+\v 18 Then Jehoiada appointed the priests, who were also descended from Levi, to take care of the temple. They were part of the group to whom King David had given various kinds of work at the temple, to sacrifice the animals that were to be completely burned on the altar, doing what was written in the laws that Moses had given to them. He also told them to rejoice and sing, which was also what David had commanded.
+\v 19 He also put gatekeepers at the gates of the temple so that anyone who was unacceptable to God would not be allowed to enter.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 20 Jehoiada took with him the army commanders, the important men, the leaders and many others, and brought the king down from the temple. They went into the palace through the Upper Gate, and put the king on his throne.
-\v 21 Then all the people of Judah rejoiced. And there was quiet throughout the city, because Athaliah had been killed.
+\v 20 Jehoiada took with him the army commanders, the important men, the leaders, and many others and brought the king down from the temple. They went into the palace through the Upper Gate and put the king on his throne.
+\v 21 Then all the people of Judah rejoiced. And there was quiet throughout the city because Athaliah had been killed.
 
 \s5
 \c 24
@@ -1209,22 +1209,22 @@
 \p
 \v 6 So the king summoned Jehoiada and said to him, "Why have you not required the descendants of Levi to bring to Jerusalem from various places in Judah the annual tax that Moses said that the people of Judah must pay, for taking care of the sacred tent?"
 \p
-\v 7 The temple needed to be repaired because the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had entered into the temple and had wrecked some of the things, and had also used some of the sacred items that were in it for the worship of Baal.
+\v 7 The temple needed to be repaired because the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had entered into the temple and had wrecked some of the things there and had also used some of the sacred items that were in it for the worship of Baal.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 8 So, obeying what the king commanded, the descendants of Levi made a chest and placed it outside the temple, at one of the entrances.
+\v 8 So, obeying what the king commanded, the descendants of Levi made a chest and placed it outside the temple at one of the entrances.
 \v 9 Then the king sent letters everywhere in Judah, requesting everyone to bring their tax money to the temple, as Moses had required the Israelite people to do when they were in the wilderness.
 \v 10 All the officials and the other people agreed, and they brought their contributions gladly. They put the money into the chest until it was full.
 
 \s5
-\v 11 Whenever the descendants of Levi brought the chest to the king's officials, and they saw that there was a lot of money in it, the king's secretary and the assistant to the high priest would take all the money from the chest and then put the chest back in its place. They did this frequently, and they collected a huge amount of money.
+\v 11 Whenever the descendants of Levi brought the chest to the king's officials and they saw that there was much money in it, the king's secretary and the assistant to the high priest would take all the money from the chest and then put the chest back in its place. They did this frequently, and they collected a huge amount of money.
 \v 12 The king and Jehoiada gave the money to the men who were supervising the work of repairing the temple. Those men hired stoneworkers and carpenters to repair the temple. They also hired men who worked with iron and bronze to repair the things in the temple that were broken.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 13 The men who did the repair work worked hard, and the work of repairing the temple progressed. They rebuilt the temple to make it as it was originally, and they made it stronger.
-\v 14 When they had finished the repair work, they brought to the king and to Jehoiada the money that they had not used for the repairs. That money was used to make things to use for performing the sacrifices that were to be completely burned on the altar, and to make bowls and other gold and silver things for the temple. As long as Joash lived, the people continually brought to the temple sacrifices that were to be completely burned on the altar.
+\v 14 When they had finished the repair work, they brought to the king and to Jehoiada the money that they had not used for the repairs. That money was used to make things to use for performing the sacrifices that were to be completely burned on the altar and to make bowls and other gold and silver things for the temple. As long as Joash lived, the people continually brought to the temple sacrifices that were to be completely burned on the altar.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1239,20 +1239,20 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 20 Then God's Spirit came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the high priest. He stood up front of the people and said, "This is what God says: Why are you violating Yahweh's commandments? You will not be able prosper if you do that. Since you have stopped obeying Yahweh, he will stop taking care of you."
+\v 20 Then God's Spirit came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the high priest. He stood before the people and said, "This is what God says: Why are you violating Yahweh's commandments? You will not be able prosper if you do that. Since you have stopped obeying Yahweh, he will stop taking care of you."
 \p
 \v 21 But the people planned to kill Zechariah. And the king permitted them to kill him. They killed him by throwing stones at him in the temple courtyard.
 \v 22 King Joash forgot about how Zechariah's father Jehoiada had been kind to him. So he commanded them to kill Jehoiada's son Zechariah, who said as he was dying, "I hope that Yahweh will see what you are doing to me and punish you for doing it."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 23 Near the end of that year , the army of Aram marched to attack the army of Joash. They invaded Judah and attacked Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the people. They seized many valuable things and sent them to their king in Damascus, their capital city.
-\v 24 The army of Aram that came to Judah was very small, but Yahweh allowed them to defeat the large army of Judah, because he was punishing Joash and the other people of Judah for having abandoned him, the God whom their ancestors worshiped.
+\v 23 Near the end of that year, the army of Aram marched to attack the army of Joash. They invaded Judah and attacked Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the people. They seized many valuable things and sent them to their king in Damascus, their capital city.
+\v 24 The army of Aram that came to Judah was very small, but Yahweh allowed them to defeat the large army of Judah because he was punishing Joash and the other people of Judah for having abandoned him, the God whom their ancestors worshiped.
 
 \s5
 \v 25 Before the battle ended, Joash was severely wounded. Then his officials decided to kill him for murdering Zechariah son of Jehoiada the high priest. They killed him while he was in his bed. They buried him in the part of Jerusalem called the city of David, but they did not bury him in the place where the other kings had been buried.
 \p
-\v 26 Those who conspired to kill him were Zabad son of Shimeath, who was a woman from the Ammon people, and Jehozabad son of Shimrith, who was a woman from the Moab people.
+\v 26 Those who conspired to kill him were Zabad son of Shimeath, who was a woman from the Ammonite people, and Jehozabad son of Shimrith, who was a woman from the Moabite people.
 
 \s5
 \v 27 An account of the things that were done by the sons of Joash and the many prophecies about Joash and what he did to repair the temple are written in the commentary on the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. Then after Joash died, Amaziah his son became the king.
@@ -1269,8 +1269,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 5 Amaziah summoned the men of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to come to Jerusalem, and there he put them into groups, each clan in a group by themselves. Then he appointed officers to command each group. Some officers commanded one hundred men, and some commanded one thousand men. They counted the men who were at least twenty years old; altogether there were 300,000 men. They were all men who were ready to be in the army, and able to fight well, using spears and shields.
-\v 6 Amaziah also hired 100,000 capable soldiers from Israel; he paid paid almost 3,300 kilograms (or about three and one-third metric tons) of silver for them.
+\v 5 Amaziah summoned the men of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to come to Jerusalem, and there he put them into groups, each clan in a group by themselves. Then he appointed officers to command each group. Some officers commanded one hundred men and some commanded one thousand men. They counted the men who were at least twenty years old; altogether there were 300,000 men. They were all men who were ready to be in the army and able to fight well using spears and shields.
+\v 6 Amaziah also hired 100,000 capable soldiers from Israel; he paid almost 3,300 kilograms of silver for them.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1286,7 +1286,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 11 Then Amaziah became brave, and he led his army to the Valley of Salt. There they killed ten thousand soldiers from the Edom people.
+\v 11 Then Amaziah became brave, and he led his army to the Valley of Salt. There they killed ten thousand soldiers from the Edomite people.
 \v 12 The army of Judah also captured ten thousand other soldiers, took them to the top of a cliff, and threw them all down over the cliff, with the result that their bodies were all smashed to pieces.
 
 \s5
@@ -1301,20 +1301,20 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 16 While he was still speaking, the king said to him, "We certainly did not appoint you to be one of my advisors. So stop talking! If you say anything more, I will tell my soldiers to kill you!"
-\p So the prophet said, "I know that God has determined to get rid of you, because you have begun to worship idols, and have not heeded my advice." Then the prophet said nothing more.
+\p So the prophet said, "I know that God has determined to get rid of you because you have begun to worship idols and have not heeded my advice." Then the prophet said nothing more.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 17 Some time later Amaziah, the king of Judah, consulted his advisors. Then he sent a message to Jehoash, the king of Israel. He wrote, "Come and meet me face to face in battle."
+\v 17 Some time later, Amaziah king of Judah consulted his advisors. Then he sent a message to Jehoash, the king of Israel. He wrote, "Come and meet me face to face in battle."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 18 But Jehoash replied this to King Amaziah: "One time a thistle growing in the mountains in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar tree, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son in order that he can marry her.' But a wild animal in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle under his feet.
+\v 18 But Jehoash replied this to King Amaziah: "One time a thistle growing in the mountains in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar tree, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son so that he can marry her.' But a wild animal in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle under his feet.
 \v 19 What I mean is that you are saying to yourself that your army has defeated the army of Edom, so you have become very proud. You can be proud of your victory, but you should not fight me. If you do, you will only make trouble for yourself. I will defeat you, and Judah with you."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 20 But Amaziah paid no attention to Jehoash's message. This happened because God wanted Jehoash's army to defeat them, because they were worshiping the gods of Edom.
+\v 20 But Amaziah paid no attention to Jehoash's message. This happened because God wanted Jehoash's army to defeat them because they were worshiping the gods of Edom.
 \v 21 So Jehoash's army attacked. Their two armies faced each other at the city of Beth Shemesh in Judah.
 \v 22 The army of Judah was badly defeated by the army of Israel, and all the soldiers of Judah fled to their homes.
 
@@ -1334,46 +1334,46 @@
 \s5
 \c 26
 \p
-\v 1 All the people took Uzziah and made him their king, in the place of his father Amaziah. Uzziah was sixteen years old at that time.
+\v 1 All the people took Uzziah and made him their king in the place of his father Amaziah. Uzziah was sixteen years old at that time.
 \v 2 While he was the king, after his father King Amaziah had died, he had his workers rebuild the city of Elath and brought that city under the protection of Judah.
 \p
-\v 3 Uzziah ruled in Jerusalem for fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem.
+\v 3 Uzziah ruled in Jerusalem for fifty-two years. His mother was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
-\v 4 Uzziah did the things that Yahweh said were good, like his father Amaziah had done.
+\v 4 Uzziah did the things that Yahweh said were good, as his father Amaziah had done.
 \v 5 He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah. Zechariah is the one who taught him to give honor to God. For as long as he sought Yahweh, God made him successful.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 6 Uzziah and his army went to attack the army of Philistia. They tore down the walls of the cities of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then they rebuilt the cities near Ashdod and in other places in Philistia.
 \v 7 God helped them to fight the army of Philistia and the Arabs who lived in the city of Gur Baal, and the descendants of Meun who had come to that area from Edom.
-\v 8 Even the Ammon people paid taxes to Uzziah each year. So Uzziah became famous as far as the border of Egypt, because he had become very powerful.
+\v 8 Even the Ammon people paid taxes to Uzziah each year. So Uzziah became famous as far as the border of Egypt because he had become very powerful.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 9 Uzziah's workers built watchtowers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the place where the wall turns, and they placed weapons in those towers.
-\v 10 They also built watchtowers in the wilderness and dug many wells. They did that to provide water for a lot of the king's cattle that were in the foothills and in the plains. Uzziah was very interested in farming, so he also stationed workers to take care of his fields, vineyards in the hills, and in the fertile areas.
+\v 10 They also built watchtowers in the wilderness and dug many wells. They did that to provide water for much of the king's cattle that were in the foothills and in the plains. Uzziah was very interested in farming, so he also stationed workers to take care of his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile areas.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 11 Uzziah's army was trained for fighting battles. They were in groups that were always ready to go into battles. Jeiel, the king's secretary, and Maaseiah, one of the army officers, counted the men and placed them in groups. Hananiah, one of the king's officials, was their commander.
-\v 12 The total number of the family leaders who led the strongest soldiers in battle was 2,600 in number.
-\v 13 In the groups that those leaders commanded there was a total of 307,500 well-trained soldiers. It was a very powerful army, ready to fight the king's enemies.
+\v 12 The total number of the family leaders who led the strongest soldiers in battle was 2,600.
+\v 13 In the groups that those leaders commanded, there was a total of 307,500 well-trained soldiers. It was a very powerful army, ready to fight the king's enemies.
 
 \s5
 \v 14 Uzziah gave to each soldier a shield, a spear, a helmet, a vest made of iron plates, a bow and arrows, and a sling for throwing stones.
-\v 15 In Jerusalem his skilled workers made machines to put on the watchtowers and on the corners of the walls, to shoot arrows and to hurl large stones. He became very famous even in distant places, because God helped him very much and enabled him to become very powerful.
+\v 15 In Jerusalem his skilled workers made machines to put on the watchtowers and on the corners of the walls to shoot arrows and to hurl large stones. He became very famous even in distant places because God helped him very much and enabled him to become very powerful.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 16 But because Uzziah was very powerful, he became very proud, and that caused him to be punished. He disobeyed what Yahweh his God had commanded. He went into the temple to burn incense on the altar where God had said that only the priests should burn incense.
-\v 17 Azariah, the high priest, and eighty other brave priests followed him into the temple.
-\v 18 They rebuked him and said to him, "Uzziah, it is not right for you to burn incense to Yahweh because you are not set apart to serve as a priest, and only a priest can burn incense to Yahweh. The priests are the descendants of Aaron our first high priest, and you are not one of them! You must leave immediately, because you have disobeyed Yahweh our God, and he will not honor you for what you have done!"
+\v 17 Azariah the high priest and eighty other brave priests followed him into the temple.
+\v 18 They rebuked him and said to him, "Uzziah, it is not right for you to burn incense to Yahweh because you are not set apart to serve as a priest, and only a priest can burn incense to Yahweh. The priests are the descendants of Aaron our first high priest, and you are not one of them! You must leave immediately because you have disobeyed Yahweh our God, and he will not honor you for what you have done!"
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 19 Now Uzziah was holding in his hand a pan for burning incense, and he became very angry with the priests. While he was expressing his anger, while he stood beside the altar of incense in front of the priests, suddenly spots of leprosy appeared on his forehead.
-\v 20 When Azariah the high priest and all the other priests who were there looked at him, they saw the leprosy on his forehead, so they quickly took him outside. And truly the king was eager to leave the temple, because he knew that it was Yahweh who had caused him to have that leprosy, and he did not want it to become worse.
+\v 20 When Azariah the high priest and all the other priests who were there looked at him, they saw the leprosy on his forehead, so they quickly took him outside. And truly the king was eager to leave the temple because he knew that it was Yahweh who had caused him to have that leprosy, and he did not want it to become worse.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1392,12 +1392,12 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 3 Jotham's workers rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple, and they did a lot of work to repair the wall near the hill of Ophel.
+\v 3 Jotham's workers rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple, and they did much work to repair the wall near the hill of Ophel.
 \v 4 They built cities in the hills of Judah, and they built forts and towers for defense in the forests.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 5 During the time that he was the king of Judah, his army attacked and defeated the army of the Ammon people. Then, every year during the next three years, he required them to pay to him about 3,300 kilograms of silver, 2,200 kiloliters of wheat, and 2,200 kiloliters of barley.
+\v 5 During the time that he was the king of Judah, his army attacked and defeated the army of the Ammonite people. Then, every year during the next three years, he required them to pay to him about 3,300 kilograms of silver, 2,200 kiloliters of wheat, and 2,200 kiloliters of barley.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1416,7 +1416,7 @@
 \v 2 and was as sinful as the kings of Israel had been. He made idols of the god Baal by having craftsmen cast them in metal.
 
 \s5
-\v 3 He burned incense in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. He even killed some of his own sons in fires as sacrifices. That imitated the disgusting customs that the peoples who previously lived there had done, people whom Yahweh had drive out when the Israelites were advancing through the land.
+\v 3 He burned incense in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. He even killed some of his own sons in fires as sacrifices. That imitated the disgusting customs that the peoples who previously lived there had done, people whom Yahweh had driven out when the Israelites were advancing through the land.
 \v 4 He offered sacrifices to idols at the houses built upon hilltops and under every big green tree.
 
 \s5
@@ -1425,40 +1425,40 @@
 \v 6 In one day the army of Remaliah's son, King Pekah of Israel, killed 120,000 fine soldiers in Judah. That happened because the people of Judah had abandoned Yahweh, the God whom their ancestors worshiped.
 
 \s5
-\v 7 Zicri, a warrior from the tribe of Ephraim, killed King Ahaz's son Maaseiah, Azrikam, who was in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, the king's assistant.
+\v 7 Zikri, a warrior from the tribe of Ephraim, killed King Ahaz's son Maaseiah; Azrikam, who was in charge of the palace; and Elkanah, the king's assistant.
 \v 8 The soldiers of Israel captured 200,000 of the people of Judah, including many wives and sons and daughters of the soldiers of Judah. They also seized and took back to Samaria many valuable things.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 9 But a prophet of Yahweh, whose name was Oded, was in Samaria. He went out of the city to meet the army as it was returning. He said to them, "Yahweh, the God to whom your ancestors belonged, was angry with the people of Judah, so he has handed them over to you, and you have slaughtered so many in a towering rage.
-\v 10 And now you want to sin by causing men and women from Judah to become your slaves, but you have certainly offended Yahweh, our God, in this matter.
+\v 10 And now you want to sin by causing men and women from Judah to become your slaves, but you have certainly offended Yahweh our God in this matter.
 \v 11 So listen to me! Send back to Judah your fellow countrymen whom you have captured, because Yahweh is extremely angry with you for what you did to them."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 12 Then some of the leaders of the tribe of Ephraim—Azariah son of Johanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—rebuked those who were returning from the battle.
+\v 12 Then some of the leaders of the tribe of Ephraim—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—rebuked those who were returning from the battle.
 \v 13 They said to them, "You must not bring those prisoners here! If you do that, Yahweh will consider that we are guilty of sinning. We are already guilty of committing many sins; do you want to cause us to be even more guilty by committing another sin? God is already very angry with us people of Israel!"
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 14 So, while their leaders and others were watching, the soldiers released the prisoners, and also gave back to them the valuable things that they had captured.
-\v 15 The leaders assigned some men to take care of the prisoners. These men took some of the clothes that the soldiers had taken from the people of Judah and gave those clothes to the people who were naked. They also gave to the prisoners sandals and other clothes, as well as things to eat and drink, and they gave them olive oil to rub on their wounds. They gave donkeys to those who were very weak, in order that they could ride on them. Then they led them all to Jericho, the city that had many palm trees. Finally those men returned to Samaria.
+\v 14 So, while their leaders and others were watching, the soldiers released the prisoners and also gave back to them the valuable things that they had captured.
+\v 15 The leaders assigned some men to take care of the prisoners. These men took some of the clothes that the soldiers had taken from the people of Judah and gave those clothes to the people who were naked. They also gave to the prisoners sandals and other clothes, as well as things to eat and drink, and they gave them olive oil to rub on their wounds. They gave donkeys to those who were very weak so that they could ride on them. Then they led them all to Jericho, the city that had many palm trees. Finally, those men returned to Samaria.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 16 About that time, King Ahaz sent a message to the king of Assyria requesting help.
-\v 17 He did that because the army from the Edom people had come again and attacked Judah and taken away many of the people of Judah as prisoners.
-\v 18 At the same time, men from Philistia raided towns in the foothills and in the southern Judean wilderness. They captured the cities of Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as those of Soko, Timnah, and Gimzo with its nearby villages.
+\v 17 He did that because the army from the Edomite people had come again and attacked Judah and taken away many of the people of Judah as prisoners.
+\v 18 At the same time, men from Philistia raided towns in the foothills and in the southern Judean wilderness. They captured the cities of Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as those of Soko, Timnah, and Gimzo with their nearby villages.
 
 \s5
-\v 19 Yahweh allowed those things to happen in order to humble King Ahaz, because he had encouraged the people of Judah to do wicked things and had disobeyed Yahweh very much.
+\v 19 Yahweh allowed those things to happen in order to humble King Ahaz because he had encouraged the people of Judah to do wicked things and had disobeyed Yahweh very much.
 \v 20 Tiglath-Pileser, the king of Assyria, sent his army saying that they would help Ahaz, but instead of helping him, they caused him trouble.
-\v 21 Ahaz's soldiers took some of the valuable things from the temple and from the king's palace and from other leaders of Judah, and sent them to the king of Assyria to pay him to help them, but the king of Assyria refused to help Ahaz.
+\v 21 Ahaz's soldiers took some of the valuable things from the temple and from the king's palace and from other leaders of Judah and sent them to the king of Assyria to pay him to help them, but the king of Assyria refused to help Ahaz.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 22 While King Ahaz was experiencing those troubles, he disobeyed Yahweh even more.
-\v 23 He offered sacrifices to the gods that were worshiped in Damascus, whose army had defeated his army. He thought, "The gods that are worshiped by the kings of Aram have helped them, so I will offer sacrifices to those gods in order that they will help me." But worshiping those gods caused Ahaz and all of Israel to be ruined.
+\v 23 He offered sacrifices to the gods that were worshiped in Damascus, whose army had defeated his army. He thought, "The gods that are worshiped by the kings of Aram have helped them, so I will offer sacrifices to those gods so that they will help me." But worshiping those gods caused Ahaz and all of Israel to be ruined.
 
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 \p
@@ -1467,7 +1467,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 26 A record of the other things that Ahaz did while he was the king, from when he started to rule until he died, is written in the book of the kings ofJudah and Israel.
+\v 26 A record of the other things that Ahaz did while he was the king, from when he started to rule until he died, is written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
 \v 27 Ahaz died and was buried in Jerusalem, but he was not buried in the tombs where the other kings of Israel had been buried. Then his son Hezekiah became the king.
 
 \s5
@@ -1491,15 +1491,15 @@
 \v 9 That is why our fathers have been killed in battles, and our sons and daughters and our wives have been captured and taken to other countries.
 
 \s5
-\v 10 But now I intend to make a covenant with Yahweh, our God, in order that he will no longer be angry with us.
+\v 10 But now I intend to make a covenant with Yahweh our God so that he will no longer be angry with us.
 \v 11 You who are like my sons, do not waste any time. Do immediately what Yahweh wants you to do. Yahweh has chosen you to stand in his presence and offer sacrifices and burn incense."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 12 Then these descendants of Levi started to work in the temple.
-\q From the descendants of Kohath there were Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah.
-\q From the descendants of Merari there were Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel.
-\q From the descendants of Gershon there were Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah.
+\q From the descendants of Kohath there were Mahath the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah.
+\q From the descendants of Merari there were Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel.
+\q From the descendants of Gershon there were Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah.
 \q
 \v 13 From the descendants of Elizaphan there were Shimri and Jeiel.
 \q From the descendants of Asaph there were Zechariah and Mattaniah.
@@ -1509,29 +1509,29 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 15 Those men gathered their fellow descendants of Levi and together they prepared themselves for the work of the priesthood. They took all the steps to prepare themselves so they could serve the king in Yahweh's house, because the king was following Yahweh's commands. And the Levites entered the temple to clean it up.
+\v 15 Those men gathered their fellow descendants of Levi and together they prepared themselves for the work of the priesthood. They took all the steps to prepare themselves so they could serve the king in Yahweh's house because the king was following Yahweh's commands. And the Levites entered the temple to clean it up.
 \v 16 The worked within the temple to purify it. They brought out into the courtyard of the temple everything that they had found in the temple that was not pleasing to Yahweh. Then the descendants of Levi took those things down to the Kidron Valley and burned them there.
-\v 17 The priests and other descendants of Levi started this work on the first day of the first month and finished setting apart for the honor of Yahweh, the courtyard of the temple on the eighth day of that month, and they finished the work of setting the temple apart for the honor of Yahweh, one week later.
+\v 17 The priests and other descendants of Levi started this work on the first day of the first month and finished setting apart for the honor of Yahweh the courtyard of the temple on the eighth day of that month, and they finished the work of setting the temple apart for the honor of Yahweh one week later.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 18 Then they went to King Hezekiah and reported this: "We have purified all parts of the temple, and the altar where sacrifices are completely burned, and all the items used at the altar, the table on which the priests display the bread before Yahweh, and the things used at that table.
-\v 19 Ahaz ruled over us, he disobeyed what Yahweh had commanded, and he threw away many of the tools and implements from the temple many things that should be there, but now we have brought them back, we dedicated them to Yahweh's service, and then we placed them in front of the altar of Yahweh, where they can be seen."
+\v 18 Then they went to King Hezekiah and reported this: "We have purified all parts of the temple, the altar where sacrifices are completely burned, all the items used at the altar, the table on which the priests display the bread before Yahweh, and the things used at that table.
+\v 19 Ahaz ruled over us, he disobeyed what Yahweh had commanded, and he threw away many of the tools and implements from the temple that should be there, but now we have brought them back, dedicated them to Yahweh's service, and placed them in front of the altar of Yahweh where they can be seen."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 20 Early the next morning, King Hezekiah gathered together the city officials, and they went to the courtyard of the temple.
-\v 21 They took with them seven bulls, seven rams, seven male lambs, and seven male goats to be an offering in order that Yahweh would forgive the sins of all the people in the kingdom of Judah, and in order to purify the temple. The king commanded that the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, should offer those animals to be sacrifices to Yahweh on the altar.
+\v 21 They took with them seven bulls, seven rams, seven male lambs, and seven male goats to be an offering so that Yahweh would forgive the sins of all the people in the kingdom of Judah and in order to purify the temple. The king commanded that the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, should offer those animals to be sacrifices to Yahweh on the altar.
 
 \s5
-\v 22 So first the priests slaughtered those bulls, and took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar. Then they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled their blood on the altar.
-\v 23 The goats that were slaughtered to be an offering in order that Yahweh would forgive the sins of the people were brought to the king and the others who were there. Then the king and those who were present laid their hands on those goats.
-\v 24 Then the priests slaughtered those goats and splashed their blood on the altar, to atone for the sins of Israel. The priests did that because the king had commanded that offerings that would be completely burned on the altar and other sacrifices should be made for all the people of Israel.
+\v 22 So first the priests slaughtered those bulls and took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar. Then they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled their blood on the altar.
+\v 23 The goats that were slaughtered to be an offering so that Yahweh would forgive the sins of the people were brought to the king and the others who were there. Then the king and those who were present laid their hands on those goats.
+\v 24 Then the priests slaughtered those goats and splashed their blood on the altar to atone for the sins of Israel. The priests did that because the king had commanded that offerings that would be completely burned on the altar and other sacrifices should be made for all the people of Israel.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 25 The king then told the descendants of Levi to stand in the temple with their cymbals, harps, and lyres, obeying what David and his prophets Gad and Nathan had commanded. Those were things that Yahweh had told his prophets that the descendants of Levi should do.
-\v 26 So the descendants of Levi went and stood in the temple, and began to play the musical instruments that King David had given to them. And the priests began to blow their trumpets.
+\v 26 So the descendants of Levi went and stood in the temple and began to play the musical instruments that King David had given to them. And the priests began to blow their trumpets.
 
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 \p
@@ -1541,7 +1541,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 29 When they finished making those offerings, the king and all those who were there knelt down and worshiped Yahweh.
-\v 30 Then King Hezekiah and his officials commanded the descendants of Levi to praise Yahweh, singing the songs composed by David and Asaph the prophet. So they sang songs joyfully, and bowed their heads to worship.
+\v 30 Then King Hezekiah and his officials commanded the descendants of Levi to praise Yahweh, singing the songs composed by David and Asaph the prophet. So they sang songs joyfully and bowed their heads to worship.
 
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 \p
@@ -1554,13 +1554,13 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 \v 33 The other animals that they brought were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep and goats that were set apart for the honor of Yahweh, to be sacrifices.
 
 \s5
-\v 34 There were not enough priests to remove the skins from the animals that would be completely burned on the altar. So the descendants of Levi stepped in to helped the priests until the work was finished. The Levites were more hard-working and dedicated that the priests were.
+\v 34 There were not enough priests to remove the skins from the animals that would be completely burned on the altar. So the descendants of Levi stepped in to help the priests until the work was finished. The Levites were more hard-working and dedicated than the priests were.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 35 In addition to the all the offerings that were completely burned on the altar, the priests burned the fat of the accompanying animals that were sacrificed to maintain good fellowship with Yahweh; there were also offerings of wine.
 \p In this way the worship at the temple began again.
-\v 36 And Hezekiah and all the other people of Judah celebrated, because God had enabled them to do all the repair work very quickly.
+\v 36 And Hezekiah and all the other people of Judah celebrated because God had enabled them to do all the repair work very quickly.
 
 \s5
 \c 30
@@ -1574,12 +1574,12 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 \s5
 \p
 \v 6 Obeying what the king commanded, messengers went throughout Judah and Israel, taking messages that had been written by the king and his officials. This is what they wrote:
-\li "You Israelite people, you who survived after being slaves of the kings of Assyria, return to Yahweh, the God whom our great ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob worshiped, in order that he may return to you. Your fathers and your fellow countrymen did not faithfully obey Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors worshiped.
+\li "You Israelite people, you who survived after being slaves of the kings of Assyria, return to Yahweh, the God whom our great ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob worshiped so that he may return to you. Your fathers and your fellow countrymen did not faithfully obey Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors worshiped.
 
 \s5
 \v 7 Do not act like they did, because what they did caused Yahweh to punish them so severely that other people were horrified when they heard of what he had done.
-\v 8 Do not be stubborn as our ancestors were. Do what Yahweh desires. Come to Jerusalem to the temple, which he has set apart for his honor forever. Do what pleases Yahweh our God, in order that he will no longer be angry with you.
-\v 9 If you return to Yahweh, the people who have captured our brothers and sisters and our children will act kindly toward them, and allow them to return to this land. Do not forget that Yahweh our God is kind and merciful. If you return to him, he will no longer reject you."
+\v 8 Do not be stubborn as our ancestors were. Do what Yahweh desires. Come to Jerusalem to the temple, which he has set apart for his honor forever. Do what pleases Yahweh our God so that he will no longer be angry with you.
+\v 9 If you return to Yahweh, the people who have captured our brothers and sisters and our children will act kindly toward them and allow them to return to this land. Do not forget that Yahweh our God is kind and merciful. If you return to him, he will no longer reject you."
 
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 \p
@@ -1589,10 +1589,10 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 
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 \p
-\v 13 So a huge crowd of people gathered in Jerusalem in the second month of the year, to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
+\v 13 So a huge crowd of people gathered in Jerusalem in the second month of the year to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
 \v 14 They removed the altars of Baal in Jerusalem and took away the altars for burning incense to honor other gods; they burned them all in the Kidron Valley.
 \p
-\v 15 They slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of that month. The priests and the other descendants of Levi who had not performed the rituals to purify themselves, they were ashamed; and they set about to make themselves qualified for the service to Yahweh, and they brought to the temple animals to be completely burned on the altar in the house of Yahweh.
+\v 15 They slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of that month. The priests and the other descendants of Levi who had not performed the rituals to purify themselves were ashamed; they set about to make themselves qualified for the service to Yahweh, and they brought to the temple animals to be completely burned on the altar in the house of Yahweh.
 
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 \p
@@ -1600,42 +1600,42 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 \v 17 Many people in the crowd had not purified themselves, and therefore they were not able to kill the lambs and dedicate them to Yahweh. So it was necessary for the descendants of Levi to kill the lambs for them.
 
 \s5
-\v 18 Although most of the people who had come from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Issachar had not purified themselves, they ate the food of the Passover Festival anyway, ignoring the rules written by Moses. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying "Yahweh, you always do what is good; I pray that you will forgive everyone
+\v 18 Although most of the people who had come from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Issachar had not purified themselves, they ate the food of the Passover Festival anyway, ignoring the rules written by Moses. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "Yahweh, you always do what is good; I pray that you will forgive everyone
 \v 19 who sincerely wants to honor you, the God whom our ancestors worshiped, even if they have not purified themselves by obeying the sacred laws that you gave to us."
-\v 20 And Yahweh heard what Hezekiah prayed; he forgave the people, and did not punish them.
+\v 20 And Yahweh heard what Hezekiah prayed; he forgave the people and did not punish them.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 21 The Israelite people who were there in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. They rejoiced greatly as they celebrated, while the priests and other descendants of Levi sang to Yahweh every day and played musical instruments to praise God.
 \p
-\v 22 Hezekiah thanked all the descendants of Levi for doing this work for Yahweh, and for very skillfully leading the people who were worshiping. For those seven days the people ate the Passover food and brought offerings to maintain fellowship with Yahweh and praised Yahweh, the God whom their ancestors had worshiped.
+\v 22 Hezekiah thanked all the descendants of Levi for doing this work for Yahweh and for very skillfully leading the people who were worshiping. For those seven days the people ate the Passover food and brought offerings to maintain fellowship with Yahweh and praised Yahweh, the God whom their ancestors had worshiped.
 
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 \p
 \v 23 Then the whole group decided to celebrate for seven more days; so they celebrated joyfully for seven more days.
-\v 24 King Hezekiah provided one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep to be slaughtered for the people to eat during the festival, and the officials also gave them one thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep and goats. Many priests set themselves apart for serving Yahweh and to honor him, at this festival.
+\v 24 King Hezekiah provided one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep to be slaughtered for the people to eat during the festival, and the officials also gave them one thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep and goats. Many priests set themselves apart for serving Yahweh and to honor him at this festival.
 
 \s5
-\v 25 All the people of Judah rejoiced, including the priests and other descendants of Levi and all the people from Israel who had come, and including some from other countries who were living in Israel and some from other countries who were living in Judah.
-\v 26 Everyone in Jerusalem was very joyful, because nothing like this had happened in Jerusalem since the time when David's son Solomon was the king of Israel.
-\v 27 The priests and the other descendants of Levi stood up to bless the people, and God heard them, because their prayers reached up to heaven, the holy place where God lives.
+\v 25 All the people of Judah rejoiced, including the priests and other descendants of Levi and all the people from Israel who had come and including some from other countries who were living in Israel and some from other countries who were living in Judah.
+\v 26 Everyone in Jerusalem was very joyful because nothing like this had happened in Jerusalem since the time when David's son Solomon was the king of Israel.
+\v 27 The priests and the other descendants of Levi stood up to bless the people, and God heard them because their prayers reached up to heaven, the holy place where God lives.
 
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 \c 31
 \p
-\v 1 After the festival ended, the Israelites who were there went to all the cities in Judah and smashed the stones for worshiping idols, and cut down the poles for worshiping the goddess Asherah. They destroyed the high places where idols were worshiped, and the altars of Baal throughout the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and also in the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. After destroying all of them, they returned to their own cities and towns.
+\v 1 After the festival ended, the Israelites who were there went to all the cities in Judah and smashed the stones for worshiping idols and cut down the poles for worshiping the goddess Asherah. They destroyed the high places where idols were worshiped and the altars of Baal throughout the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and also in the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. After destroying all of them, they returned to their own cities and towns.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 2 Hezekiah divided the priests and other descendants of Levi into groups. He appointed some of the groups to offer sacrifices that would be completely burned on the altar and offerings to maintain fellowship with Yahweh. He appointed some groups to do other work at the temple: Some to lead the people in their worship, some to thank Yahweh, and some to sing songs to praise Yahweh at the gates of the temple.
-\v 3 The king contributed some of his own funds to buy animals that would be sacrificed in the morning and in the evening of each day, and on the Sabbath days, to celebrate the new moons, and during the other feasts, according to what was written in the laws that Yahweh gave to Moses.
+\v 2 Hezekiah divided the priests and other descendants of Levi into groups. He appointed some of the groups to offer sacrifices that would be completely burned on the altar and offerings to maintain fellowship with Yahweh. He appointed some groups to do other work at the temple: some to lead the people in their worship, some to thank Yahweh, and some to sing songs to praise Yahweh at the gates of the temple.
+\v 3 The king contributed some of his own funds to buy animals that would be sacrificed in the morning and in the evening of each day, on the Sabbath days, to celebrate the new moons, and during the other feasts, according to what was written in the laws that Yahweh gave to Moses.
 
 \s5
-\v 4 Hezekiah told the people living in Jerusalem to give to the priests and the other descendants of Levi the portions of meat that should be given to them, in order that they could devote all their time to obeying the laws of Yahweh.
-\v 5 As soon as he told that to them, they generously gave the first part of their harvest of grain, and the first part of the new wine that they produced, and olive oil and honey, and of the crops that grew in their fields. They brought to the temple a tenth of all their crops.
+\v 4 Hezekiah told the people living in Jerusalem to give to the priests and the other descendants of Levi the portions of meat that should be given to them so that they could devote all their time to obeying the laws of Yahweh.
+\v 5 As soon as he told that to them, they generously gave the first part of their harvest of grain and the first part of the new wine that they produced as well as their olive oil, honey, and the crops that grew in their fields. They brought to the temple a tenth of all of their crops.
 
 \s5
-\v 6 The men of Israel and Judah who were living in various cities in Judah also brought a tenth of their cattle and sheep and goats, and a tenth of other things that they had set them apart for the honor of Yahweh their God, and they piled up all those things in heaps.
+\v 6 The men of Israel and Judah who were living in various cities in Judah also brought a tenth of their cattle and sheep and goats and a tenth of other things that they had set apart for the honor of Yahweh their God, and they piled up all those things in heaps.
 \v 7 They started to do that in the third month and finished doing it in the seventh month.
 \v 8 When Hezekiah and his officials saw the heaps, they praised Yahweh and requested God to bless the people.
 
@@ -1647,20 +1647,20 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 \s5
 \p
 \v 11 Then Hezekiah ordered that they should prepare storerooms at the temple to hold these supplies.
-\v 12 Then they brought into the storerooms all the tithes and offerings and things and the things dedicated to Yahweh which the people had brought. One of the descendants of Levi whose name was Konaniah was in charge of those things, and his younger brother Shimei was his assistant.
+\v 12 Then they brought into the storerooms all the tithes and offerings and the things dedicated to Yahweh that the people had brought. One of the descendants of Levi whose name was Konaniah was in charge of those things, and his younger brother Shimei was his assistant.
 \v 13 Those two men supervised Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath and Benaiah while they did the work. They were appointed by King Hezekiah; Azariah was in charge of everything that was done in the temple.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 14 Kore son of Imnah, another descendant of Levi, who guarded the east gate of the temple, was in charge of the offerings to God that were made voluntarily. He distributed to the priests and other descendants of Levi the offerings and other things that were dedicated to Yahweh.
-\v 15 Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah faithfully assisted him in the towns where the priests lived. They distributed those things to the groups of their fellow priests; they distributed them to everyone, including those who were young and those who were old.
+\v 15 Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shekaniah faithfully assisted him in the towns where the priests lived. They distributed those things to the groups of their fellow priests; they distributed them to everyone, including those who were young and those who were old.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 16 They also distributed things to the males who were at least three years old, those whose names were on the scrolls where lists of family names were written. They were males who were allowed to enter the temple to perform their tasks each day, the tasks that each group had been assigned to do.
 
 \s5
-\v 17 The names of the priests were on the scrolls where their families'' names were written. They also distributed things to groups of descendants of Levi, those who were at least twenty years old.
+\v 17 The names of the priests were on the scrolls where their families' names were written. They also distributed things to groups of descendants of Levi, those who were at least twenty years old.
 \v 18 They included all their little children and wives and other sons and daughters whose names were on the scrolls where the family names were written, because they also faithfully had set themselves apart for the honor of Yahweh and his requirements for holiness.
 \p
 \v 19 Hezekiah also appointed other men to distribute portions of those offerings to the priests and other descendants of Levi who were living in the pasturelands around the towns of Judah. But they gave things only to those who were descendants of Aaron the first high priest, whose names were on the scrolls containing the names of their families.
@@ -1677,7 +1677,7 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 
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 \v 2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come with his army and that they intended to attack Jerusalem,
-\v 3-4 he consulted with his officials and army leaders. They said to themselves, "Why should allow the king of Assyria and his army to come and find plenty of water to drink?" So they decided to stop the water from flowing outside the city. A large group of men gathered together and blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through that area.
+\v 3-4 he consulted with his officials and army leaders. They said to themselves, "Why should we allow the king of Assyria and his army to come and find plenty of water to drink?" So they decided to stop the water from flowing outside the city. A large group of men gathered together and blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through that area.
 
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 \v 5 Then they worked hard to repair all the sections of the city wall that had been broken, and they built watchtowers on the walls higher. They strengthened the Millo, a massive supporting wall on the east side of the city of David. They also made a large number of weapons and shields.
@@ -1686,17 +1686,17 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 \p
 \v 6 Hezekiah appointed army commanders, and he gathered them in front of him in the square at one of the city gates, and he encouraged them by saying this to them:
 \v 7 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the huge army that is with him, because Yahweh is with us, and his power is greater than their power.
-\v 8 They have to rely on the power of humans , but we have Yahweh our God to help us and to fight battles for us." So the people became more confident because of what Hezekiah, the king of Judah, said.
+\v 8 They have to rely on the power of humans, but we have Yahweh our God to help us and to fight battles for us." So the people became more confident because of what Hezekiah, the king of Judah, said.
 
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 \p
-\v 9 Later, when Sennacherib and all his soldiers were surrounding the city of Lachish, he sent some officers to Jerusalem to give this message to King Hezekiah and to all the people of Judah who were there:
+\v 9 Later, when Sennacherib and all of his soldiers were surrounding the city of Lachish, he sent some officers to Jerusalem to give this message to King Hezekiah and to all the people of Judah who were there:
 \pi
 \v 10 "I am Sennacherib, the great king of Assyria, and this is what I say: While you are staying in Jerusalem, my soldiers are surrounding the city. So what are you depending on to keep you safe?
 
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-\v 11 Hezekiah says to you, 'Yahweh our God will save us from being defeated by the army of you.' He wants you to die from having no food or water.
-\v 12 Hezekiah is the one who told his men to get rid of that god's high places on the hills, and his altars in the countryside, saying to you people of Jerusalem and other places in Judah, 'You must worship at only one altar and burn sacrifices on only that altar.'
+\v 11 Hezekiah says to you, 'Yahweh our God will save us from being defeated by the army of the king of Assyria.' He wants you to die from having no food or water.
+\v 12 Hezekiah is the one who told his men to get rid of that god's high places on the hills and his altars in the countryside, saying to you people of Jerusalem and other places in Judah, 'You must worship at only one altar and burn sacrifices on only that altar.'
 
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@@ -1709,40 +1709,39 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 \v 17 King Sennacherib wrote more letters insulting Yahweh, the God whom the Israelites belonged to. He wrote, "No god of any of these nations I have conquered could save his people from me. Similarly, the god of Hezekiah will not save his people from my power."
 
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-\v 18 Then the officers shouted in the Hebrew language to the people who were on the wall, in order to cause them to be very terrified , thinking that as a result the army of Assyria could capture the city without a battle.
-\v 19 They belittled the God worshiped by the people of Jerusalem like they belittled the gods of the other peoples of the world, gods which indeed were only idols fashioned by craftsmen.
+\v 18 Then the officers shouted in the Hebrew language to the people who were on the wall to cause them to be terrified, thinking that as a result the army of Assyria could capture the city without a battle.
+\v 19 They belittled the God worshiped by the people of Jerusalem just as they belittled the gods of the other peoples of the world, gods which indeed were only idols fashioned by craftsmen.
 
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 \p
 \v 20 Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah cried out to God, praying very earnestly about this.
-\v 21 And that night Yahweh sent an angel who killed all the soldiers of Assyria and their leaders and their officers in the place where the king of Assyria and his army had set up their tents. So the king of Assyria left, and returned to his own country, very disgraced. And one day when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons struck him with their swords and killed him.
+\v 21 And that night Yahweh sent an angel who killed all the soldiers of Assyria and their leaders and their officers in the place where the king of Assyria and his army had set up their tents. So the king of Assyria left and returned to his own country, very disgraced. And one day when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons struck him with their swords and killed him.
 
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 \p
-\v 22 That is how Yahweh guided and rescued Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the power of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, and from the power of all their other enemies. That is how he gave them peace with all the countries near them.
-\v 23 Many people brought offerings for Yahweh to Jerusalem, and also brought valuable gifts for King Hezekiah. And from that time, Hezekiah was highly respected by the people of all the other nations.
+\v 22 That is how Yahweh guided and rescued Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the power of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the power of all of their other enemies. That is how he gave them peace with all the countries near them.
+\v 23 Many people brought offerings for Yahweh to Jerusalem and also brought valuable gifts for King Hezekiah. And from that time, Hezekiah was highly respected by the people of all the other nations.
 
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 \p
 \v 24 About that time, Hezekiah became very ill. He thought that he was about to die. But he prayed to Yahweh, and Yahweh answered him. He performed a miracle and healed Hezekiah.
 \v 25 But Hezekiah was very proud, and he did not thank Yahweh for acting kindly toward him. Therefore Yahweh was angry with him and punished him and the people of Jerusalem and other places in Judah.
-\v 26 Then Hezekiah said that he was sorry about being proud, and the people of Jerusalem also said that they were sorry for their sins. So Yahweh did not punish
- them during the remaining years that Hezekiah was their king.
+\v 26 Then Hezekiah said that he was sorry about being proud, and the people of Jerusalem also said that they were sorry for their sins. So Yahweh did not punish them during the remaining years that Hezekiah was their king.
 
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 \p
 \v 27 Hezekiah became very rich and was greatly honored. His workers made storerooms for his silver and gold, for his very valuable stones, and for spices and shields and other valuable things.
-\v 28 His workers also built buildings to store the grain and wine and olive oil that people produced and brought to him. They also made stalls for various kinds of cattle, and pens for his flocks of sheep and goats.
-\v 29 They built cities and acquired for the king great many flocks of sheep and goats and herds of cattle, because God had enabled him to become very rich.
+\v 28 His workers also built buildings to store the grain and wine and olive oil that people produced and brought to him. They also made stalls for various kinds of cattle and pens for his flocks of sheep and goats.
+\v 29 They built cities and acquired for the king a great many flocks of sheep and goats and herds of cattle because God had enabled him to become very rich.
 
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-\v 30 Hezekiah was the one who told his workers to block the place where the water flows out of the spring of Gihon, and to build a tunnel through which the water flowed to the west side of the area called the city of David. He was able to do everything that he wanted to do.
+\v 30 Hezekiah was the one who told his workers to block the place where the water flows out of the spring of Gihon and to build a tunnel through which the water flowed to the west side of the area called the city of David. He was able to do everything that he wanted to do.
 \v 31 But when messengers who were sent by the rulers of Babylon came and asked about the miracle that God had performed in the land, it was then that God left Hezekiah alone in order to test him. God tested him so that he would know everything that was in Hezekiah's heart.
 
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 \p
-\v 32 A record of the other things that happened while Hezekiah was ruling, and the things that he did to please God, is written on the scroll of the vision of Isaiah the prophet. It is also written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
+\v 32 A record of the other things that happened while Hezekiah was ruling and the things that he did to please God is written on the scroll of the vision of Isaiah the prophet. It is also written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
 \v 33 When Hezekiah died, he was buried in the tombs where the most respected kings of Judah were buried. Everyone in Jerusalem and other places in Judah honored him. Then his son Manasseh became the king.
 
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@@ -1750,18 +1749,18 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 \p
 \v 1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became the king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for fifty-five years.
 \v 2 He did many things that Yahweh said were evil. He imitated the disgusting things that were formerly done by the peoples that Yahweh had expelled from Israel as his people advanced into the land.
-\v 3 He commanded his workers to rebuild the high places upon the hills for worshiping idols, the same ones that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He told them to set up poles to honor the god Baal, and to make poles to honor the goddess Asherah. He also bowed down to worship all the stars.
+\v 3 He commanded his workers to rebuild the high places upon the hills for worshiping idols, the same ones that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He told them to set up poles to honor the god Baal and to make poles to honor the goddess Asherah. He also bowed down to worship all the stars.
 
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 \v 4 He directed his workers to build altars for foreign gods in the temple itself, about which Yahweh had said, "It is here in Jerusalem that I want people to worship me, forever."
-\v 5 He directed that altars for worshiping all the stars be built in both of the courtyards outside the temple
+\v 5 He directed that altars for worshiping all the stars be built in both of the courtyards outside the temple.
 \v 6 He even sacrificed some of his own sons by burning them in a fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. He performed rituals to practice sorcery. He asked fortune tellers for advice. He performed witchcraft. He talked to people who consulted the spirits of people who had died to find out what would happen in the future. He did many things that Yahweh says are very evil, things that caused Yahweh to become very angry.
 
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 \p
 \v 7 Manasseh took the carved idol that his workers had made and put it in the temple. That is the temple concerning which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, "My temple will be here in Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen where I want people to worship me, forever.
 \v 8 If they will obey all the laws and decrees and regulations that I told Moses to give to them, I will not again force the Israelite people to leave this land that I gave to their ancestors."
-\v 9 But Manasseh led the people of Jerusalem and other places in Judah to do things that are wrong, with the result that they did more evil than had been done by the people in the peoples that Yahweh had driven out as the Israelite people advanced through the land.
+\v 9 But Manasseh led the people of Jerusalem and other places in Judah to do things that are wrong, with the result that they did more evil than had been done by the peoples that Yahweh had driven out as the Israelite people advanced through the land.
 
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@@ -1774,7 +1773,7 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 
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-\v 14 Later, Manasseh's workers rebuilt the eastern section of the outer wall around Jerusalem, and they made it higher. That section extended from spring of Gihon north to the Fish Gate, and around the part of the city that they called Ophel Hill. Manasseh also appointed army officers to guard each of the cities in Judah that had walls around them.
+\v 14 Later, Manasseh's workers rebuilt the eastern section of the outer wall around Jerusalem, and they made it higher. That section extended from the spring of Gihon north to the Fish Gate and around the part of the city that they called Ophel Hill. Manasseh also appointed army officers to guard each of the cities in Judah that had walls around them.
 \v 15 Manasseh's workers removed from the temple the idols and the figures of gods of other nations. He also told them to remove the altars that they had previously built on Mount Zion and in other places in Jerusalem. He had all those things thrown out of the city.
 
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@@ -1784,14 +1783,14 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
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 \p
 \v 18 The other things that happened while Manasseh was ruling, including his prayer to God and the messages from Yahweh that the prophets spoke to him, are written in the book of the kings of Israel.
-\v 19 What Manasseh prayed and how God pitied him because of what he pleaded to God for—also his sins and ways in which he disobeyed God—also the list of places where he built the houses on the hills for idol worship and set up poles to honor the goddess Asherah and other idols before he humbled himself—these are all written in what the prophets wrote.
+\v 19 What Manasseh prayed and how God pitied him because of what he pleaded to God for—also his sins and ways in which he disobeyed God and also the list of places where he built the houses on the hills for idol worship and set up poles to honor the goddess Asherah and other idols before he humbled himself—these are all written in what the prophets wrote.
 \v 20 Manasseh died and was buried in his palace. Then his son Amon became the king of Judah.
 
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 \p
 \v 21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for two years.
 \v 22 He did many things that Yahweh said were evil, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon worshiped all the idols that Manasseh's workers had made.
-\v 23 But he did not humble himself and turn to Yahweh like his father did. So he became more sinful than his father had been.
+\v 23 But he did not humble himself and turn to Yahweh as his father did. So he became more sinful than his father had been.
 
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@@ -1802,23 +1801,23 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 \c 34
 \p
 \v 1 Josiah was eight years old when he became the king of Judah. He ruled from Jerusalem for thirty-one years.
-\v 2 He did things that were pleasing to Yahweh, and conducted his life like his ancestor King David had done. He fully obeyed all the laws of God.
+\v 2 He did things that were pleasing to Yahweh and conducted his life as his ancestor King David had done. He fully obeyed all the laws of God.
 \p
-\v 3 When he had been ruling for almost eight years, while he was still a boy, he began to worship God as his ancestor King David had done. Four years later, he began to get rid of all the houses that were built on the hills for idol worship, and they were all around Jerusalem and in other places in Judah. They also took down the poles that were to give honor the goddess Asherah and the carved idols and metal statues of gods.
+\v 3 When he had been ruling for almost eight years, while he was still a boy, he began to worship God as his ancestor King David had done. Four years later, he began to get rid of all the houses that were built for idol worship on the hills all around Jerusalem and in other places in Judah. They also took down the poles that were to honor the goddess Asherah, as well as the carved idols and metal statues of gods.
 
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-\v 4 While he directed them, his workers tore down the altars where people worshiped Baal. They smashed the altars that were near those altars, where people burned incense. They smashed the poles to honor the goddess Asherah and the idols carved from wood or stone and metal statues. They smashed them to bits and scattered the bits over the graves of those who had offered sacrifices to them.
+\v 4 While he directed them, his workers tore down the altars where people worshiped Baal. They smashed the altars that were near those altars, where people burned incense. They smashed the poles to honor the goddess Asherah and the idols carved from wood or stone and the metal statues. They smashed them to bits and scattered the bits over the graves of those who had offered sacrifices to them.
 \v 5 They burned the bones of the priests who had offered sacrifices; they burned them on their own altars. In that way Josiah caused Jerusalem and other places in Judah to be acceptable places to worship Yahweh again.
 
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 \v 6 In the towns in the tribes of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, and as far north as the tribe of Naphtali and in the ruins around all those towns,
-\v 7 Josiah's workers tore down the pagan altars and the poles to honor the goddess Asherah, and crushed the idols to powder, idols that craftsmen had carved. They also smashed to pieces all the altars for burning incense throughout Israel. Then Josiah returned to Jerusalem.
+\v 7 Josiah's workers tore down the pagan altars and the poles to honor the goddess Asherah and crushed the idols to powder—idols that craftsmen had carved. They also smashed to pieces all the altars for burning incense throughout Israel. Then Josiah returned to Jerusalem.
 
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 \p
 \v 8 When Josiah had been ruling for almost eighteen years, he decided to do something else to cause the land and the temple to be acceptable places to worship Yahweh. So he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the governor of the city and Joah son of Joahaz, the secretary, to repair the temple of Yahweh.
 \p
-\v 9 They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought to the temple. That was the money that the descendants of Levi who guarded the doors of the temple had collected from the people of the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim and other places in Israel, and also from all the people in Jerusalem and other places in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin—all the people of the land who survived.
+\v 9 They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought to the temple. That was the money that the descendants of Levi who guarded the doors of the temple had collected from the people of the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim and other places in Israel and also from all the people in Jerusalem and other places in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin—all the people of the land who survived.
 
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@@ -1828,7 +1827,7 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
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 \v 12 The workers did their work faithfully. Their supervisors were Jahath and Obadiah, who were descendants of Levi's son Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, who were descendants of Levi's son Kohath. All the descendants of Levi, who played musical instruments well,
-\v 13 supervised all the workers as they did their various jobs. Some of the descendants of Levi were secretaries; some kept records, and some guarded the temple gates.
+\v 13 supervised all the workers as they did their various jobs. Some of the descendants of Levi were secretaries; some kept records and some guarded the temple gates.
 
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@@ -1845,11 +1844,11 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 
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 \v 20 Then he gave these instructions to Hilkiah, to Shaphan's son Ahikam, to Micah's son Abdon, to Shaphan, and to Asaiah, the king's special advisor:
-\v 21 "Go and ask Yahweh for me, and for all his people who are still alive in Judah and Israel, about what is written in this scroll that has been found. Because it is clear that Yahweh is very angry with us because our ancestors disobeyed what Yahweh said; they did not obey the laws that are written on this scroll."
+\v 21 "Go and ask Yahweh—for me and for all his people who are still alive in Judah and Israel—about what is written in this scroll that has been found, because it is clear that Yahweh is very angry with us because our ancestors disobeyed what Yahweh said; they did not obey the laws that are written on this scroll."
 
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-\v 22 So Hilkiah and the others went to consult a woman whose name was Huldah, who was a prophetess who lived in the Second District of Jerusalem. Her husband Shallum son of Tikvah, took care of the robes that were worn in the temple.
+\v 22 So Hilkiah and the others went to consult a woman whose name was Huldah, who was a prophetess who lived in the Second District of Jerusalem. Her husband Shallum son of Tikvah took care of the robes that were worn in the temple.
 
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@@ -1859,8 +1858,8 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 
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 \v 26 The king of Judah sent you to inquire what I, Yahweh, want. Go and tell him that this is what I, Yahweh, the God whom you Israelites worship, say about what you read:
-\v 27 'Because you heeded what was written in the scroll, and you humbled yourself when you heard what I said to warn about what would happen to this city and the people who live here, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have listened to you.
-\v 28 So I will allow you to die in peace, without seeing me punish this place and the people living in it.'"
+\v 27 'Because you heeded what was written in the scroll and you humbled yourself when you heard what I said to warn about what would happen to this city and the people who live here, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have listened to you.
+\v 28 So I will allow you to die in peace without seeing me punish this place and the people living in it.'"
 \p So they took her reply back to the king.
 
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@@ -1869,7 +1868,7 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 
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-\v 31 Then the king stood next to the pillar at the entrance to the temple, where kings stood when they announced something important, and while Yahweh was listening, he repeated his promise to sincerely obey, with his entire inner being, Yahweh and all his commands and regulations and decrees that were written on the scroll.
+\v 31 Then the king stood next to the pillar at the entrance to the temple where kings stood when they announced something important. While Yahweh was listening, he repeated his promise to sincerely obey, with his entire inner being, Yahweh and all his commands and regulations and decrees that were written on the scroll.
 \p
 \v 32 Then the king said that everyone who lived in Jerusalem and from the tribe of Benjamin should promise that they also would obey those laws. And they did that, agreeing that they would obey the agreement that God, whom their ancestors had worshiped, had made with them.
 
@@ -1881,7 +1880,7 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 \c 35
 \p
 \v 1 Josiah commanded that the people should celebrate the Passover Festival in Jerusalem. So they slaughtered the lambs for the Passover on the 14th day of the first month.
-\v 2 Josiah assigned to the priests to the tasks that they should perform at the temple, and encouraged them do their work well.
+\v 2 Josiah assigned to the priests the tasks that they should perform at the temple and encouraged them do their work well.
 
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 \v 3 The descendants of Levi were the ones who taught all the Israelite people; they had been set apart for Yahweh. Josiah said to them, "Put the sacred chest in the temple that the workers of David's son King Solomon of Israel built. But carry it on poles; do not carry it on your shoulders. And do well your work for Yahweh your God and for his Israelite people.
@@ -1901,13 +1900,13 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 
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-\v 10 Everything for the Passover was arranged: The priests and the other descendants of Levi stood in their places in their groups, as the king had commanded.
+\v 10 Everything for the Passover was arranged: The priests and the other descendants of Levi stood in their places in their groups as the king had commanded.
 \v 11 Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs. The priests sprinkled the blood from the bowls that were handed to them, while the other descendants of Levi removed the skins from the animals.
 \v 12 They set aside the animals to be completely burned on the altar, in order to give them to the various family groups to offer to Yahweh, obeying the instructions that were written in the laws God gave Moses. They did the same thing with the cattle.
 
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-\v 13 Obeying those regulations, they roasted over the fire the lambs for the Passover. And they boiled the meat of the sacred offerings in pots and kettles and pans, and served the meat immediately to all the people who were there.
-\v 14 After that, they prepared meat for themselves and for the priests, because the priests were busy until nighttime, sacrificing the offerings to be completely burned and burning the fat parts of the offerings. So the descendants of Levi prepared meat for themselves and for the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, the first high priest.
+\v 13 Obeying those regulations, they roasted over the fire the lambs for the Passover, they boiled the meat of the sacred offerings in pots and kettles and pans, and they immediately served the meat to all the people who were there.
+\v 14 After that, they prepared meat for themselves and for the priests because the priests were busy until nighttime, sacrificing the offerings to be completely burned and burning the fat parts of the offerings. So the descendants of Levi prepared meat for themselves and for the priests, who were descendants of Aaron the first high priest.
 
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@@ -1915,17 +1914,17 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 
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-\v 16 So on that day everything that needed to done for worshiping Yahweh was done. They celebrated the Passover Festival , and they presented offerings to be completely burned on the altar, which was what Josiah had commanded.
+\v 16 So on that day everything that needed to done for worshiping Yahweh was done. They celebrated the Passover Festival, and they presented offerings to be completely burned on the altar, which was what Josiah had commanded.
 \v 17 The Israelites who were there celebrated the Passover on that day, and for seven days they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
 
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-\v 18 The Passover Festival had not been celebrated like that in Israel since the time that the prophet Samuel lived. And none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated the Passover like Josiah did, along with the priests, the other descendants of Levi, and all the other people of Judah and Israel who were there with the people who lived in Jerusalem.
+\v 18 The Passover Festival had not been celebrated like that in Israel since the time that the prophet Samuel lived. And none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated the Passover as Josiah did, along with the priests, the other descendants of Levi, and all the other people of Judah and Israel who were there with the people who lived in Jerusalem.
 \v 19 They celebrated this Passover Festival when Josiah had been ruling for almost eighteen years.
 
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 \v 20 After Josiah had done all those things to restore the worship at the temple, King Necho of Egypt went with his army to attack the city of Carchemish alongside the Euphrates River, and Josiah marched with his army to fight against them.
-\v 21 Necho sent some messengers to Josiah, to tell him, "You are the king of Judah, and there is certainly no reason for you to fight me; we are attacking the army of Babylonia. God has told me to hurry. So stop opposing God, who is for me. If you do not stop, God will get rid of you."
+\v 21 Necho sent some messengers to Josiah to tell him, "You are the king of Judah, and there is certainly no reason for you to fight me; we are attacking the army of Babylonia. God has told me to hurry. So stop opposing God, who is for me. If you do not stop, God will get rid of you."
 
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@@ -1942,7 +1941,7 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 
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-\v 26-27 A record of the other things that happened while Josiah ruled, from the time he started to rule until he died, including how he faithfully was devoted to honoring God by obeying all that was written in the laws of Yahweh, is written in the book of the kings ofIsrael and Judah.
+\v 26-27 A record of the other things that happened while Josiah ruled, from the time he started to rule until he died, including how he faithfully was devoted to honoring God by obeying all that was written in the laws of Yahweh, is written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
 
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@@ -1952,7 +1951,7 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 \v 2 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became the king, but he ruled from Jerusalem for only three months.
 
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-\v 3 The king of Egypt captured him and prevented him from ruling any longer. He also forced the people of Judah to pay to him a tax of three and one-third metric tons of silver and thirty-three kilograms of gold.
+\v 3 The king of Egypt captured him and prevented him from ruling any longer. He also forced the people of Judah to pay him a tax of three and one-third metric tons of silver and thirty-three kilograms of gold.
 \v 4 The king of Egypt appointed Jehoahaz's younger brother Eliakim to be the king of Judah. He changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim. But Necho seized Jehoahaz and took him to Egypt.
 
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@@ -1977,7 +1976,7 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 
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 \v 13 He would not return to Yahweh, the God that the people of Israel said that they worshiped. Zedekiah also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had forced him to solemnly promise using God's name to be loyal to him. Zedekiah became very stubborn.
-\v 14 Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and also the people of Judah became more wicked again, doing all the disgusting things that the people of the other nations did, and causing the temple in Jerusalem that Yahweh had caused to be holy to become an unacceptable place to worship him.
+\v 14 Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and also the people of Judah became more wicked again, doing all the disgusting things that the people of the other nations did and causing the temple in Jerusalem that Yahweh had caused to be holy to become an unacceptable place to worship him.
 
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@@ -1993,12 +1992,12 @@ hundred male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
 
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-\v 20 Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers took to Babylon the remaining people who had not been killed with their swords, Those people became the king's slaves and his son's slaves, until the army of Persia conquered Babylonia.
+\v 20 Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers took to Babylon the remaining people who had not been killed with their swords. Those people became the king's slaves and his son's slaves until the army of Persia conquered Babylonia.
 \v 21 Moses had said that every seventh year the people must not plant their fields; they must allow the soil to rest. But the people had not done that. So after the army of Babylonia destroyed Judah, the soil was allowed to rest. That continued for seventy years, fulfilling what Yahweh had told Jeremiah would happen.
 
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 \p
-\v 22 During the first year that Cyrus was the king of Persia, in order that what Yahweh told Jeremiah would happen would occur, Yahweh motivated Cyrus to write this and proclaim it throughout his kingdom:
+\v 22 During the first year that Cyrus was the king of Persia, so that what Yahweh told Jeremiah would happen would occur, Yahweh motivated Cyrus to write this and proclaim it throughout his kingdom:
 \p
 \v 23 "I, Cyrus, the king of Persia, declare that Yahweh, the God who rules in heaven, has enabled me to become the ruler of all the kingdoms of this world. And he has appointed me to command that my workers build a temple for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. I am allowing any of his people among you to go to Jerusalem. And I will pray that Yahweh will be with them."
 

15-EZR.usfm

@@ -9,21 +9,17 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1 During the first year that Cyrus ruled the Persian Empire, he did something that fulfilled the prophecy that Jeremiah had spoken. Yahweh motivated Cyrus to write this message, and then
-Cyrus caused this message to be proclaimed throughout his empire:
+\v 1 During the first year that Cyrus ruled the Persian Empire, he did something that fulfilled the prophecy that Jeremiah had spoken. Yahweh motivated Cyrus to write this message and then Cyrus caused this message to be proclaimed throughout his empire:
 \v 2 "I, King Cyrus, rule the Persian Empire, and I say this: Yahweh, the God who is in heaven, has made me ruler of all the kingdoms on earth. And he has assigned me to make sure that his people build a temple for him in Jerusalem, in Judah.
 
 \s5
 \v 3 All you people who belong to God may go up to Jerusalem to rebuild this temple for Yahweh, the God who lives in Jerusalem, the God of Israel.
-\v 4 The other people who are living where Israelites are now in exile, whose ancestors were exiled here, must contribute silver and gold to those who go. They should also give the Jews the supplies that
-they will need for the journey to Jerusalem. They should also give them some livestock and gifts of money to help build the temple of God in Jerusalem."
+\v 4 The other people who are living where Israelites are now in exile, whose ancestors were exiled here, must contribute silver and gold to those who go. They should also give the Jews the supplies that they will need for the journey to Jerusalem. They should also give them some livestock and gifts of money to help build the temple of God in Jerusalem."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 5 Then God motivated some of the priests and Levites and some of the leaders of the tribes that were descended from Judah and Benjamin to return to Jerusalem. Those whom God motivated
-got ready to return to Jerusalem and build the temple for him there.
-\v 6 All of their neighbors helped them by giving them silver and golden things, and supplies for the journey, and livestock. They also gave them other valuable gifts, and
-also gave them money to buy things for building the temple.
+\v 5 Then God motivated some of the priests and Levites and some of the leaders of the tribes that were descended from Judah and Benjamin to return to Jerusalem. Those whom God motivated got ready to return to Jerusalem and build the temple for him there.
+\v 6 All of their neighbors helped them by giving them silver and golden things, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They also gave them other valuable gifts, as well as money to buy things for building the temple.
 
 \s5
 \v 7 King Cyrus brought out the valuable things that King Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers had taken from the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem and put in the temples of their gods in Babylon.
@@ -33,13 +29,12 @@ also gave them money to buy things for building the temple.
 \p
 \v 9 This is a list of the items that Cyrus donated: Thirty gold basins, one thousand silver basins, twenty-nine other basins,
 \v 10 thirty gold bowls, 410 similar silver bowls, and one thousand other objects.
-\v 11 All together, there were 5,400 silver and gold items given to Sheshbazzar to take with him when he and the others returned to Jerusalem.
+\v 11 Altogether there were 5,400 silver and gold items given to Sheshbazzar to take with him when he and the others returned to Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
 \c 2
 \p
-\v 1 King Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers captured many Israelite people and took them to Babylonia. Many years later, some Israelite people returned to Judah. Some returned to Jerusalem,
-and some returned to other places in Judah. They went to the towns where their ancestors had lived. This is a list of the groups who returned.
+\v 1 King Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers captured many Israelite people and took them to Babylonia. Many years later, some Israelite people returned to Judah. Some of them returned to Jerusalem and some returned to other places in Judah. They went to the towns where their ancestors had lived. This is a list of the groups who returned.
 \v 2 The leaders of those people who returned were Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.
 \p The groups of people who returned to Judah are listed next.
 
@@ -69,7 +64,7 @@ and some returned to other places in Judah. They went to the towns where their a
 
 \s5
 \v 19 223 descendants of Hashum
-\v 20 Ninty-five descendants of Gibbar
+\v 20 Ninety-five descendants of Gibbar
 \p People whose ancestors had lived in these towns in Judah:
 \v 21 123 from Bethlehem
 \v 22 Fifty-six from Netophah
@@ -100,7 +95,7 @@ and some returned to other places in Judah. They went to the towns where their a
 \v 36 Priests who returned:
 973 descendants of Jedaiah (that is, those who descended through Jeshua)
 \v 37 1,052 descendants of Immer
-\v 38 1,247 descendants of Pashur
+\v 38 1,247 descendants of Pashhur
 \v 39 1,017 descendants of Harim
 
 \s5
@@ -134,23 +129,22 @@ Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
 \p
 \v 55 The following descendants of King Solomon's servants returned to Jerusalem:
 Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,
-\v 56 Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel,
-\v 57 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth Hazzebaim, and Ami.
+\v 56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,
+\v 57 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and Ami.
 \p
 \v 58 Altogether, there were 392 descendants of temple workers and Solomon's servants who returned.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 59 There was another group who returned to Judah from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cerub, Addon, and Immer in Babylonia. But they could not prove that they were true Israelites.
+\v 59 There was another group who returned to Judah from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer in Babylonia. But they could not prove that they were true Israelites.
 \v 60 This group included 652 people who were descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 61 The descendants of the priests in this group included people belonging to Habaiah's clan, Hakkoz's clan, and Barzillai's clan. Barzillai had married a woman who was a descendant of Barzillai from the region of Gilead, and he had taken for himself the name of his father-in-law's clan.
+\v 61 The descendants of the priests in this group included people belonging to Hobaiah's clan, Hakkoz's clan, and Barzillai's clan. Barzillai had married a woman who was a descendant of Barzillai from the region of Gilead, and he had taken for himself the name of his father-in-law's clan.
 \p
-\v 62 The people in that group searched in the documents that had the names of the ancestors of all the clans, but these men's names were not found. So they were not permitted do the
-work that priests did.
-\v 63 The governor told them that they would need to ask a priest to consult Yahweh by casting the sacred lots, to determine whether those men were truly Israelites. If the stones showed that those men were Israelites, they would be permitted to eat the shares of the sacrifices that were given to the priests.
+\v 62 The people in that group searched in the documents that had the names of the ancestors of all the clans, but these men's names were not found. So they were not permitted do the work that priests did.
+\v 63 The governor told them that they would need to ask a priest to consult Yahweh by casting the sacred lots to determine whether those men were truly Israelites. If the stones showed that those men were Israelites, they would be permitted to eat the shares of the sacrifices that were given to the priests.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -164,85 +158,70 @@ work that priests did.
 \s5
 \p
 \v 68 When they arrived at the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem, some of the clan leaders gave money for the supplies needed to rebuild the temple in the same place where the old temple had been.
-\v 69 They all gave as much money as they were able to give. Altogether they gave about five hundred kilograms of gold, and about three thousand kilograms of silver, and one hundred robes for the priests.
+\v 69 They all gave as much money as they were able to give. Altogether they gave about five hundred kilograms of gold and about three thousand kilograms of silver, and one hundred robes for the priests.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 70 Then the priests, the other descendants of Levi, the musicians, the temple guards, and some of the other people started to live in the towns and villages near Jerusalem. The rest of the
-people went to the other places in Israel there where their ancestors had lived.
+\v 70 Then the priests, the other descendants of Levi, the musicians, the temple guards, and some of the other people started to live in the towns and villages near Jerusalem. The rest of the people went to the other places in Israel where their ancestors had lived.
 
 \s5
 \c 3
 \p
 \v 1 After the Israelite people returned to Jerusalem and they began to live in their towns, in the autumn of that year, they all gathered together in Jerusalem.
-\v 2 Then Jeshua son of Jehozadak, and his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his close friends, all began to rebuild the altar of the God of Israel. They did
-that in order that they could sacrifice burned offerings on it, according to what the prophet Moses had written in the laws that God had given to him.
+\v 2 Then Jeshua son of Jehozadak, his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his close friends, all began to rebuild the altar of the God of Israel. They did that so that they could sacrifice burned offerings on it, according to what the prophet Moses had written in the laws that God had given to him.
 
 \s5
-\v 3 Even though they were afraid of the people who were already living in that area, they rebuilt the altar at the same place where the previous altar had been. They began to offer sacrifices
-every morning and every eventing.
-\v 4 Fifteen days after they started to offer these sacrifices, the people celebrated the Festival of Shelters, as Moses had commanded them to do in the decrees that God had given to him.
-Each day the priests offered the sacrifices that were required for that day.
+\v 3 Even though they were afraid of the people who were already living in that area, they rebuilt the altar at the same place where the previous altar had been. They began to offer sacrifices every morning and every evening.
+\v 4 Fifteen days after they started to offer these sacrifices, the people celebrated the Festival of Shelters, as Moses had commanded them to do in the decrees that God had given to him. Each day the priests offered the sacrifices that were required for that day.
 \v 5 In addition, they presented the regular burned offerings and the offerings that were required for the New Moon festivals and the other festivals that they celebrated as special times each year to honor Yahweh. They also brought other offerings only because they desired to bring them, not because they were required to bring them.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 6 But even though they started bringing burned offerings to Yahweh at the beginning of autumn, they had not yet started building the temple building.
-\v 7 So the Israelites hired masons and carpenters, and they bought logs from cedar trees from the people of Tyre and Sidon. They gave those people food, wine, and olive oil as payment.
-They brought the logs down from the mountains in Lebanon to the Mediterranean seacoast and then floated them along the coast of the sea to Joppa. King Cyrus permitted them to do that.
-Then the logs were brought from Joppa inland up to Jerusalem.
+\v 7 So the Israelites hired masons and carpenters, and they bought logs from cedar trees from the people of Tyre and Sidon. They gave those people food, wine, and olive oil as payment. They brought the logs down from the mountains in Lebanon to the Mediterranean seacoast and then floated them along the coast of the sea to Joppa. King Cyrus permitted them to do that. Then the logs were brought from Joppa inland up to Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 8 The Israelites started to rebuild the temple in the spring of the second year after they returned to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel and Jeshua, together with all the people who had returned to Jerusalem,
-worked on the building. All the Levites supervised this work.
-\v 9 Jeshua, his sons, and his other relatives, and Kadmiel and his sons, who were descendants of Judah, also helped to supervise the work. The people who were descendants of Henadad, who were also all
-Levites, joined with them in supervising this work.
+\v 8 The Israelites started to rebuild the temple in the spring of the second year after they returned to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel and Jeshua, together with all the people who had returned to Jerusalem, worked on the building. All the Levites supervised this work.
+\v 9 Jeshua, his sons and his other relatives, and Kadmiel and his sons, who were descendants of Judah, also helped to supervise the work. The people who were descendants of Henadad, who were also all Levites, joined with them in supervising this work.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 10 When the builders finished laying the foundation of the temple, the priests put on their robes and stood in their places, blowing their trumpets. Then the Levites who were descendants
-of Asaph clashed their cymbals to praise Yahweh, just as King David had many years previously told Asaph and the other musicians to do.
+\v 10 When the builders finished laying the foundation of the temple, the priests put on their robes and stood in their places, blowing their trumpets. Then the Levites who were descendants of Asaph clashed their cymbals to praise Yahweh, just as King David had many years previously told Asaph and the other musicians to do.
 \v 11 They praised Yahweh and thanked him, and they sang this song about him:
 \q "He is very good to us!
 \q He honors his covenant faithfulness for Israel, and he will love us forever."
 Then all the people shouted loudly, praising him because they had finished laying the foundation of his temple.
 
 \s5
-\v 12 Many of the old priests, Levites, and leaders of families remembered what the first temple was like, and they cried aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid because
-they knew that the new temple would not be as beautiful as the first temple. But the other people shouted joyfully.
+\v 12 Many of the old priests, Levites, and leaders of families remembered what the first temple was like, and they cried aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid because they knew that the new temple would not be as beautiful as the first temple. But the other people shouted joyfully.
 \v 13 The shouting and the crying were like one very loud sound that even people far away could hear.
 
 \s5
 \c 4
 \p
 \v 1 The enemies of the people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin heard that they had returned from Babylonia and were rebuilding the temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel.
-\v 2 So they went to Zerubbabel the governor and to the other Jewish leaders and said to them, "We want to help you build the temple, because we worship the same God whom you worship. We have been offering sacrifices to him since Esarhaddon, the king of Assyria, brought us here."
+\v 2 So they went to Zerubbabel the governor and to the other Jewish leaders and said to them, "We want to help you build the temple because we worship the same God whom you worship. We have been offering sacrifices to him since Esarhaddon, the king of Assyria, brought us here."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other Jewish leaders replied, "We will not allow you to help us build a temple for our God. It is we alone who will build it for Yahweh, as Cyrus, king of Persia, told us to do."
+\v 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other Jewish leaders replied, "We will not allow you to help us build a temple for our God. It is we alone who will build it for Yahweh, as Cyrus king of Persia told us to do."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 4 Then the people who had been living in that land before the Israelites returned tried to cause the Jews to become discouraged and afraid, so they would stop building
-the temple.
-\v 5 They bribed government officials to prevent the Jews from continuing to work on the temple. They did that all during the time that Cyrus was king of
-Persia and also when Darius became king.
-\v 6 Then during the first year that Darius's son Ahasuerus was king, the enemies of the Jews wrote a letter to the king saying that the Jews were planning to rebel against the government.
+\v 4 Then the people who had been living in that land before the Israelites returned tried to cause the Jews to become discouraged and afraid so they would stop building the temple.
+\v 5 They bribed government officials to prevent the Jews from continuing to work on the temple. They did that all during the time that Cyrus was king of Persia and also when Darius became king.
+\v 6 Then, during the first year that Darius's son Ahasuerus was king, the enemies of the Jews wrote a letter to the king saying that the Jews were planning to rebel against the government.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 7 Later, when Ahasuerus's son Artaxerxes became king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and their colleagues wrote a letter to him. They wrote the letter in the Aramaic language,
-and it was translated into the language of the Persians.
+\v 7 Later, when Ahasuerus's son Artaxerxes became king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their colleagues wrote a letter to him. They wrote the letter in the Aramaic language, and it was translated into the language of the Persians.
 \p
-\v 8 Rehum, the high commissioner, and Shimshai, the provincial secretary, wrote the letter to King Artaxerxes concerning what was happening in Jerusalem.
+\v 8 Rehum the high commissioner and Shimshai the provincial secretary wrote the letter to King Artaxerxes concerning what was happening in Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
-\v 9 They stated that the letter was from Rehum, Shimshai, and their associates, the judges, and other government officials, who
-were from Erech, Babylon, and Susa in the district of Elam.
-\v 10 They also wrote that they represented the other peoples whom the army of the great and glorious Ashurbanipal had deported and sent to live in Samaria and in other cities in the
-province west of the Euphrates River.
+\v 9 They stated that the letter was from Rehum, Shimshai, and their associates, the judges, and other government officials who were from Erech, Babylon, and Susa in the district of Elam.
+\v 10 They also wrote that they represented the other peoples whom the army of the great and glorious Ashurbanipal had deported and sent to live in Samaria and in other cities in the province west of the Euphrates River.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -254,18 +233,15 @@ province west of the Euphrates River.
 \v 13 It is important for you to know that if they rebuild the city and finish building the walls, they will stop paying any taxes. As a result, there will be less money in your treasury.
 
 \s5
-\v 14 Now, because we are loyal to you, and because we do not want you to be humiliated, we are sending this information to you.
-\v 15 And, we suggest that you order your officials to search among the records kept by your ancestors. If you do that, you will find out that the people in this city have always rebelled against the
-government. You will also find out that from long ago these people caused trouble for kings and for rulers of provinces. They have always revolted against those who ruled them. That is the
-reason that this city was destroyed by the Babylonian army.
+\v 14 Now, because we are loyal to you and because we do not want you to be humiliated, we are sending this information to you.
+\v 15 And we suggest that you order your officials to search among the records kept by your ancestors. If you do that, you will find out that the people in this city have always rebelled against the government. You will also find out that from long ago these people caused trouble for kings and for rulers of provinces. They have always revolted against those who ruled them. That is the reason that this city was destroyed by the Babylonian army.
 \v 16 We want you to know that if they rebuild this city and finish building its walls, you will no longer be able to control the people in this province west of the Euphrates River."
 
 \s5
 \v 17 After the king read this letter, he sent this reply to them:
-"To you Rehum, the high commissioner, and Shimshai, the provincial secretary, and their colleagues in Samaria and in other parts of the province that is west of the Euphrates River, I send my greetings.
+"To you Rehum the high commissioner and Shimshai the provincial secretary and your colleagues in Samaria and in other parts of the province that is west of the Euphrates River, I send my greetings.
 \v 18 The letter that you sent to me was translated and read to me.
-\v 19 So then, I ordered my officials to search the records. I have found out that it is true that the people of that city have always revolted against their rulers, and that the city is full of people
-who have rebelled and caused trouble.
+\v 19 So then, I ordered my officials to search the records. I have found out that it is true that the people of that city have always revolted against their rulers and that the city is full of people who have rebelled and caused trouble.
 
 \s5
 \v 20 In the past, powerful kings ruled in Jerusalem, and they also ruled over the whole province west of the Euphrates River. They forced the people there to pay them all kinds of taxes.
@@ -274,56 +250,48 @@ who have rebelled and caused trouble.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 23 Messengers took that letter to Rehum and Shimshai and their colleagues and read it to them. Then Rehum and the others went quickly to Jerusalem, and they forced the Jews to stop
-rebuilding the city wall.
+\v 23 Messengers took that letter to Rehum and Shimshai and their colleagues and read it to them. Then Rehum and the others went quickly to Jerusalem, and they forced the Jews to stop rebuilding the city wall.
 \v 24 The result was that the Jews stopped rebuilding the temple. They did not do any more work to rebuild the temple until the second year after Darius became the king of Persia.
 
 \s5
 \c 5
 \p
-\v 1 At that time two prophets were giving messages from God to the Jews in Jerusalem and other cities in Judah. The prophets were Haggai and Zechariah, who was a descendant of Iddo.
-They spoke those messages representing the God that the people of Israel worshiped.
-\v 2 Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua led many other people to being to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem. God's prophets Haggai and Zechariah were also with them and helped them.
+\v 1 At that time two prophets were giving messages from God to the Jews in Jerusalem and other cities in Judah. The prophets were Haggai and Zechariah, who was a descendant of Iddo. They spoke those messages representing the God that the people of Israel worshiped.
+\v 2 Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua led many other people to begin to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem. God's prophets Haggai and Zechariah were also with them and helped them.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 3 But Tattenai, the governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-Bozenai , his assistant, together with some of their officials went to Jerusalem and said to the people, "Who has permitted you to rebuild this temple?"
+\v 3 But Tattenai the governor of the province west of the Euphrates River and Shethar-Bozenai his assistant, together with some of their officials, went to Jerusalem and said to the people, "Who has permitted you to rebuild this temple?"
 \v 4 They also asked the Jews to tell them the names of the men who were working on the temple.
 \v 5 However, God was taking care of the Jewish leaders and they were not stopped by their enemies. They were waiting for King Darius to make a royal decree that would either give them permission and his protection so they could finish their work on the temple, or stop their work completely.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 6 So Tattenai, Shethar-Bozenai , and their officials sent a report to King Darius.
+\v 6 So Tattenai, Shethar-Bozenai, and their officials sent a report to King Darius.
 \v 7 This is what they wrote:
 "King Darius, we hope that things are going well for you.
 
 \s5
 \v 8 We want you to know that we went to Judah, where the temple of the great God is being rebuilt. The people are building it with huge stones, and they are putting wooden beams in the walls. The work is being done very carefully, and they are progressing well.
 \v 9 We asked the Jewish leaders, 'Who has permitted you to rebuild this temple?'
-\v 10 We also requested them to tell us the names of their leaders, in order that we could tell you who they were.
+\v 10 We also requested them to tell us the names of their leaders so that we could tell you who they were.
 
 \s5
-\v 11 But instead of telling us their leaders' names, what they said was, 'We serve the God who created the heaven and the earth. Many years ago a great king of Israel told our ancestors to
-build a temple here, and now we are rebuilding it.
+\v 11 But instead of telling us their leaders' names, what they said was, 'We serve the God who created the heaven and the earth. Many years ago a great king of Israel told our ancestors to build a temple here, and now we are rebuilding it.
 
 \s5
-\v 12 But God, who rules in heaven, allowed the armies of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylonia, to destroy that temple, because our ancestors did things that caused God to become very
-angry. Nebuchadnezzar's army took many of the Israelite people to Babylonia.
+\v 12 But God, who rules in heaven, allowed the armies of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to destroy that temple because our ancestors did things that caused God to become very angry. Nebuchadnezzar's army took many of the Israelite people to Babylonia.
 \v 13 However, during the first year that Cyrus king of Babylon started to rule, he decreed that the temple of God should be rebuilt.
 
 \s5
-\v 14 Cyrus returned to our leaders all the gold and silver objects that had been taken from the temple and put in the temple in Babylon. Those objects were
-given to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom King Cyrus had appointed to be the governor in Judah.
-\v 15 The king instructed him to take the objects back to Jerusalem, to the place from where they had been taken. He also decreed that they should rebuild the temple at the place
-where it had been before. So Cyrus appointed Sheshbazzar to be the governor in Judah. He also sent all those things made of gold and silver, for Sheshbazzar to put into the new temple.
+\v 14 Cyrus returned to our leaders all the gold and silver objects that had been taken from the temple and put in the temple in Babylon. Those objects were given to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom King Cyrus had appointed to be the governor in Judah.
+\v 15 The king instructed him to take the objects back to Jerusalem, to the place from where they had been taken. He also decreed that they should rebuild the temple at the place where it had been before. So Cyrus appointed Sheshbazzar to be the governor in Judah. He also sent all those things made of gold and silver, for Sheshbazzar to put into the new temple.
 
 \s5
-\v 16 So Sheshbazzar did that. He came here to Jerusalem and supervised the men who laid the foundation of the temple. And since that time, the people have been working on the temple,
-but it is not finished yet.'
+\v 16 So Sheshbazzar did that. He came here to Jerusalem and supervised the men who laid the foundation of the temple. And since that time, the people have been working on the temple, but it is not yet finished.'
 
 \s5
-\v 17 Therefore, your Majesty, please order someone to search in the place in Babylon where the important records are kept, to find out whether it is true that King Cyrus decreed that God's
-temple should be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then you can tell us what you want us to do about this matter."
+\v 17 Therefore, your Majesty, please order someone to search in the place in Babylon where the important records are kept to find out whether it is true that King Cyrus decreed that God's temple should be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then you can tell us what you want us to do about this matter."
 
 \s5
 \c 6
@@ -340,7 +308,7 @@ temple should be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then you can tell us what you want us to
 \s5
 \p
 \v 6 After reading this, King Darius sent this message to the leaders of the Jews' enemies in Jerusalem:
-"This is a message for Tattenai, the governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and for his assistant Shethar-Bozenai , and for all your colleagues: Stay away from that area.
+"This is a message for Tattenai the governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, for his assistant Shethar-Bozenai, and for all your colleagues: Stay away from that area.
 \v 7 Do not interfere with the work of building the temple of God. The temple must be rebuilt at the same place where the former temple was. And do not hinder the governor of the Jews or their elders while they are doing this work.
 
 \s5
@@ -354,7 +322,7 @@ temple should be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then you can tell us what you want us to
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 Tattenai, the governor of the province, and his assistant Shethar-Bozenai and their colleagues read the message and immediately obeyed the decree of King Darius.
+\v 13 Tattenai the governor of the province, his assistant Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues read the message and immediately obeyed the decree of King Darius.
 \v 14 So the Jewish leaders continued their work of rebuilding the temple. They were greatly encouraged by the messages that the prophets Haggai and Zechariah preached. The Israelites continued building the temple, just as God had commanded them to do and as King Cyrus and King Darius had decreed.
 \v 15 They finished building it on third day of the month of Adar, during the sixth year that King Darius ruled.
 
@@ -366,74 +334,62 @@ temple should be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then you can tell us what you want us to
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 19 On the 14th day of the first month, the Jews who had returned from Babylon celebrated the Passover Festival.
+\v 19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the Jews who had returned from Babylon celebrated the Passover Festival.
 \v 20 To qualify themselves for offering the sacrifices, the priests and Levites had already purified themselves by performing certain rituals. Then they slaughtered the lambs for the benefit of all the people who had returned from Babylon, for the other priests, and for themselves.
 
 \s5
-\v 21 Those who had returned from Babylon and who had separated themselves from the unclean people around them who had a different culture, language, and worship, and they were able now to worship Yahweh, the God of the Israelite people, and to eat the Passover meal.
+\v 21 Those who had returned from Babylon ate the Passover meal along with those who were able to worship Yahweh, the God of the Israelite people, because they had separated themselves from the unclean people around them who had a different culture, language, and worship.
 \v 22 They celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. The Israelite people throughout the land were joyful because Yahweh had changed the attitude of the king of Assyria toward them, and as a result, the king had helped them to rebuild the temple of God, the God of Israel.
 
 \s5
 \c 7
 \p
-\v 1 Many years later, while Artaxerxes was the king of Persia, Ezra went from Babylon to Jerusalem. He was the son of Seraiah and the grandson of Azariah, and the great-grandson of Hilkiah.
+\v 1 Many years later, while Artaxerxes was the king of Persia, Ezra went from Babylon to Jerusalem. He was the son of Seraiah, the grandson of Azariah, and the great-grandson of Hilkiah.
 \v 2 Hilkiah was the son of Shallum, who was the son of Zadok, who was the son of Ahitub,
 \v 3 who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Meraioth,
 \v 4 who was the son of Zerahiah, who was the son of Uzzi, who was the son of Bukki,
-\v 5 who was the son of Abishua, who was the son of Phinehas, who was the son of Eleazar, who was the son of Aaron, the first high priest.
+\v 5 who was the son of Abishua, who was the son of Phinehas, who was the son of Eleazar, who was the son of Aaron the first high priest.
 
 \s5
-\v 6 Ezra was a man who knew the laws that Moses wrote very well. Those were the laws that Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given to the Israelite people. He left Babylon after the king had told people
-to give him anything he requested. Indeed, Yahweh helped Ezra very much in all these matters.
-\v 7 Some of the priests, some descendants of Levi, some singers, some gatekeepers, and some men who worked in the temple, and some other Israelite people went up with Ezra to
-Jerusalem. That was during the seventh year that Artaxerxes was the king of Persia.
+\v 6 Ezra was a man who knew very well the laws that Moses wrote. Those were the laws that Yahweh the God of Israel had given to the Israelite people. He left Babylon after the king had told people to give him anything he requested. Indeed, Yahweh helped Ezra very much in all these matters.
+\v 7 Some of the priests, some descendants of Levi, some singers, some gatekeepers, some men who worked in the temple, and some other Israelite people went up with Ezra to Jerusalem. That was during the seventh year that Artaxerxes was the king of Persia.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 8 Ezra and the group with him arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year that Artaxerxes was king.
 \v 9 They had left Babylon on the first day of the first month, which was the first day of the Jewish year. Because God acted very kindly toward them, they arrived safely in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month of that year.
-\v 10 During Ezra's entire life, he devoted himself to studying the laws of Yahweh and how to obey those laws. He had also taught those laws and all the decrees to the Israelite people for many years.
+\v 10 During Ezra's entire life, he devoted himself to studying the laws of Yahweh and how to obey those laws. He had also for many years taught those laws and all the decrees to the Israelite people.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 11 Before Ezra left Babylon to go
-to Jerusalem, King Artaxerxes wrote a letter and gave a copy to him. This is what the king wrote:
-\v 12 "This letter is from me, Artaxerxes, the greatest of the kings. I am giving it to Ezra the priest, who has studied very well all the rules and regulations that the God who is in heaven gave
-to the Israelite people.
-\v 13 Ezra, I command that when you return to Jerusalem, any of the Israelite people in my kingdom who want to be allowed to go with you. That includes any priests and descendants of Levi
-who will work in the temple who want to go.
+\v 11 Before Ezra left Babylon to go to Jerusalem, King Artaxerxes wrote a letter and gave a copy to him. This is what the king wrote:
+\v 12 "This letter is from me, Artaxerxes, the greatest of the kings. I am giving it to Ezra the priest, who has studied very well all the rules and regulations that the God who is in heaven gave to the Israelite people.
+\v 13 Ezra, I command that when you return to Jerusalem, any of the Israelite people in my kingdom who want to return be allowed to go with you. That includes any priests and descendants of Levi who will work in the temple who want to go.
 
 \s5
-\v 14 I, along with my seven counselors, am sending you to Jerusalem, in order that you can determine what is happening there and in other towns in Judah. You are taking with you a copy
-of God's laws; make sure that the people are doing everything that is written in those laws.
-\v 15 We are also telling you to take with you the silver and gold that I and my advisors are wanting to give to you, in order that you will present it as an offering to the God of Israel
-who lives in Jerusalem.
-\v 16 You should also take any silver and gold that the people in the entire Babylonia province give to you, and the money that the priests and other Israelite people have happily said that they
-would give to you to be offerings for building the temple of their God in Jerusalem.
+\v 14 I, along with my seven counselors, am sending you to Jerusalem so that you can determine what is happening there and in other towns in Judah. You are taking with you a copy of God's laws; make sure that the people are doing everything that is written in those laws.
+\v 15 We are also telling you to take with you the silver and gold that I and my advisors are wanting to give to you, so that you will present them as an offering to the God of Israel who lives in Jerusalem.
+\v 16 You should also take any silver and gold that the people in the entire province of Babylon give to you, along with the money that the priests and other Israelite people have happily said that they would give to you to be offerings for building the temple of their God in Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
 \v 17 With this money, you should buy the bulls, rams, lambs, and the grain and wine that the priests will burn on the altar outside the temple of your God in Jerusalem.
-\v 18 If there is any silver or gold that remains after you have bought all those things, you and your companions are permitted to use it to buy whatever you desire, but buy only things that
-you know that God wants you to buy.
+\v 18 If there is any silver or gold that remains after you have bought all those things, you and your companions are permitted to use it to buy whatever you desire, but buy only things that you know that God wants you to buy.
 
 \s5
 \v 19 We have given to you some valuable items to be used in the temple of your God. Take them also to Jerusalem.
 \v 20 If you need any other things for the temple, you are permitted to get the money for those things from the royal treasury here.
 
 \s5
-\v 21 And I, King Artaxerxes, command this to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River: Give to Ezra the priest who has studied very well the laws of the God who is in heaven, everything that he requests, and give it to him quickly.
-\v 22 Give him up to 3,300 kilograms of silver, 22,000 liters of wheat, and 2,200 liters of wine, the 2,200 liters of olive oil, and all the salt that they need.
+\v 21 And I, King Artaxerxes, command this to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River: Give to Ezra the priest, who has studied very well the laws of the God who is in heaven, everything that he requests, and give it to him quickly.
+\v 22 Give him up to 3,300 kilograms of silver, 22,000 liters of wheat, 2,200 liters of wine, 2,200 liters of olive oil, and all the salt that they need.
 \v 23 Be sure that you provide whatever their God requires for his temple, because we certainly do not want him to be angry with me or with my descendants who will later be kings.
 
 \s5
-\v 24 We are also commanding that none of the priests, descendants of Levi who work in the temple, musicians, temple guards, or other men who work in the temple, will be required to
-pay any taxes.
+\v 24 We are also commanding that none of the priests, descendants of Levi who work in the temple, musicians, temple guards, or other men who work in the temple be required to pay any taxes.
 
 \s5
-\v 25 Ezra, your God has enabled you to become very wise. Using that wisdom, appoint men in the province west of the Euphrates River who will judge cases involving the people, and
-men who will judge cases involving the government. You must appoint men who know the laws of your God. All of you must teach God's laws to others who do not know them.
-\v 26 Everyone who does not obey God's laws or the laws of my government must be punished severely. Some of them will be executed, some will be put in prison, some will be sent out
-of the country or have all their property taken away from them."
+\v 25 Ezra, your God has enabled you to become very wise. Using that wisdom, appoint men in the province west of the Euphrates River who will judge cases involving the people, and appoint men who will judge cases involving the government. You must appoint men who know the laws of your God. All of you must teach God's laws to others who do not know them.
+\v 26 Everyone who does not obey God's laws or the laws of my government must be punished severely. Some of them will be executed, some will be put in prison, and some will be sent out of the country or have all their property taken away from them."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -444,70 +400,61 @@ of the country or have all their property taken away from them."
 \c 8
 \p
 \v 1 This is a list of the names of the leaders of the clans who came with me up to Jerusalem from Babylonia when Artaxerxes was king of Persia:
-\v 2 Gershom, in the clan descended from Aaron's grandson Phinehas.
-Daniel, in the clan descended from Aaron's son Ithamar.
-Hattush, a descendant of Shecaniah in the clan descended from King David.
-\v 3 Zechariah and 150 other men in the clan descended from Parosh.
+\v 2 Gershom, in the clan descended from Aaron's grandson Phinehas;
+Daniel, in the clan descended from Aaron's son Ithamar;
+Hattush, a descendant of Shekaniah in the clan descended from King David;
+\v 3 Zechariah and 150 other men in the clan descended from Parosh;
 
 \s5
-\v 4 Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah and two hundred other men in the clan descended from Pahath-Moab.
-\v 5 Ben Jahaziel and three hundred other men in the clan descended from Shecaniah.
-\v 6 Ebed son of Jonathan and fifty other men in the clan descended from Adin.
-\v 7 Jeshaiah son of Athaliah and seventy other men in the clan descended from Elam.
+\v 4 Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah and two hundred other men in the clan descended from Pahath-Moab;
+\v 5 Ben Jahaziel and three hundred other men in the clan descended from Shekaniah;
+\v 6 Ebed son of Jonathan and fifty other men in the clan descended from Adin;
+\v 7 Jeshaiah son of Athaliah and seventy other men in the clan descended from Elam;
 
 \s5
-\v 8 Zebadiah son of Michael and eighty other men in the clan descended from Shephatiah.
-\v 9 Obadiah son of Jehiel and 218 other men in the clan descended from Joab.
-\v 10 Ben Josiphiah and one hundred sixty other men in the clan descended from Shelomith.
-\v 11 Zechariah son of Bebai and twenty eight other men in the clan descended from another man whose name was Bebai.
+\v 8 Zebadiah son of Michael and eighty other men in the clan descended from Shephatiah;
+\v 9 Obadiah son of Jehiel and 218 other men in the clan descended from Joab;
+\v 10 Shelomith the son of Josiphiah and 160 other men from the clan descended from Bani;
+\v 11 Zechariah son of Bebai and twenty-eight other men in the clan descended from another man whose name was Bebai;
 
 \s5
-\v 12 Johanan son of Hakkatan and one hundred ten other men in the clan descended from Azgad.
-\v 13 Also Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, who returned here later with sixty other men in the clan descended from Adonikam.
+\v 12 Johanan son of Hakkatan and one hundred ten other men in the clan descended from Azgad;
+\v 13 Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, who returned here later with sixty other men in the clan descended from Adonikam;
 \v 14 Uthai and Zaccur and seventy other men in the clan descended from Bigvai.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 15 Ezra said, "I gathered together all of Jews at the canal that goes from Babylon to Ahava. We set up our tents there and stayed there for three days. During that time I read the lists of names
-and found out that there were priests going with us, but no other descendants of Levi who could help them in the temple.
-\v 16 So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, another man named Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were all leaders of the people. I also summoned Joiarib and yet another man named Elnathan (three in all), who were teachers.
+\v 15 Ezra said, "I gathered together all of Jews at the canal that goes from Babylon to Ahava. We set up our tents there and stayed there for three days. During that time I read the lists of names and found out that there were priests going with us, but no other descendants of Levi who could help them in the temple.
+\v 16 So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, another man named Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were all leaders of the people. I also summoned Joiarib and yet another man named Elnathan, who were teachers.
 
 \s5
-\v 17 I sent them all to Iddo, the leader of the descendants of Levi, who was living in Kasiphia, to request that he and his relatives and other men who had worked in the temple in Jerusalem send us
-some men who would go with us to work in God's new temple.
+\v 17 I sent them all to Iddo, the leader of the descendants of Levi, who was living in Kasiphia, to request that he and his relatives and other men who had worked in the temple in Jerusalem send us some men who would go with us to work in God's new temple.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 18 Because God acted kindly toward us, they brought to us a man named Sherebiah and eighteen of his sons and other relatives. Sherebiah was a very wise man, a descendant of Mahli,
-who was a grandson of Levi.
-\v 19 They also sent to us Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah, descendants of Levi's son Merari, and twenty of their relatives.
-\v 20 They also sent 220 other men to work in the temple. Those men's ancestors had been appointed by King David to assist the descendants of Levi. I listed the names of all
-those men.
+\v 18 Because God acted kindly toward us, they brought to us a man named Sherebiah and eighteen of his sons and other relatives. Sherebiah was a very wise man, a descendant of Mahli, who was a grandson of Levi.
+\v 19 They also sent to us Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah—a descendant of Levi's son Merari—and his relatives, twenty men in all.
+\v 20 They also sent 220 other men to work in the temple. Those men's ancestors had been appointed by King David to assist the descendants of Levi. I listed the names of all those men.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 21 There alongside the Ahava Canal, I announced a time for us all to fast and pray. I told them that we should humble ourselves in the presence of our God. We prayed that God would protect
-us while we traveled, and also protect our children and our possessions.
-\v 22 Previously we had told the king that our God takes care of all those who truly trust in him, but that he becomes very angry with those who refuse to obey him. So I would have been ashamed
-to ask the king to send soldiers and men riding on horses to protect us from our enemies while we were traveling along the road.
+\v 21 There alongside the Ahava Canal, I announced a time for us all to fast and pray. I told them that we should humble ourselves in the presence of our God. We prayed that God would protect us while we traveled and also protect our children and our possessions.
+\v 22 Previously, we had told the king that our God takes care of all those who truly trust in him but that he becomes very angry with those who refuse to obey him. So I would have been ashamed to ask the king to send soldiers and men riding on horses to protect us from our enemies while we were traveling along the road.
 \v 23 So we fasted and requested God to protect us, and we prayed to him.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 24 I chose twelve of the leaders of the priests, Sherebiah and Hashabiah and ten others.
-\v 25 I assigned them to supervise the transport to Jerusalem of the gifts of silver and gold and the other valuable items that the king and his advisors and other officials, and the Israelite people who were
-living in Babylonia, had contributed for the temple of our God.
+\v 24 I chose twelve of the leaders of the priests—Sherebiah and Hashabiah and ten others.
+\v 25 I assigned them to supervise the transport to Jerusalem of the gifts of silver and gold and the other valuable items that the king and his advisors and other officials and the Israelite people who were living in Babylonia had contributed for the temple of our God.
 
 \s5
-\v 26 As I gave these various items to those priests, I weighed each of the items. This was the total: About 22,750 kilograms of silver, items made from silver that altogether weighed 3,500 kilograms and 3,500 kilograms of gold,
+\v 26 As I gave these various items to those priests, I weighed each of the items. This was the total: about 22,750 kilograms of silver, items made from silver that altogether weighed 3,500 kilograms, 3,500 kilograms of gold,
 \v 27 twenty gold bowls that altogether weighed about eight and one-half kilograms, and two items made of polished bronze that were as valuable as ones made of gold.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 28 I said to those priests, 'You are specially set apart for Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors worshiped, and these valuable things are special to him in the same way. The people themselves gave these things to
-be offerings to Yahweh voluntarily.
-\v 29 So guard them carefully, and when we arrive in Jerusalem, weigh them in the presence of the priests, the descendants of Levi who will help the priests, and the other Israelite leaders there.
-They will then put them in the storerooms in the new temple.'
+\v 28 I said to those priests, 'You are specially set apart for Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors worshiped, and these valuable things are special to him in the same way. The people themselves gave these things to be offerings to Yahweh voluntarily.
+\v 29 So guard them carefully, and when we arrive in Jerusalem, weigh them in the presence of the priests, the descendants of Levi who will help the priests, and the other Israelite leaders there. They will then put them in the storerooms in the new temple.'
 \v 30 So the priests and descendants of Levi took from me all the gifts of silver and gold and the other valuable items, in order to carry them to the temple in Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
@@ -517,120 +464,94 @@ They will then put them in the storerooms in the new temple.'
 
 \s5
 \v 33 Then on the fourth day we went to the temple. There the silver and gold and the other items were weighed and given to the priest Meremoth son of Uriah. Eleazar the son of Phinehas and two descendants of Levi, Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui, were with him.
-\v 34 They counted everything, and wrote down how much they weighed, and wrote a description of each item.
+\v 34 They counted everything, wrote down how much they weighed, and wrote a description of each item.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 35 We who had returned from Babylonia offered to God sacrifices on the altar. We offered twelve bulls for all us Israelite people. We also offered ninety-six rams and seventy-seven lambs.
-We also sacrificed twelve goats to atone for the sins that all the people had committed. These were all completely burned on the altar.
-\v 36 Some of us who returned from Babylonia took to the governors and other officials of the province west of the Euphrates River the letter that the king had given to us. After they read the
-letter, they did all that they were able to do for us Israelite people and for the temple of God."
+\v 35 We who had returned from Babylonia offered to God sacrifices on the altar. We offered twelve bulls for all of us Israelite people. We also offered ninety-six rams and seventy-seven lambs. We also sacrificed twelve goats to atone for the sins that all the people had committed. These were all completely burned on the altar.
+\v 36 Some of us who returned from Babylonia took to the governors and other officials of the province west of the Euphrates River the letter that the king had given to us. After they read the letter, they did all that they were able to do for us Israelite people and for the temple of God."
 
 \s5
 \c 9
 \p
-\v 1 "Some time later, the Jewish leaders came to me and said, 'Many Israelites, and even some priests and other men who are descendants of Levi who work in the temple, have
-not kept themselves from doing what the other people who are living in this land do. They are doing the same disgusting things that are being done by the Canaan, Heth, Periz, Jebus, Ammon, and Amor
-peoples, and by the people from Moab and Egypt,
-\v 2 Specifically, some Israelite men have married women who are not Israelites, and they have allowed their sons to do the same thing. So we, God's sacred people, have become
-polluted. And some of our leaders and officials have been the first ones to betray God in this way!'
+\v 1 "Some time later, the Jewish leaders came to me and said, 'Many Israelites, and even some priests and other men who are descendants of Levi who work in the temple, have not kept themselves from doing what the other people who are living in this land do. They are doing the same disgusting things that are being done by the Canaanite, Hittite, Perizzite, Jebusite, Ammonite, and Amorite peoples, and by the people from Moab and Egypt.
+\v 2 Specifically, some Israelite men have married women who are not Israelites, and they have allowed their sons to do the same thing. So we, God's sacred people, have become polluted. And some of our leaders and officials have been the first ones to betray God in this way!'
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 3 When I heard that, I was overwhelmed, so I tore my clothes and tore some hair from my head and from my beard. Then I sat down, ashamed of my people since the
-Israelites knew that God had warned us that he would punish us if we disobeyed what he had said to us about marrying women who are not Israelites.
-\v 4 So many of them trembled when they heard that some of those who had returned from Babylonia had sinned like that. They came and sat with me until it was time to offer the evening
-sacrifices of grain.
+\v 3 When I heard that, I was overwhelmed, so I tore my clothes and tore some hair from my head and from my beard. Then I sat down, ashamed of my people, since the Israelites knew that God had warned us that he would punish us if we disobeyed what he had said to us about marrying women who are not Israelites.
+\v 4 So, many of them trembled when they heard that some of those who had returned from Babylonia had sinned like that. They came and sat with me until it was time to offer the evening sacrifices of grain.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 5 When it was time to offer those sacrifices, I was still sitting there, wearing those torn clothes and mourning. I stood up, and then I quickly prostrated myself on the ground. I lifted up my
-hands to Yahweh, my God,
+\v 5 When it was time to offer those sacrifices, I was still sitting there, wearing those torn clothes and mourning. I stood up and then I quickly prostrated myself on the ground. I lifted up my hands to Yahweh, my God,
 \v 6 and this is what I prayed:
 'Yahweh my God, I am very ashamed to raise my head in front of you. The sins that we Israelites have committed are very great; it is as though they have risen up higher than our heads. As for our guilt for committing those sins, it is as though it rises up to the heavens.
 
 \s5
-\v 7 Since the time that our ancestors lived until now, we have been very guilty. That is the reason that we and our kings and our priests have been defeated by the armies of the kings of
-other lands. They killed some of our people, they captured some, they robbed some, and they caused them all to be disgraced, just as we are today.
+\v 7 Since the time that our ancestors lived until now, we have been very guilty. That is the reason that we and our kings and our priests have been defeated by the armies of the kings of other lands. They killed some of our people, they captured some, they robbed some, and they caused them all to be disgraced, just as we are today.
 
 \s5
-\v 8 But now, Yahweh God, you have acted very kindly toward us. You have allowed some of us to survive. You have revived our spirits and allowed us to escape from being slaves in Babylonia
-and to return safely to live in this sacred place.
-\v 9 We were slaves, but you did not abandon us. Instead, because you are always faithful to your covenant with us, you caused the kings of Persia to act very kindly toward us. You have allowed
-us to continue to live and to rebuild your temple which had been completely destroyed. You have allowed us to start to live safely here in Jerusalem and in other towns in Judah.
+\v 8 But now, Yahweh God, you have acted very kindly toward us. You have allowed some of us to survive. You have revived our spirits and allowed us to escape from being slaves in Babylonia and to return safely to live in this sacred place.
+\v 9 We were slaves, but you did not abandon us. Instead, because you are always faithful to your covenant with us, you caused the kings of Persia to act very kindly toward us. You have allowed us to continue to live and to rebuild your temple which had been completely destroyed. You have allowed us to start to live safely here in Jerusalem and in other towns in Judah.
 
 \s5
 \v 10 Our God, what more can we say now? In spite of all that you have done for us, we have disobeyed your commands.
-\v 11 They are commands that you gave to your servants, the prophets, to tell to us. They told us that the land that we would occupy was polluted because of the detestable things that were done
-by the people who lived there. They said that the land was filled from one end to the other with people who did immoral things.
-\v 12 They said that we should not allow our daughters to marry their sons! We should not allow our sons to marry their daughters! We should not even try to cause things to go well for those people! They said that if we obeyed these
-instructions, our nation would be strong, and we would enjoy the good crops that grow on the land, and the land would belong to our descendants forever.
+\v 11 They are commands that you gave to your servants the prophets to tell to us. They told us that the land that we would occupy was polluted because of the detestable things that were done by the people who lived there. They said that the land was filled from one end to the other with people who did immoral things.
+\v 12 They said that we should not allow our daughters to marry their sons! We should not allow our sons to marry their daughters! We should not even try to cause things to go well for those people! They said that if we obeyed these instructions, our nation would be strong, and we would enjoy the good crops that grow on the land, and the land would belong to our descendants forever.
 
 \s5
-\v 13 But you punished us because we were very guilty for having done wicked things. Still, you have not punished us as much as we deserve to be punished. I say this because you, our God,
-have allowed some of us to survive.
-\v 14 However, some of us are again disobeying your commands, and we are marrying women who do those detestable things. If we continue to do that, surely you will get rid of all of us, with
-the result that none of us will remain alive.
+\v 13 But you punished us because we were very guilty for having done wicked things. Still, you have not punished us as much as we deserve to be punished. I say this because you, our God, have allowed some of us to survive.
+\v 14 However, some of us are again disobeying your commands, and we are marrying women who do those detestable things. If we continue to do that, surely you will get rid of all of us, with the result that none of us will remain alive.
 
 \s5
-\v 15 Yahweh, God of Israel, you always do the right thing! We are guilty. We are only a few people who have escaped from Babylonia, but we are praying to you, even though we do not deserve
-to be in your presence."'"
+\v 15 Yahweh, God of Israel, you always do the right thing! We are guilty. We are only a few people who have escaped from Babylonia, but we are praying to you, even though we do not deserve to be in your presence."'"
 
 \s5
 \c 10
 \p
-\v 1 While Ezra was kneeling down in front of the temple and praying and crying, he was confessing the sins that the Israelite people had committed. Many people, men and women and children,
-gathered around him and also cried very much.
-\v 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel in the clan of Elam, said this to him: "We have disobeyed God. Some of us have married women who are not Israelites. But we can still hope that Yahweh will be merciful to us Israelite people.
+\v 1 While Ezra was kneeling down in front of the temple and praying and crying, he was confessing the sins that the Israelite people had committed. Many people, men and women and children, gathered around him and also cried very much.
+\v 2 Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel in the clan of Elam said this to him: "We have disobeyed God. Some of us have married women who are not Israelites. But we can still hope that Yahweh will be merciful to us Israelite people.
 
 \s5
-\v 3 We will do what you, and the others who have an awesome respect for what our God has commanded, tell us to do. We will do what God told us in his laws. We will make a covenant
-with our God, saying that we will divorce our wives who are not Israelites, and we will send them away with their children.
+\v 3 We will do what you, as well as the others who have an awesome respect for what our God has commanded, tell us to do. We will do what God told us in his laws. We will make a covenant with our God, saying that we will divorce our wives who are not Israelites, and we will send them away with their children.
 \v 4 It is your responsibility to tell us what to do. So get up, and be courageous, and do what is necessary. We will support you."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 5 So Ezra stood up and demanded that the leaders of the priests, the descendants of Levi, and all the other Israelite people solemnly declare that they would do what Shecaniah said that they
-should do. So they all solemnly promised to do that.
-\v 6 Then Ezra went away from in front of the temple and went to the room where Jehohanan lived. He stayed there that night, but he did not eat or drink anything. He was still sad because some
-of the Israelites who had returned from Babylonia had not faithfully obeyed God's laws.
+\v 5 So Ezra stood up and demanded that the leaders of the priests, the descendants of Levi, and all the other Israelite people solemnly declare that they would do what Shekaniah said that they should do. So they all solemnly promised to do that.
+\v 6 Then Ezra went away from in front of the temple and went to the room where Jehohanan lived. He stayed there that night, but he did not eat or drink anything. He was still sad because some of the Israelites who had returned from Babylonia had not faithfully obeyed God's laws.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 7 Then the leaders sent a message to all the people in Jerusalem and in other towns in Judah, saying that all those who had returned from Babylonia should come to Jerusalem immediately.
-\v 8 The leaders also said that if any of them did not arrive within three days, they would order that all the property of those people be taken from them, and that they must no longer be considered to belong to the Israelite people; they would be considered to be foreigners.
+\v 8 The leaders also said that if any of them did not arrive within three days, they would order that all the property of those people be taken from them and that they must no longer be considered to belong to the Israelite people; they would be considered to be foreigners.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 9 So within three days, all the people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem. They were there, sitting in the courtyard in front of the temple. They were
-shaking because it was raining hard and because they were worried that they would be punished for what they had done.
-\v 10 Then Ezra stood up and said to them, "Some of you men have committed an act of treason against God. You have married women who are not Israelites. By doing that, you have made us
-Israelite people more guilty than we were before.
+\v 9 So within three days, all the people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem. They were there, sitting in the courtyard in front of the temple. They were shaking because it was raining hard and because they were worried that they would be punished for what they had done.
+\v 10 Then Ezra stood up and said to them, "Some of you men have committed an act of treason against God. You have married women who are not Israelites. By doing that, you have made us Israelite people more guilty than we were before.
 
 \s5
-\v 11 So now you must worship Yahweh, the God whom your ancestors worshiped, and you must do what he wants. Separate yourselves from the people of other nations and from the women
-from those nations whom you have married."
+\v 11 So now you must worship Yahweh, the God whom your ancestors worshiped, and you must do what he wants. Separate yourselves from the people of other nations and from the women from those nations whom you have married."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 12 The whole group answered, shouting loudly, "Yes, what you have said is right! We will do what you have said.
-\v 13 But we are a very large group, and it is raining hard. Also, there are many of us who have committed this evil sin. This is something that we cannot take care of in
-one or two days, and we cannot stand here in this rain.
+\v 13 But we are a very large group, and it is raining hard. Also, there are many of us who have committed this evil sin. This is something that we cannot take care of in one or two days, and we cannot stand here in this rain.
 
 \s5
-\v 14 So allow our leaders to decide for all of us what we should do. Tell everyone who has married a woman who is not Israelite to come at a time that you decide. They should come with the
-elders and judges from each city. If we do that, our God will stop being angry with us because of what we have done."
+\v 14 So allow our leaders to decide for all of us what we should do. Tell everyone who has married a woman who is not Israelite to come at a time that you decide. They should come with the elders and judges from each city. If we do that, our God will stop being angry with us because of what we have done."
 \p
-\v 15 Jonathan son of Asahel, and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah disagreed with this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai, a descendant of Levi, supported them.
+\v 15 Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah disagreed with this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai, a descendant of Levi, supported them.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 16 But all the others who had returned from Babylonia said that they would do it. So Ezra chose leaders of each of the clans, and I wrote down their names. On the first day of the tenth month these men came and sat
-down to investigate the matter.
+\v 16 But all the others who had returned from Babylonia said that they would do it. So I, Ezra, chose leaders of each of the clans, and I wrote down their names. On the first day of the tenth month these men came and sat down to investigate the matter.
 \v 17 By the first day of the first month of the next year they had finished determining which men had married women who were not Israelites.
 
 \s5
-\v 18 This is a list of the names of the priests who had married foreign women, and the clans to which they belonged.
+\v 18 This is a list of the names of the priests who had married foreign women and the clans to which they belonged.
 In the clan of Jeshua and his brothers, who were sons of Jehozadak, there were Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
 \v 19 They solemnly promised to divorce their wives, and they each sacrificed a ram to be an offering to atone for their sins.
 
@@ -643,13 +564,13 @@ In the clan of Jeshua and his brothers, who were sons of Jehozadak, there were M
 \v 23 The descendants of Levi who had married foreign women were Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (whose other name was Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
 \v 24 There was Eliashib the musician. Among the temple guards there were Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
 \v 25 This is a list of the names of the other Israelites who had married foreign wives:
-In the clan of Parosh there were Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.
+In the clan of Parosh there were Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, another Malkijah, and Benaiah.
 
 \s5
 \v 26 In the clan of Elam there were Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
 \v 27 In the clan of Zattu there were Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
 \v 28 In the clan of Bebai there were Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
-\v 29 In the clan of Bani there were Meshullam, Malluk, Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal Jeremoth.
+\v 29 In the clan of Bani there were Meshullam, Malluk, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
 
 \s5
 \v 30 In the clan of Pahath-Moab there were Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.

16-NEH.usfm

@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1 I am Nehemiah son of Hakaliah. I am writing this account of what I did when I returned to Jerusalem. During the twentieth year after King Artaxerxes began to rule the Persian Empire, in the month of Kislev. I was in Susa, the capital of Persia.
+\v 1 I am Nehemiah son of Hakaliah. I am writing this account of what I did when I returned to Jerusalem. During the twentieth year after King Artaxerxes began to rule the Persian Empire, in the month of Kislev, I was in Susa, the capital of Persia.
 \p
-\v 2 My brother Hanani came to see me. He and some other men were from Judah. I asked them questions about the small number of Jews who had escaped from the Babylonian exile, and about the city of Jerusalem.
+\v 2 My brother Hanani came to see me. He and some other men were from Judah. I asked them questions about the small number of Jews who had escaped from the Babylonian exile and about the city of Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -20,12 +20,11 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 4 When I heard that, I sat down and cried. For many days I mourned and fasted, and I prayed to the God who is in heaven.
-\v 5 I said,
-"Yahweh, you are the God who is in heaven. You are the great and awesome God, and you keep your sacred bond and promise with everyone who loves you and who obeys your rules and commands.
+\v 5 I said, "Yahweh, you are the God who is in heaven. You are the great and awesome God, and you keep your sacred bond and promise with everyone who loves you and who obeys your rules and commands.
 
 \s5
 \v 6 Now please look at me and listen to what I am praying. I pray during the day and at night for your Israelite people. I confess that we have sinned. Even I and my family have sinned against you.
-\v 7 We have acted very wickedly. Many years ago your servant Moses gave us your laws and all the decrees you commanded us to do, but we did not keep them.
+\v 7 We have acted very wickedly. Many years ago, your servant Moses gave us your laws and all the decrees you commanded us to do, but we did not keep them.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -35,13 +34,13 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 10 We are your servants. We are the people whom you have delivered from slavery by your very great power. You did that because you are able to do whatever you desire.
-\v 11 Yahweh, please hear my prayer, I who am your servant. Please hear the prayers of all your people who have great joy when they honor you for who you are and what you do. Now I pray you would give me success when I go to the king; and protect me as I make a request of the king that could put my life in jeopardy. Give me mercy."
+\v 11 Yahweh, please hear my prayer, I who am your servant. Please hear the prayers of all of your people who have great joy when they honor you for who you are and what you do. Now I pray you would give me success when I go to the king and protect me as I make a request of the king that could put my life in jeopardy. Give me mercy."
 \p I was serving as one of the most trusted servants to the king.
 
 \s5
 \c 2
 \p
-\v 1 In the month of Nisan during the twentieth year of the rule of King Artaxerxes, it was time to serve wine to him during a feast. I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never looked sad when I was before the king.
+\v 1 In the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of the rule of King Artaxerxes, it was time to serve wine to him during a feast. I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never looked sad when I was before the king.
 \v 2 But that day, the king looked at me and he said to me, "Why are you so sad? You do not look sick. Perhaps your spirit is troubled?" Then I was very afraid.
 
 \s5
@@ -54,12 +53,12 @@
 \p And before I answered him, I prayed to God in heaven.
 \v 5 Then I replied, "If you are willing to do it, and if I have pleased you, then you could send me to Jerusalem, where my ancestors are buried, so that I may rebuild the city."
 \p
-\v 6 The king (with queen sitting beside him) asked me, "If I allow you to go, how long will you be gone? And when will you return?" He gave me permisson to go as soon as I gave him the dates of my going there and coming back again.
+\v 6 The king (with the queen sitting beside him) asked me, "If I allow you to go, how long will you be gone? And when will you return?" He gave me permission to go as soon as I gave him the dates of my going there and coming back again.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 7 I also said to the king, "As a reward for my faithful service to you, please give me letters addressed to the governors who oversee the area beyond the Euphrates River. Please give them orders to allow me to travel safely through their province on my way to and from Judah.
-\v 8 Also, please write a letter to Asaph, who manages all the timber in your forest, and tell him to make beams to repair the gates of the fortress next to the temple, and to repair the walls of the city, and the house in which I will live." The king did what I requested him to do, because God was helping me get what I needed for these repairs.
+\v 8 Also, please write a letter to Asaph, who manages all the timber in your forest, and tell him to make beams to repair the gates of the fortress next to the temple and to repair the walls of the city and the house in which I will live." The king did what I requested him to do because God was helping me get what I needed for these repairs.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -78,56 +77,56 @@
 \v 14 Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the pool called the King's Pool, but my donkey could not get through the narrow opening.
 
 \s5
-\v 15 So I turned back and went along the Kidron Valley and I inspected the wall there before I turned back and entered the city again at the Valley Gate.
-\v 16 The city officials did not know where I had gone, or what I had done. I had not said anything about it to the Jewish leaders or the officials or the priests or any of the others who would do the repair work.
+\v 15 So I turned back and went along the Kidron Valley, and I inspected the wall there before I turned back and entered the city again at the Valley Gate.
+\v 16 The city officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done. I had not said anything about it to the Jewish leaders or the officials or the priests or any of the others who would do the repair work.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 17 I said, "You all know very well the terrible things that have happened to our city. The city is lies in ruins, and even the gates are burned down. Come, let us do the work to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. If we do that, we will no longer be ashamed of our city."
-\v 18 Then I told them about how God had kindly helped me when I talked to the king, and what the king had said to me.
+\v 17 I said, "You all know very well the terrible things that have happened to our city. The city is in ruins and even the gates are burned down. Come, let us do the work to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. If we do that, we will no longer be ashamed of our city."
+\v 18 Then I told them about how God had kindly helped me when I talked to the king and what the king had said to me.
 \p They replied, "Let us get up and build!" So they got ready to do this good work.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 19 But Sanballat, Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arabian, heard about what we planned to do. They mocked and made fun of us. They said, "What is this work that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"
+\v 19 But Sanballat, Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arabian heard about what we planned to do. They mocked and made fun of us. They said, "What is this work that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"
 \p
 \v 20 But I replied, "The God who is in heaven will give us success. But you have no right to this city, you have no deed, you have no lawful claim to it, and you have no historic connection to the city of Jerusalem."
 
 \s5
 \c 3
 \p
-\v 1 Then Eliashib, the high priest of Israel, working with the other priests, rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They set it apart for the honor of Yahweh, and set the doors of the gate in place. Then they rebuilt the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred, and they set it apart to honor Yahweh. They also rebuilt the Tower of Hananel.
-\v 2 Next to them, men from Jericho were rebuilding. Next to them, Zaccur son of Imri, was rebuilding.
+\v 1 Then Eliashib, the high priest of Israel, working with the other priests, rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They set it apart for the honor of Yahweh and set the doors of the gate in place. Then they rebuilt the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred, and they set it apart to honor Yahweh. They also rebuilt the Tower of Hananel.
+\v 2 Next to them, men from Jericho were rebuilding. Next to them, Zakkur son of Imri was rebuilding.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid in the wooden beams above the gates, and also set the doors in place. Then they affixed the bolt and the bars for a strong lock.
-\v 4 Next to them, Meremoth, the son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz, repaired the walls to make them strong. Next to him, Meshullam son of Berekiah and grandson of Meshezabel, repaired part of the wall. Next to him, Zadok son of Baana repaired part of the wall.
+\v 3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid the wooden beams above the gates and also set the doors in place. Then they fastened the bolt and the bars for a strong lock.
+\v 4 Next to them, Meremoth son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz repaired the walls to make them strong. Next to him, Meshullam son of Berekiah and grandson of Meshezabel repaired part of the wall. Next to him, Zadok son of Baana repaired part of the wall.
 \v 5 Next to him, Tekoites repaired part of the wall, but the leaders of Tekoa refused to do the work that their supervisors assigned to them.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 6 Joiada son of Paseah, and Meshullam son of Besodeiah, repaired the Old Gate. They also put in their places the beams above the gate and put in the bolts and the bars for locking the gate.
-\v 7 Next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, who were men from Gibeon and Mizpah, made repairs on the portion where the governor of the province beyond the River lived.
+\v 6 Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate. They also put in their places the beams above the gate and put in the bolts and the bars for locking the gate.
+\v 7 Next to them, Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, who were men from Gibeon and Mizpah, made repairs on the portion where the governor of the province west of the Euphrates River lived.
 
 \s5
-\v 8 Next to him, Uzziel son of Harhaiah, and Hananiah, but they worked on a section of the wall as far as the Broad Wall. Harhaiah made things from gold, and Hananiah made perfumes.
+\v 8 Next to him, both Uzziel son of Harhaiah and Hananiah worked on a section of the wall as far as the Broad Wall. Harhaiah made things from gold, and Hananiah made perfumes.
 \v 9 Next to them, Rephaiah son of Hur, who ruled half of the district of Jerusalem, repaired part of the wall.
 \v 10 Next to him, Jedaiah son of Harumaph repaired part of the wall near his house. Next to him, Hattush son of Hashabneiah repaired part of the wall.
 
 \s5
-\v 11 Malkijah son of Harim, and Hashub son of Pahathmoab, repaired a section of the wall, and also repaired the Tower of the Ovens.
+\v 11 Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired a section of the wall and also repaired the Tower of the Ovens.
 \v 12 Next to him, Shallum son of Hallohesh, who ruled the other half of the district of Jerusalem, repaired part of the wall. His daughters helped him with the work.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 Hanun and people from the city of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They put the gates in their places, and also put in the bolts and bars for locking the gate. They repaired the wall for 460 meters, as far as the Dung Gate.
+\v 13 Hanun and people from the city of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They put the gates in their places and also put in the bolts and bars for locking the gate. They repaired the wall for 460 meters, as far as the Dung Gate.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 14 Malkijah son of Rekab, who ruled the district of Beth Haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He also put in their places the bolts and bars for locking the gate.
+\v 14 Malkijah son of Rekab, who ruled the district of Beth Hakkerem, repaired the Dung Gate. He also put in their places the bolts and bars for locking the gate.
 \p
-\v 15 Shallum son of Colhozeh, who ruled the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He put a roof over the gate, and put in their places the gates and the bolts and the bars for locking the gate. Near the Pool of Siloam he built the wall next to the king's garden, as far as the steps that went down from the city of David.
+\v 15 Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, who ruled the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He put a roof over the gate and put in their places the gates and the bolts and bars for locking the gate. Near the Pool of Siloam, he built the wall next to the king's garden, as far as the steps that went down from the city of David.
 
 \s5
 \v 16 Next to him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, who ruled half of the district of Beth Zur, repaired the wall as far as the tombs in the city of David, to the pool that was man-made, and to the House of the Heroes.
@@ -136,7 +135,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 18 Binnui son of Henadad, who ruled the other half of the district of Keilah, repaired the next section along with other descendants of Levi.
-\v 19 Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, who ruled the city of Mizpah, repaired another section in front of the steps which went up to the armory, up to the point where there is a buttress at the corner of the wall.
+\v 19 Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, who ruled the city of Mizpah, repaired another section in front of the steps that went up to the armory, up to the point where there is a buttress at the corner of the wall.
 
 \s5
 \v 20 Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai repaired a section of the wall with great enthusiasm. He worked on the section from the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest to the end of his house.
@@ -145,19 +144,19 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 22 Next to him, several priests repaired parts of the wall. The priests from the area near Jerusalem repaired one section.
-\v 23 Next to them, Benjamin and Hasshub repaired a section in front of their house. Azariah son of Maaseiah and grandson of Ananiah, repaired the next section in front of his house.
+\v 23 Next to them, Benjamin and Hasshub repaired a section in front of their house. Azariah son of Maaseiah and grandson of Ananiah repaired the next section in front of his house.
 \v 24 Next to him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired a section, from Azariah's house to where the wall turns a bit.
 
 \s5
 \v 25 Next to him, Palal son of Uzai repaired a section, from where the wall turns and from where the watchtower is taller than the upper palace. The watchtower is near the courtyard where the guards lived. Next to Palal, Pedaiah son of Parosh repaired the wall.
-\v 26 Next to him the temple servants repaired a section facing the Water Gate on the east side of the tall tower.
+\v 26 Next to him, the temple servants repaired a section facing the Water Gate on the east side of the tall tower.
 \v 27 Next to him, the Tekoites repaired a second section that was in front of the tall tower as far as the wall of Ophel.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 28 A group of priests repaired the wall north from the Horse Gate. Each one repaired the section in front of his own house.
-\v 29 Next to them, Zadok son of Immer repaired the section in front of his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, who was the gatekeeper at the east gate, repaired the next section.
-\v 30 Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired a section. That was the second section that they repaired. After him Meshullam son of Berechiah repaired the walls in the section that faced the rooms where he lived.
+\v 29 Next to them, Zadok son of Immer repaired the section in front of his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shekaniah, who was the gatekeeper at the east gate, repaired the next section.
+\v 30 Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired a section. That was the second section that they repaired. After him, Meshullam son of Berekiah repaired the walls in the section that faced the rooms where he lived.
 
 \s5
 \v 31 Next to them, Malkijah, who also made things from gold, repaired a section as far as the building used by the temple servants and merchants, which was in front of the Appointment Gate and the upper apartments on the corner.
@@ -166,22 +165,22 @@
 \s5
 \c 4
 \p
-\v 1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the city wall, the fact that they were rebuilding Jerusalem burned like a fire within him, and he was furious and he spoke of the Jews with disgust.
-\v 2 While his counselors and officials of the army troops who had come from Samaria were listening he said, "These Jews can hardly stand on their own legs, what do they think they are doing? Will they rebuild the city and live in it themselves? Will they restore the temple and the all the sacrifices that the priests gave to Yahweh? Will they finish such a great work in only a day? Will they turn these burned and useless rocks into useful material to rebuilt the wall and will they bring life to the city again?
+\v 1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the city wall, the fact that they were rebuilding Jerusalem burned like a fire within him, and he was furious, and he spoke of the Jews with disgust.
+\v 2 While his counselors and officials of the army troops who had come from Samaria were listening, he said, "These Jews can hardly stand on their own legs; what do they think they are doing? Will they rebuild the city and live in it themselves? Will they restore the temple and all the sacrifices that the priests gave to Yahweh? Will they finish such a great work in only a day? Will they turn these burned and useless rocks into useful material to rebuild the wall, and will they bring life to the city again?
 \p
 \v 3 Tobiah was standing beside Sanballat. He said, "That wall they are building is so weak that even if a little fox climbed up on it, their stone wall would fall to the ground!"
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 4 Then I prayed. I said, "Our God, hear us, because they are ridiculing us! Cause the words of their insults to fall back on themselves! Allow their enemies to come and capture them and force them to go to a foreign land!
-\v 5 They are guilty. Do not take away their guilt and let them answer for the sin they committed before you. With their insults, they are making those who are rebuilding the walls become very angry!"
+\v 5 They are guilty. Do not take away their guilt, and let them answer for the sin they committed before you. With their insults, they are making those who are rebuilding the walls become very angry!"
 \p
 \v 6 But after some time, the workers built the wall around the whole city to about half its total height. They were able to accomplish this because they wanted to do the best work they could do.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the work on the wall was continuing and that we were filling in the gaps in the wall, they became very angry.
-\v 8 They all made a plan together to come and fight against the people of Jerusalem, and to cause confusion within it.
+\v 8 They all made a plan together to come and fight against the people of Jerusalem and to cause confusion within it.
 \v 9 But we prayed to our God to protect us, and we put men around the walls to guard the city day and night because of these who were so angry with us for rebuilding the wall.
 
 \s5
@@ -199,13 +198,13 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 15 Our enemies heard that we knew what they were planning to do and that God had spoiled all their plans to stop our work. So we all returned to work on the wall, at the same places we were working before.
+\v 15 Our enemies heard that we knew what they were planning to do and that God had spoiled all of their plans to stop our work. So we all returned to work on the wall, at the same places we were working before.
 \p
 \v 16 But after that, only half of the men there were doing the work on the wall. The others stood there holding their spears, shields, bows and arrows, and wearing armor for protection. The leaders stood guard behind the people of Judah.
 
 \s5
-\v 17 Those who were building the wall and those who carried the heavy loads on their backs, all of them built the wall with one hand and held a weapon in the other hand.
-\v 18 All who were building the wall had his sword fastened to his side. The man who would blow the trumpet if our enemies attacked was standing at my side.
+\v 17 Those who were building the wall and those who carried the heavy loads on their backs—all of them built the wall with one hand and held a weapon in the other hand.
+\v 18 All who were building the wall had their swords fastened to their sides. The man who would blow the trumpet if our enemies attacked was standing at my side.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -216,7 +215,7 @@
 \p
 \v 21 So we continued to work. Half of the men continued to hold their spears all day, from when the sun rose in the morning until the stars appeared at night.
 \v 22 At that time, I also said to the people, "Tell every worker and his helper that they must stay inside Jerusalem at night. By doing that, they can guard us at night, and they can work on the wall during the daytime."
-\v 23 During that time, I did not put away my clothing, and I always carried my weapon The same was true of my brothers, my servants, and the men who followed me and served as guards. All of us did the same, even if we just went to get a drink of water.
+\v 23 During that time, I did not put away my clothing, and I always carried my weapon. The same was true of my brothers, my servants, and the men who followed me and served as guards. All of us did the same, even if we just went to get a drink of water.
 
 \s5
 \c 5
@@ -224,7 +223,7 @@
 \v 1 Later, many of the men and their wives cried out for justice because of what some of the other Jews were doing.
 \v 2 Some of them said, "We have many children. So we need a lot of grain to be able to eat and stay alive."
 \p
-\v 3 Others said, "it has been necessary for us to mortgage the fields and vineyards and houses that we own so that we may get grain to eat during this famine."
+\v 3 Others said, "It has been necessary for us to mortgage the fields and vineyards and houses that we own so that we may get grain to eat during this famine."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -239,7 +238,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 9 Then I said to them, "What you are doing is terrible. Should you not obey God and do what is right? If you did, you would prevent our enemies from treating us with disrepect.
+\v 9 Then I said to them, "What you are doing is terrible. Should you not obey God and do what is right? If you did, you would prevent our enemies from treating us with disrespect.
 \v 10 I and my fellow Jews and my servants have lent money and grain to people. But let us all stop charging interest on any of these loans.
 \v 11 Also, you must give back to them their fields, their vineyards, their olive tree orchards, and their houses that you have taken from them. You must also give back to them the interest that you charged them when they borrowed money, grain, wine, and olive oil from you. You must do this today!"
 
@@ -258,29 +257,29 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 16 I also continued to work on this wall, and we did not buy any land from the people. All those who worked for me joined me to work on the wall.
-\v 17 Also, every day I was responsible to feed at our table the Jews and the officials, one hundred and fifty people; and we also fed the visitors who came from other countries around us.
+\v 17 Also, every day I was responsible to feed at our table the Jews and the officials—one hundred and fifty people. We also fed the visitors who came from other countries around us.
 
 \s5
-\v 18 Each day I told my servants to serve us the meat from one ox, six very good sheep, and birds. And every ten days I gave them a large new supply of wine. But I knew that the people were burdened by paying a great deal of money for taxes, so I did not accept the money that I was entitled to as governor.
+\v 18 Each day, I told my servants to serve us the meat from one ox, six very good sheep, and birds. And every ten days I gave them a large new supply of wine. But I knew that the people were burdened by paying a large amount of money for taxes, so I did not accept the money that I was entitled to as governor.
 \p
 \v 19 My God, think of me, and reward me for all that I have done for this people.
 
 \s5
 \c 6
 \p
-\v 1 Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and our other enemies heard a report that we had finished rebuilding the wall, and that now there were no more gaps, although we had not yet replaced the doors in the gates.
+\v 1 Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and our other enemies heard a report that we had finished rebuilding the wall and that now there were no more gaps, although we had not yet replaced the doors in the gates.
 \v 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message that read, "Come and talk with us at a place in the plain of Ono north of Jerusalem." But it was no secret that they wanted to harm me.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 3 So I sent messengers to them, to tell them, "I am doing an important work, and I cannot go down there. This work should not be delayed just so I can go down to talk with you.
+\v 3 So I sent messengers to them to tell them, "I am doing an important work, and I cannot go down there. This work should not be delayed just so I can go down to talk with you."
 \v 4 They sent me the same message four times, and each time when I replied to them I said the same thing.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 5 Then Sanballat sent one of his servants to me, bringing a fifth message. This one was written, but it was not sealed and he held it in his hand.
 \v 6 This is what was written in the message:
-\pi "Some people in the nearby countries have heard a report that you and the other Jews are rebuilding the wall in order to be able start a rebellion against the king of Babylon, and that you are planning to become the king of the Israel. Geshem has told us that this is the truth.
+\pi "Some people in the nearby countries have heard a report that you and the other Jews are rebuilding the wall in order to be able start a rebellion against the king of Babylon, and that you are planning to become the king of Israel. Geshem has told us that this is the truth.
 
 \s5
 \pi
@@ -293,7 +292,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 10 One day I went to talk with Shemaia son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel. I went to talk with him in his house. He was ordered not to leave his house. He said to me, "You and I must enter the temple, and we must go to one of the rooms in the center of the temple, and lock the doors. They are going to come to kill you. They are coming tonight to kill you."
+\v 10 One day, I went to talk with Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel. I went to talk with him in his house. He was ordered not to leave his house. He said to me, "You and I must enter the temple, and we must go to one of the rooms in the center of the temple and lock the doors. They are going to come to kill you. They are coming tonight to kill you."
 \p
 \v 11 I replied, "I am not that kind of person! I would not run and hide in the temple to save my life! No, I will not do that!"
 
@@ -306,131 +305,131 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 15 We finished rebuilding the wall in the month of Elul, on the twenty-fifth day of the month. We did all the work in fifty-two days.
-\v 16 When our enemies in the nearby countries heard about that, they became very afraid and they were humiliated, because they knew it was God who helped us complete this work.
+\v 16 When our enemies in the nearby countries heard about that, they became very afraid were humiliated because they knew it was God who helped us complete this work.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 17 During this time, the Jewish leaders had been sending many messages to Tobiah, and Tobiah had been sending messages back to them.
-\v 18 Many people in Judea had sworn their allegiance to Tobiah. He was the son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and Tobiah's son Jehohanan married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah.
+\v 18 Many people in Judea had sworn their allegiance to Tobiah. He was the son-in-law of Shekaniah son of Arah, and Tobiah's son Jehohanan married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah.
 \v 19 People often talked in my presence about all the good deeds that Tobiah had done, and then they would tell him everything that I said. So Tobiah sent many letters to me to try to cause me to become afraid.
 
 \s5
 \c 7
 \p
-\v 1 After the wall had been finished and we had put the gates in their places, we assigned to the temple guards and to the members of the sacred choir and the other descendants of Levi the work that they were to do.
+\v 1 After the wall had been finished and we had put the gates in their places, we assigned to the temple guards, to the members of the sacred choir, and to the other descendants of Levi the work that they were to do.
 \v 2 I appointed my brother Hanani as governor of Jerusalem. He was a faithful man who respected God and honored him, more than many others. In addition, Hananiah was appointed commander of the fortress there in Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
-\v 3 I said to them, "Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. And close the gates and put the bars across the doors only when gatekeepers are guarding the gates." I also told them to appoint some people who live in Jerusalem to be guards, and to assign some of them to guard stations around the city, and some would guard near their own houses."
+\v 3 I said to them, "Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. And close the gates and put the bars across the doors only when gatekeepers are guarding the gates." I also told them to appoint some people who live in Jerusalem to be guards and to assign some of them to guard stations around the city and some to guard near their own houses."
 \p
 \v 4 The city of Jerusalem covered a large area, but at that time not many people lived in the city, and they had not rebuilt any of the houses.
 
 \s5
-\v 5 God gave me the idea to summon the leaders and officials and other people, and to enroll them by their families in the books of the records of the families. I also found the records of the people who had been the first ones to return to Jerusalem. This is what I found written in those records.
+\v 5 God gave me the idea to summon the leaders and officials and other people and to enroll them by their families in the books of the records of the families. I also found the records of the people who had been the first ones to return to Jerusalem. This is what I found written in those records.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 6 "This is a list of the people who returned to Jerusalem and to other places in Judea. They had been living in Babylonia. Nebuchadnezzar had taken them there. They returned to Jerusalem and to Judah. Each one who returned went back to his own city where his ancestors had lived before the exile.
 \v 7 They came back with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.
-\p The number of men from the people who returned to Judah are listed next.
+\p The number of men from the people who returned to Judah are listed next:
 
 \s5
-\v 8 From the descendants of Parosh, 2,172,
+\v 8 from the descendants of Parosh, 2,172;
 \q
-\v 9 from the descendants of Shephatiah, 372,
+\v 9 from the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;
 \q
-\v 10 from the descendants of Arah, 652.
+\v 10 from the descendants of Arah, 652;
 
 \s5
 \q
-\v 11 From the descendants of Pahathmoab, the descendants of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818,
+\v 11 from the descendants of Pahath-Moab, the descendants of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818;
 \q
-\v 12 from the descendants of Elam, 1,254,
+\v 12 from the descendants of Elam, 1,254;
 \q
-\v 13 from the descendants of Zattu, 845,
+\v 13 from the descendants of Zattu, 845;
 \q
-\v 14 from the descendants of Zakkai, 760.
+\v 14 from the descendants of Zakkai, 760;
 
 \s5
 \q
-\v 15 From the descendants of Bani, 648,
+\v 15 from the descendants of Bani, 648;
 \q
-\v 16 from the descendants of Bebai, 628,
+\v 16 from the descendants of Bebai, 628;
 \q
-\v 17 from the descendants of Azgad, 2,322,
+\v 17 from the descendants of Azgad, 2,322;
 \q
-\v 18 from the descendants of Adonikam, 667.
+\v 18 from the descendants of Adonikam, 667;
 
 \s5
 \q
-\v 19 From the descendants of Bigvai, 2,067,
+\v 19 from the descendants of Bigvai, 2,067;
 \q
-\v 20 from the descendants of Adin, 655,
+\v 20 from the descendants of Adin, 655;
 \q
-\v 21 from the descendants of Ater, whose other name is Hezekiah, 98,
+\v 21 from the descendants of Ater, who descended from Hezekiah, 98;
 \q
-\v 22 from the descendants of Hashum, 328.
+\v 22 from the descendants of Hashum, 328;
 
 \s5
 \q
-\v 23 From the descendants of Bezai, 324,
+\v 23 from the descendants of Bezai, 324;
 \q
-\v 24 from the descendants of Hariph, whose other name is Jorah, 112,
+\v 24 from the descendants of Hariph, 112;
 \q
-\v 25 from the descendants of Gibeon, whose other name is Gibbar, ninety-five.
+\v 25 from the descendants of Gibeon, ninety-five.
 \pi
 \v 26 Men whose ancestors had lived in these towns also returned:
-\q Men from Bethlehem and Netophah, 188.
+\q men from Bethlehem and Netophah, 188;
 
 \s5
 \q
-\v 27 There were also men from Anathoth, 128,
+\v 27 men from Anathoth, 128;
 \q
-\v 28 men from Beth Azmaveth, forty-two,
+\v 28 men from Beth Azmaveth, forty-two;
 \q
-\v 29 men from Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth, 743,
+\v 29 men from Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth, 743;
 \q
-\v 30 men from Ramah and Geba, 621.
+\v 30 men from Ramah and Geba, 621;
 
 \s5
 \q
-\v 31 There were men from Micmash, 122,
+\v 31 men from Micmash, 122;
 \q
-\v 32 men from Bethel and Ai, 123,
+\v 32 men from Bethel and Ai, 123;
 \q
-\v 33 men from Nebo, fifty-two,
+\v 33 men from Nebo, fifty-two;
 \q
-\v 34 men from Elam, 1,254.
+\v 34 men from Elam, 1,254;
 
 \s5
 \q
-\v 35 There were men from Harim, 320,
+\v 35 men from Harim, 320;
 \q
-\v 36 men from Jericho, 345,
+\v 36 men from Jericho, 345;
 \q
-\v 37 men from Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721,
+\v 37 men from Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721;
 \q
 \v 38 men from Senaah, 3,930.
 \p These priests also returned:
 
 \s5
 \q
-\v 39 The descendants of Jedaiah, who are the family of Jeshua, 973,
+\v 39 the descendants of Jedaiah, who are the family of Jeshua, 973;
 \q
-\v 40 the descendants of Immer, 1,052,
+\v 40 the descendants of Immer, 1,052;
 \q
-\v 41 the descendants of Pashhur, 1,247,
+\v 41 the descendants of Pashhur, 1,247;
 \q
 \v 42 the descendants of Harim, 1,017.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 43 Descendants of Levi who returned were:
-\q the descendants of Jeshua, Kadmiel, Binnui, and Hodeva, seventy-four,
+\q the descendants of Jeshua, Kadmiel, Binnui, and Hodaviah, seventy-four;
 \q
 \v 44 singers who were descendants of Asaph, 148.
 \p
-\v 45 Also 138 temple gatekeepers from the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai, returned.
+\v 45 Also, 138 temple gatekeepers from the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai returned.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -449,13 +448,13 @@
 \q
 \v 51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,
 \q
-\v 52 Besai, Meunim, Ephusesim who is also called Nephushesim,
+\v 52 Besai, Meunim, Nephusim,
 
 \s5
 \q
 \v 53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
 \q
-\v 54 Bazluth who is also called Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
+\v 54 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
 \q
 \v 55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
 \q
@@ -466,26 +465,26 @@
 \v 57 Descendants of the servants of King Solomon who returned were:
 \q Sotai, Sophereth, Perida,
 \q
-\v 58 Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel,
+\v 58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,
 \q
-\v 59 the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pochereth Hazzebaim, the descendants of Amon.
+\v 59 the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pokereth-Hazzebaim, the descendants of Amon.
 \p
 \v 60 Altogether, there were 392 temple workers and descendants of Solomon's servants who returned.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 61-62 Another group of 642 people from the clans of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda returned from the towns of Telmelah, Telharsha, Kerub, Addon, also known as Addon, and Immer in Babylonia. But they could not prove that they were descendants of Israel.
+\v 61-62 Another group of 642 people from the clans of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda returned from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer in Babylonia. But they could not prove that they were descendants of Israel.
 \pi
 \v 63 Priests from the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai also returned. Barzillai had married a woman who is a descendant of a man named Barzillai from the region of Gilead, and he had taken his wife's family name.
 
 \s5
 \v 64 They searched in the records that contained the names of people's ancestors, but they could not find the names of those families, so they were not allowed to have the rights and duties that priests had. They did not qualify to be priests because they could not trace their family history.
-\v 65 The governor told them they should not be allowed to eat the priests' share of the food, taken from the sacrifices, and they should come who could use the marked stones to find what God said about their being priests once more.
+\v 65 The governor told them they should not be allowed to eat the priests' share of the food taken from the sacrifices, and they should to a priest come who could use the marked stones to find what God said about their being priests again.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 66 Altogether, there were 42,360 people who returned to Judea.
-\v 67 There were also 7,337 of their servants, and 245 singers, counting both men and women.
+\v 67 There were also 7,337 of their servants and 245 singers, counting both men and women.
 
 \s5
 \v 68 The Israelites also brought back from Babylonia 736 horses, 245 mules,
@@ -494,8 +493,8 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 70 Some of the leaders of the clans gave gifts for the work of rebuilding the temple. The governor gave eight and one-half kilograms of gold, fifty bowls to be used in the temple, and 530 robes for the priests.
-\v 71 The other leaders gave to the treasury 170 kilograms of gold, and the leaders of the clans gave a total of one and 1,200 kilograms of silver.
-\v 72 The rest of the people gave 170 kilograms of gold, and 1,100 kilograms of silver, and sixty-seven robes for the priests.
+\v 71 The other leaders gave to the treasury 170 kilograms of gold, and the leaders of the clans gave a total of 1,200 kilograms of silver.
+\v 72 The rest of the people gave 170 kilograms of gold and 1,100 kilograms of silver and sixty-seven robes for the priests.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -505,9 +504,9 @@
 \s5
 \c 8
 \p
-\v 1 All the people gathered together in the plaza that was close to the Water Gate. Men and women and children who were old enough to understand gathered together. They asked Ezra to bring out the scroll of the law that Moses had written down, and which Yahweh had given as the law for the people of Israel, for them to obey its rules and commands.
-\v 2 Ezra, who served God through the sacrifices in the temple, brought out the law and presented it before all the people, to both men and women, and anyone else who could understand what he read. He did this on the first day of the seventh month of that year.
-\v 3 So he brought it out and read it to the people. He read it from early in the morning until the middle of the day. All the people listened, men and women, anyone who was able to understand what he read. The people listened with great interest to what Ezra read from the book of the law.
+\v 1 All the people gathered together in the plaza that was close to the Water Gate. Men and women and children who were old enough to understand gathered together. They asked Ezra to bring out the scroll of the law that Moses had written down and that Yahweh had given as the law for the people of Israel, for them to obey its rules and commands.
+\v 2 Ezra, who served God through the sacrifices in the temple, brought out the law and presented it before all the people—to men, women, and anyone else who could understand what he read. He did this on the first day of the seventh month of that year.
+\v 3 So he brought it out and read it to the people. He read it from early in the morning until the middle of the day. All the people listened—men, women, and anyone who was able to understand what he read. The people listened with great interest to what Ezra read from the book of the law.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -516,28 +515,28 @@
 \v 5 Ezra opened the scroll as he stood on the platform above the people, and all could see him, and as he opened the book all the people stood up.
 
 \s5
-\v 6 Then Ezra praised Yahweh, the great God, and all the people lifted up their hands and said, "Amen! Amen!" Then they all bowed down with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped Yahweh.
+\v 6 Then Ezra praised Yahweh the great God, and all the people lifted up their hands and said, "Amen! Amen!" Then they all bowed down with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped Yahweh.
 \p
-\v 7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, were all Levites. They explained the meaning of the laws of Moses to the people who were standing there.
+\v 7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah were all Levites. They explained the meaning of the laws of Moses to the people who were standing there.
 \v 8 They also read from scrolls the law that God gave to Moses, and they translated it into the Aramaic language, making the meaning clear for those who could understand it.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 9 Then Nehemiah the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting what was being read to the people, said to them, "Yahweh your God considers that this day is set apart from other days. So do not be sad or cry!" For all the people were crying when they heard the law of Moses read by Ezra.
+\v 9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting what was being read to the people said to them, "Yahweh your God considers that this day is set apart from other days. So do not be sad or cry!" For all the people were crying when they heard the law of Moses read by Ezra.
 \p
 \v 10 Then Nehemiah said to them, "Now go home and enjoy some good food and have something sweet to drink. And send some of it to people who do not have anything to eat or drink. This is a day set apart to worship our Lord. Do not be filled with sadness! The joy that Yahweh gives will make you strong."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 11 The Levites also caused the people to be quiet, saying "Hush, do not cry, for this is a day set apart for Yahweh. Do not be sad!"
+\v 11 The Levites also caused the people to be quiet, saying, "Hush, do not cry, for this is a day set apart for Yahweh. Do not be sad!"
 \p
-\v 12 So the people went away, and they ate and drank, and they sent portions of food to those who did not have any. They were very happy, because they understood the meaning of the words that been read to them.
+\v 12 So the people went away, and they ate and drank, and they sent portions of food to those who did not have any. They were very happy because they understood the meaning of the words that been read to them.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 13 On the next day, the leaders of the families and the priests and the Levites came together with Ezra to study so they would gain insight from the words of the law.
-\v 14 They read in the law how Yahweh had ordered Moses to command the people of Israel to live in temporary shelters that entire month, to remember that their ancestors lived in shelters when they walked in the wilderness.
-\v 15 They also learned that they should proclaim in Jerusalem and in all the towns that the people should go to the hills and cut branches from olive trees and from wild olive trees and from myrtle trees, palm trees and shade trees. They should make shelters from these branches to live in during the festival, just as Moses wrote about this.
+\v 14 They read in the law how Yahweh had ordered Moses to command the people of Israel to live in temporary shelters that month to remember that their ancestors lived in shelters when they walked in the wilderness.
+\v 15 They also learned that they should proclaim in Jerusalem and in all the towns that the people should go to the hills and cut branches from olive trees, wild olive trees, myrtle trees, palm trees, and shade trees. They should make shelters from these branches to live in during the festival, just as Moses wrote about this.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -546,13 +545,13 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 18 Every day during that week Ezra read to the people from the book of the law of God. Then on the eighth day, they followed the decree and called for all the people to come together, so they could bring the festival to an end.
+\v 18 Every day during that week, Ezra read to the people from the book of the law of God. Then on the eighth day, they followed the decree and called for all the people to come together so they could bring the festival to an end.
 
 \s5
 \c 9
 \p
 \v 1 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the people gathered together. They did not eat food for a while, and they wore clothes they made from bags used to carry wheat and other grains, and they put the dust of the earth on their heads.
-\v 2 The descendants of Israel separated themselvses away from all the foreigners. They stood there and confessed their own sins and the wicked things their ancestors had done.
+\v 2 The descendants of Israel separated themselves away from all the foreigners. They stood there and confessed their own sins and the wicked things their ancestors had done.
 
 \s5
 \v 3 They stood and for three hours they read from the law of Yahweh, and for another three hours they spoke out loud about their sins before Yahweh, and they bowed down and worshiped him.
@@ -561,54 +560,54 @@
 \s5
 \v 5 Then the leaders of the Levites called out to the people. They were Jeshua, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah. They said,
 "Stand there and give praise to Yahweh your God, who has always lived and will live forever! Yahweh, we praise your glorious name! Your name is more important than everything else that is good and wonderful!
-\v 6 You are Yahweh, and no one else. You made the sky and the heavens above everything, and all the angels who do God's will. You made the earth and everything that is on it, and you made the seas and everything that is in them. You give life to everything. All the angel armies in heaven worship you.
+\v 6 You are Yahweh, and no one else. You made the sky and the heavens above everything and all the angels who do your will. You made the earth and everything that is on it, and you made the seas and everything that is in them. You give life to everything. All the angel armies in heaven worship you.
 
 \s5
 \pi
 \v 7 Yahweh, you are God. You chose Abram and brought him out of Ur in the Chaldees. You gave him the name Abraham.
-\v 8 You saw deep inside of him, and you knew he was a trustworthy person. Then you made a promise to him pledged with blood, promising that you would give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites. And you, Yahweh, have done what you promised, because you always do what is right.
+\v 8 You saw deep inside of him, and you knew he was a trustworthy person. Then you made a promise to him pledged with blood, promising that you would give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites. And you, Yahweh, have done what you promised because you always do what is right.
 
 \s5
 \pi
 \v 9 You saw how much our ancestors were suffering in Egypt. You heard them cry to you for help when they were beside the Sea of Reeds.
-\v 10 You performed many kinds of miracles that caused the king, his servants, and all his people to suffer. As a result, you, Yahweh, made a great name for yourself, and it is still known to be great even today!
+\v 10 You performed many kinds of miracles that caused the king of Egypt, his servants, and all his people to suffer. As a result, you, Yahweh, made a great name for yourself, and it is still known to be great even today!
 
 \s5
 \v 11 You divided the sea into two parts, and your people walked through the middle of it on dry land. You drowned the soldiers of the Egyptian army under the waters, and they sank as a stone sinks in the deep!
 
 \s5
-\v 12 During the day you led them with a cloud like a pillar for them to follow, and at night you gave them the light of a pillar of fire, to show them where to walk.
+\v 12 During the day you led them with a cloud like a pillar for them to follow, and at night you gave them the light of a pillar of fire to show them where to walk.
 \pi
 \v 13 On Mount Sinai you came down from heaven and spoke to them. You gave them many regulations and decrees that are just and reliable, and you gave them commands and laws that are good.
 
 \s5
-\v 14 You taught them about your holy Sabbath, and you gave them commands, and rules, and a list of laws to obey from your servant Moses. He would tell them to the people.
+\v 14 You taught them about your holy Sabbath, and you gave them commands, rules, and a list of laws to obey from your servant Moses. He would tell them to the people.
 \v 15 When they were hungry, you gave them bread from heaven. When they were thirsty, you gave them water from a rock. You said to them to go and take the land you promised with a vow to give them.
 
 \s5
 \pi
 \v 16 But our ancestors were very proud and stubborn. They refused even to listen to what you commanded them to do.
-\v 17 They refused to listen to you. They forgot about all the miracles that you had performed for them. They became stubborn, and because they rebelled against you, they appointed a leader to take them back to Egypt, where they would be slaves again! But you are a God who forgives again and again. You are slow to be angry, and your love for them is never-ending and it is great. You did not abandon them.
+\v 17 They refused to listen to you. They forgot about all the miracles that you had performed for them. They became stubborn, and because they rebelled against you, they appointed a leader to take them back to Egypt where they would be slaves again! But you are a God who forgives again and again. You are slow to be angry, and your love for them is never-ending and it is great. You did not abandon them.
 
 \s5
-\v 18 So, you did not desert them, even though they melted precious metals and cast an idol that looked like a calf. They presented this calf to the people and said, 'This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,' while they cursed God and did what he had forbidden.
+\v 18 So, you did not desert them, even though they melted precious metals and cast an idol that looked like a calf. They presented this calf to the people and said, 'This is your god who brought you up out of Egypt,' while they cursed God and did what he had forbidden.
 \pi
-\v 19 You always acted mercifully, and you would not abandon them when they were in the desert. The bright cloud which was like a huge pillar continued to lead them during the daytime, and the fiery cloud showed them where to walk at night.
+\v 19 You always acted mercifully, and you would not abandon them when they were in the desert. The bright cloud that was like a huge pillar continued to lead them during the daytime, and the fiery cloud showed them where to walk at night.
 
 \s5
-\v 20 You sent your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold the manna from them when they were hungry and you provided water when they were thirsty.
+\v 20 You sent your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold the manna from them when they were hungry, and you provided water when they were thirsty.
 \v 21 For forty years you took care of them in the desert. During all that time, they did not have need of anything. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell up.
 
 \s5
 \pi
-\v 22 You gave them kingdoms and nations of people. They took possession of even the most distant places in this land. They occupied the land over which King Sihon ruled from Heshbon and the land over which King Og ruled in the Bashan.
+\v 22 You gave them kingdoms and nations of people. They took possession of even the most distant places in this land. They occupied the land over which King Sihon ruled from Heshbon and the land over which King Og ruled in Bashan.
 
 \s5
 \v 23 You caused our ancestors' children to become as numerous as the stars in the heavens, and you brought them into this land, the land you told their fathers to enter and take for themselves so they might live there.
 \v 24 They went in and took the land from the people who lived there. You enabled the Israelites to control the Canaanites and their kings so they could do to those people whatever they needed to do.
 
 \s5
-\v 25 Our ancestors' children captured cities that had walls around them for protection. They took possession of fertile land. They occupied houses that were full of good things and wells that were already dug. They took possession of vineyards, groves of olive trees, and fruit trees. They ate all that they wanted to, and they were satisfied, and they grew fat, and they were delighted because you were so good to them.
+\v 25 Our ancestors' children captured cities that had walls around them for protection. They took possession of fertile land. They occupied houses that were full of good things and wells that were already dug. They took possession of vineyards, groves of olive trees, and fruit trees. They ate all that they wanted to, they were satisfied, they grew fat, and they were delighted because you were so good to them.
 
 \s5
 \pi
@@ -617,7 +616,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \pi
-\v 28 But after there was a time of peace again, our ancestors again did evil things that you hated. So you allowed their enemies to conquer them and ruled over them. But whenever they cried out to you again to help them, you heard them from heaven, and because you act mercifully you rescued them.
+\v 28 But after there was a time of peace again, our ancestors again did evil things that you hated. So you allowed their enemies to conquer them and ruled over them. But whenever they cried out to you again to help them, you heard them from heaven, and because you act mercifully, you rescued them.
 \pi
 \v 29 You warned them that they should again obey your laws, but they became proud and stubborn, and they disobeyed your decrees—and it is by obeying them that a person lives. They purposely ignored what you commanded them to do and became stubborn and refused to obey.
 
@@ -627,27 +626,27 @@
 
 \s5
 \pi
-\v 32 Our God, you are great! You are mighty! You are awesome! You faithfully love us as you promised in your covenant with us that you fulfill! But now we are having great difficulties in all these things. Do not let our hardships become unimportant to you! They have come on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our ancestors, and on all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today.
+\v 32 Our God, you are great! You are mighty! You are awesome! You faithfully love us as you promised in your covenant with us that you fulfill! But now we are having great difficulties in all these things. Do not let our hardships become unimportant to you! They have come on our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all of your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today.
 \v 33 We know that you acted justly each time you punished us. You have treated us faithfully, but we have done evil things.
-\v 34 Our kings and the leaders they appointed and our priests and our other ancestors did not obey your laws. They did not heed your commands or the warnings that you gave them.
+\v 34 Our kings, the leaders they appointed, our priests, and our other ancestors did not obey your laws. They did not heed your commands or the warnings that you gave them.
 
 \s5
-\v 35 Even when they had their own kings, and they enjoyed the good things that you did for them in this large and fertile land that you gave to them, they did not serve you and they would not stop doing what was evil.
+\v 35 Even when they had their own kings and they enjoyed the good things that you did for them in this large and fertile land that you gave to them, they did not serve you and they would not stop doing what was evil.
 
 \s5
 \pi
-\v 36 So now we are slaves here in this land that you gave to our ancestors, the land that you gave to them in order that they could enjoy all the good things that grow here. But we became slaves here!
+\v 36 So now we are slaves here in this land that you gave to our ancestors, the land that you gave to them so that they could enjoy all the good things that grow here. But we became slaves here!
 \v 37 Because we have sinned, we cannot eat the things that grow here. The kings who now rule over us are enjoying the things that grow here. They rule us and take our cattle. We must serve them and do the things that please them. We are in great misery.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 38 Because of all this, we, the people of Israel are making a solemn agreement on a scroll. We will write on it the names of our leaders, the names of the Levites, and the names of the priests, and then we will seal it."
+\v 38 Because of all this, we, the people of Israel, are making a solemn agreement on a scroll. We will write on it the names of our leaders, the names of the Levites, and the names of the priests, and then we will seal it."
 
 \s5
 \c 10
 \p
 \v 1 This is a list of those who signed the agreement:
-\q I, Nehemiah son of Hakaliah, the governor and also Zedekiah.
+\q I, Nehemiah the governor and the son of Hakaliah, and also Zedekiah.
 \m
 \v 2 The priests who signed it were:
 \q Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
@@ -675,12 +674,12 @@
 \q
 \v 11 Mika, Rehob, Hashabiah,
 \q
-\v 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
+\v 12 Zakkur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
 \q
 \v 13 Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.
 \m
 \v 14 The Israelite leaders who signed it were:
-\q Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, and Bani.
+\q Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
 
 \s5
 \q
@@ -696,7 +695,7 @@
 \q
 \v 20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
 \q
-\v 21 Meshezabel, Zadok, and Jaddua.
+\v 21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
 
 \s5
 \q
@@ -714,8 +713,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 28 The rest of the people made a solemn agreement, including the priests, gatekeepers, singers, and temple workers. They also included all the men from other neighboring peoples who had left their people and were living in Israel. These men, along with their wives, their sons and daughters who were old enough to understand what they were doing, promised they would obey God's law.
-\v 29 They all joined with their leaders in making this solemn agreement. They agreed to obey all the laws that God had given to Moses. They agreed to follow and to obey everything that Yahweh our God had commanded, and all his decrees and instructions. They promised to do the following.
+\v 28 The rest of the people made a solemn agreement, including the priests, gatekeepers, singers, and temple workers. They also included all the men from other neighboring peoples who had left their people and were living in Israel. These men, along with their wives and their sons and daughters who were old enough to understand what they were doing, promised they would obey God's law.
+\v 29 They all joined with their leaders in making this solemn agreement. They agreed to obey all the laws that God had given to Moses. They agreed to follow and to obey everything that Yahweh our God had commanded and all his decrees and instructions. They promised to do the following.
 
 \s5
 \pi
@@ -725,85 +724,84 @@
 
 \s5
 \pi
-\v 32 We each also promised ourselves that every year we will pay about 5 grams of silver for those who serve and take care of the temple.
-\v 33 With that money they can buy these things: The bread on display before God, the flour that is offered to God by burning it on the altar each day, the animals that were killed and completely burned on the altar, the sacred offerings for the Sabbath days and for celebrating the new moons and other festivals and offerings that are dedicated to God, the animals to be sacrificed to pay the penalty for the sins of the people of Israel, and anything else that is needed for the work of taking care of the temple.
+\v 32 We each also promised ourselves that every year we will pay about five grams of silver for those who serve and take care of the temple.
+\v 33 With that money they can buy these things: the bread on display before God, the flour that is offered to God by burning it on the altar each day, the animals that were killed and completely burned on the altar, the sacred offerings for the Sabbath days and for celebrating the new moons and other festivals and offerings that are dedicated to God, the animals to be sacrificed to pay the penalty for the sins of the people of Israel, and anything else that is needed for the work of taking care of the temple.
 
 \s5
 \pi
-\v 34 Each year the priests, the descendants of Levi who help the priests, and the rest of us will cast lots to determine for that year which families within the Levites will provide wood to burn on the altar to burn the sacrifices in the house of our God, as it is written in the law of God.
+\v 34 Each year, the priests, the descendants of Levi who help the priests, and the rest of us will cast lots to determine for that year which families within the Levites will provide wood to burn on the altar to burn the sacrifices in the house of our God, as it is written in the law of God.
 \pi
-\v 35 We promise that each year each family will take to the temple an offering from the first food that we grow in our soil and harvest for food, and from the firstfruits that grow on our trees that year.
+\v 35 We promise that each year, each family will take to the temple an offering from the first food that we grow in our soil and harvest for food and from the firstfruits that grow on our trees that year.
 \pi
 \v 36 We will take to the house of God our firstborn sons and we will also bring firstborn calves and lambs and baby goats to be dedicated to God. That is what is written in God's laws that we must do.
 
 \s5
 \pi
-\v 37 We will also take to the priests at the temple the flour made from the first grain that we harvest each year, and our other offerings of wine, olive oil, and fruit. We will also take the tithes to the descendants of Levi who help the priests.
-\v 38 A priest, one who is a descendant of Aaron, will be with the Levites and supervise them when they collect the tithes. Then the descendants of Levi must take a portion of it, ten percent of the things that people bring, and put it in the storerooms in the temple.
+\v 37 We will also take to the priests at the temple the flour made from the first grain that we harvest each year, as well as our other offerings of wine, olive oil, and fruit. We will also take the tithes to the descendants of Levi who help the priests.
+\v 38 A priest, one who is a descendant of Aaron, will be with the Levites and supervise them when they collect the tithes. Then the descendants of Levi must take a portion of it—ten percent of the things that people bring—and put it in the storerooms in the temple.
 
 \s5
-\v 39 The descendants of Levi and some of the people of Israel must take the offerings of grain, wine, and olive oil to the storerooms where the various utensils are kept that are used by those who serve in the temple. That is the place where the priests who are serving at that time, the gatekeepers, and where those who sing in the temple choir, live.
+\v 39 The descendants of Levi and some of the people of Israel must take the offerings of grain, wine, and olive oil to the storerooms where the various utensils are kept that are used by those who serve in the temple. That is the place where the priests who are serving at that time, the gatekeepers, and those who sing in the temple choir live.
 \pi We promise that we will not neglect taking care of the temple of our God."
 
 \s5
 \c 11
 \p
 \v 1 The Israelite leaders and their families settled in Jerusalem. The remainder of the people cast lots to select one family out of ten who would live in Jerusalem, the city set apart for God. The remaining nine lived in the other towns.
-\v 2 Those people asked God to bless those who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
+\v 2 Those people asked God to bless those who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 3 These are the provincial officials who came to live in Jerusalem. But in the cities of Judah everyone lived on his own family property in their towns. Some from Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon's servants came to live in Jerusalem.
+\v 3 These are the provincial officials who came to live in Jerusalem. But in the cities of Judah, everyone lived on his own family property in their towns. Some from Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon's servants came to live in Jerusalem.
 \v 4 But some of the people of Judah and the people of Benjamin stayed and lived in Jerusalem.
 \p
-These are from the relatives of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez.
+These are from the relatives of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, who was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Shephatiah, who was the son of Mahalalel, who was a descendant of Perez;
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 5 And there was Maaseiah the son of Baruch, who was the son of Colhozeh, who was the son of Hazaiah, who was the son of Adaiah, who was the son of Joiarib, who was the son of Zechariah, who was a descendant of Judah's son Shelah.
+\v 5 and there was Maaseiah the son of Baruch, who was the son of Kol-Hozeh, who was the son of Hazaiah, who was the son of Adaiah, who was the son of Joiarib, who was the son of Zechariah, who was a descendant of Judah's son Shelah.
 \v 6 There were 468 men who were descendants of Perez who lived in the city of Jerusalem. These men were very brave and skilled in combat.
 
 \s5
 \m
-\v 7 One of the men of the tribe of Benjamin who decided to live in Jerusalem was Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah.
+\v 7 One of the men of the tribe of Benjamin who decided to live in Jerusalem was Sallu the son of Meshullam, who was the son of Joed, who was the son of Pedaiah, who was the son of Kolaiah, who was the son of Maaseiah, who was the son of Ithiel, who was the son of Jeshaiah.
 \v 8 Two of Sallu's relatives, Gabbai and Sallai, also settled in Jerusalem.
 \p Altogether, 928 people from the tribe of Benjamin settled in Jerusalem.
 \v 9 Their leader was Zichri. The official who was second in command in Jerusalem was Hassenuah.
 
 \s5
 \m
-\v 10 The priests who settled in Jerusalem were Jedaiah son of Joiarib,
-\p
-\v 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, who was previously the leader of all the priests.
+\v 10 The priests who settled in Jerusalem were Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jakin, and
+\v 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, who was the son of Meshullam, who was the son of Zadok, who was the son of Meraioth, who was the son of Ahitub, who was previously the leader of all the priests.
 \v 12 Altogether, 822 members of that clan worked in the temple.
-\p Another priest who settled in Jerusalem was Adaiah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah.
+\p Another priest who settled in Jerusalem was Adaiah the son of Jeroham, who was the son of Pelaliah, who was the son of Amzi, who was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Pashhur, who was the son of Malkijah.
 
 \s5
-\v 13 Altogether, there were 242 members of that clan who were leaders of the clan who settled in Jerusalem.
-\p Another priest who settled in Jerusalem was Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer.
+\v 13 There were 242 members of that clan who were leaders of the clan who settled in Jerusalem.
+\p Another priest who settled in Jerusalem was Amashsai the son of Azarel, who was the son of Ahzai, who was the son of Meshillemoth, who was the son of Immer.
 \v 14 There were 128 members of that clan who were valiant soldiers who settled in Jerusalem. Their leader was Zabdiel the son of Haggedolim.
 
 \s5
 \m
-\v 15 Another descendant of Levi who settled in Jerusalem was Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni.
+\v 15 Another descendant of Levi who settled in Jerusalem was Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, who was the son of Azrikam, who was the son of Hashabiah, who was the son of Bunni.
 \p
 \v 16 Two others were Shabbethai and Jozabad, who were prominent men, leaders of the Levites, who supervised the work outside the temple.
 
 \s5
-\v 17 Another one was Mattaniah, the son of Mika, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph. Mattaniah directed the temple choir when they sang the prayers to thank God. His assistant was Bakbukiah. Another one was Abda, the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
+\v 17 Another one was Mattaniah the son of Mika, who was the son of Zabdi, who was the son of Asaph. Mattaniah directed the temple choir when they sang the prayers to thank God. His assistant was Bakbukiah. Another one was Abda the son of Shammua, who was the son of Galal, who was the son of Jeduthun.
 \v 18 Altogether, there were 284 Levites in the city set apart for God.
 
 \s5
 \m
 \v 19 The gatekeepers who settled in Jerusalem were Akkub and Talmon. Altogether, there were 172 of them and their relatives who settled in Jerusalem.
 \p
-\v 20 The other Israelite people including descendants of Levi and priests lived on their own property in other towns and cities in Judea.
+\v 20 The other Israelite people, including descendants of Levi and priests, lived on their own property in other towns and cities in Judea.
 \p
 \v 21 But the temple workers lived in Ophel in Jerusalem. They were supervised by Ziha and Gishpa.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 22 The man who supervised the descendants of Levi who lived in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mika. Uzzi belonged to the clan of Asaph, the clan that was in charge of the music in the temple.
+\v 22 The man who supervised the descendants of Levi who lived in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, who was the son of Hashabiah, who was the son of Mattaniah, who was the son of Mika. Uzzi belonged to the clan of Asaph—the clan that was in charge of the music in the temple.
 \v 23 The king of Persia had commanded that the clans should decide what work each clan should do to lead the music in the temple each day.
 \p
 \v 24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, who was from the clan of Zerah and a descendant of Judah, was the ambassador of the Israelites to the king of Persia.
@@ -811,17 +809,17 @@ These are from the relatives of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechari
 \s5
 \p
 \v 25 Some of the people who did not settle in Jerusalem lived in villages close to their farms. Some from the tribe of Judah lived in villages near Kiriath Arba, Dibon, and Jekabzeel.
-\v 26 Some lived in Jeshua, in Moladah, in Bethpelet,
-\v 27 in Hazarshual, and in Beersheba and the villages near it.
+\v 26 Some lived in Jeshua, in Moladah, in Beth Pelet,
+\v 27 in Hazar Shual, and in Beersheba and the villages near it.
 
 \s5
 \v 28 Others lived in Ziklag, in Mekonah and the villages near it,
-\v 29 in Enrimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth,
+\v 29 in En Rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth,
 \v 30 in Zanoah, in Adullam, and in the villages near those cities. Some lived in Lachish and in the nearby villages, and some lived in Azekah and the villages near it. All of those people lived in Judea, in the area between Beersheba in the south and Hinnom Valley in the north, at the edge of Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 31 The people of the tribe of Benjamin lived in Geba, Micmash, Aija, Bethel and its nearby villages,
+\v 31 The people of the tribe of Benjamin lived in Geba, Mikmash, in Aija, in Bethel and its nearby villages,
 \v 32 in Anathoth, in Nob, in Ananiah,
 \v 33 in Hazor, in Ramah, in Gittaim,
 \v 34 in Hadid, in Zeboim, in Neballat,
@@ -837,7 +835,7 @@ These are from the relatives of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechari
 \q
 \v 2 Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,
 \q
-\v 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
+\v 3 Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
 
 \s5
 \q
@@ -863,42 +861,31 @@ These are from the relatives of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechari
 \s5
 \p
 \v 12 When Joiakim was the leader of all the priests, these were the leaders of the families of priests:
-\q Meraiah, of the family of Seraiah,
-\q Hananiah, of the family of Jeremiah,
+\q Meraiah, of the family of Seraiah; Hananiah, of the family of Jeremiah;
 \q
-\v 13 Meshullam, of the family of Ezra,
-\q Jehohanan, of the family of Amariah,
+\v 13 Meshullam, of the family of Ezra; Jehohanan, of the family of Amariah;
 \q
-\v 14 Jonathan, of the family of Malluk,
-\q Joseph, of the family of Shecaniah.
+\v 14 Jonathan, of the family of Malluk; Joseph, of the family of Shebaniah;
 
 \s5
 \q
-\v 15 More leaders were Adna, of the family of Harim,
-\q Helkai, of the family of Meremoth,
+\v 15 Adna, of the family of Harim; Helkai, of the family of Meremoth;
 \q
-\v 16 Zechariah, of the family of Iddo,
-\q Meshullam, of the family of Ginnethon,
+\v 16 Zechariah, of the family of Iddo; Meshullam, of the family of Ginnethon;
 \q
-\v 17 Zicri, of the family of Abijah.
-\q There was also a leader of the family of Miniamin.
-\q Piltai, of the family of Moadiah.
+\v 17 Zikri, of the family of Abijah; Piltai, of the family of Miniamin and Moadiah;
 \q
-\v 18 Shammua, of the family of Bilgah,
-\q Jehonathan, of the family of Shemaiah,
+\v 18 Shammua, of the family of Bilgah; Jehonathan, of the family of Shemaiah;
 \q
-\v 19 Mattenai, of the family of Joiarib,
-\q Uzzi, of the family of Jedaiah,
+\v 19 Mattenai, of the family of Joiarib; Uzzi, of the family of Jedaiah;
 \q
-\v 20 Kallai, of the family of Sallu,
-\q Eber, of the family of Amok,
+\v 20 Kallai, of the family of Sallu; Eber, of the family of Amok;
 \q
-\v 21 Hashabiah, of the family of Hilkiah,
-\q and Nethanel, of the family of Jedaiah.
+\v 21 Hashabiah, of the family of Hilkiah; and Nethanel, of the family of Jedaiah.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 22 During time when Eliashib led the Levites, this is a list of them all: Elisahib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua were the leaders of all the priests. They wrote the names of the families who were descendants of Levi. When Darius was king of Persia, the priests were responsible for recording the names of those who were the heads of families.
+\v 22 During time when Eliashib led the Levites, this is a list of them all: Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua were the leaders of all the priests. They wrote the names of the families who were descendants of Levi. When Darius was king of Persia, the priests were responsible for recording the names of those who were the heads of families.
 \v 23 They wrote the names of the leaders of the families who were descendants of Levi in the book of the annals until the time that Eliashib's grandson Johanan was the leader of all the priests.
 
 \s5
@@ -906,17 +893,17 @@ These are from the relatives of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechari
 \v 24 These were the leaders of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their brothers who stood across from them to praise and give thanks to God. They did that just as King David, the man who served God, had instructed them.
 \p
 \v 25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were the gatekeepers. They stood guard at the storerooms close to the gates of the temple.
-\v 26 They did that work during the time of Joiakim son of Jeshua and the grandson of Jehozadak, during the time of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest. Ezra also knew the Jewish laws very well.
+\v 26 They did that work during the time of Joiakim the son of Jeshua and grandson of Jehozadak, during the time of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest. Ezra also knew the Jewish laws very well.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 27 When we dedicated the wall around Jerusalem, we summoned the descendants of Levi from the places around Israel where they lived, so they could come to celebrate the dedication of the wall. They would sing songs to thank God and many of them made music by playing cymbals and harps and other stringed instruments.
-\v 28 We summoned the descendants of Levi who constantly sang together. They came to Jerusalem from nearby areas where they had settled, and from places around Netophah, southeast of Jerusalem.
+\v 27 When we dedicated the wall around Jerusalem, we summoned the descendants of Levi from the places around Israel where they lived so they could come to celebrate the dedication of the wall. They would sing songs to thank God, and many of them made music by playing cymbals and harps and other stringed instruments.
+\v 28 We summoned the descendants of Levi who constantly sang together. They came to Jerusalem from nearby areas where they had settled and from places around Netophah, southeast of Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
-\v 29 They came also from three places northeast of Jerusalem, Beth Gilgal and the areas around Geba and Azmaveth. Near Jerusalem the singers built villages where they lived.
+\v 29 They also came from three places northeast of Jerusalem—Beth Gilgal and the areas around Geba and Azmaveth. Near Jerusalem the singers built villages where they lived.
 \p
-\v 30 The priests and descendants of Levi performed rituals to make them clean in God's eyes, and they did the same for all the people, and even for the gates of the city and finally, for the wall.
+\v 30 The priests and descendants of Levi performed rituals to purify themselves, and they did the same for all the people, and even for the gates of the city and for the wall.
 
 \s5
 \v 31 Then I gathered together the leaders of Judah on top of the wall, and I appointed them to lead two large groups to march around the city on top of the wall, thanking God. As they faced the city, one group walked to the right toward the Dung Gate.
@@ -925,8 +912,7 @@ These are from the relatives of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechari
 \v 32 Behind their leaders marched Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah.
 \v 33 Those who followed after them were Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,
 \v 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah,
-\v 35 and some of the priests' sons who played their trumpets, including Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah,
-the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, a descendant of Asaph.
+\v 35 and some of the priests' sons who played their trumpets, including Zechariah the son of Jonathan, who was the son of Shemaiah, who was the son of Mattaniah, who was the son of Micaiah, who was the son of Zakkur, who was a descendant of Asaph.
 
 \s5
 \v 36 Behind them marched other members of Zechariah's family, including Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani. They all were playing the same kinds of musical instruments that King David had played many years previously. Ezra, the man who knew the Jewish laws very well, marched in front of this group.
@@ -934,21 +920,21 @@ the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, a descendant of Asaph.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 38 The other choir who were singing and thanking Yahweh marched to the left on top of the wall. I followed them with half of the people. We marched past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall.
-\v 39 From there we marched past Ephraim Gate, Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, the Tower of the Hundred Soldiers, to the Sheep Gate. We finished marching near the gate into the temple.
+\v 38 The other choir of people who were singing and thanking Yahweh marched to the left on top of the wall. I followed them with half of the people. We marched past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall.
+\v 39 From there we marched past Ephraim Gate, Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred Soldiers, to the Sheep Gate. We finished marching near the gate into the temple.
 
 \s5
 \v 40 Both the groups reached the house of God as they were singing and thanking him. They stood in their places there. I and the leaders who were with me also stood in our places.
 \p
 \v 41 My group included the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with their trumpets.
-\v 42 There was another named Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang with Jezrahiah who was their leader.
+\v 42 It also included another Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang with Jezrahiah, who was their leader.
 
 \s5
 \v 43 After we went outside the temple, we offered many sacrifices. We men all rejoiced because God had caused us to be very happy. The women and the children also rejoiced. People far away could hear the noise that we made there in Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 44 On that day men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms where they kept the money that people gave for the temple. They also were in charge of the tithes and the first part of the grain and fruit that was harvested each year. They also brought into the storerooms a part of the harvest from the fields for the priests and the descendants of Levi. This was done because the people of Judah were so happy to have servants serving in the house of Yahweh.
+\v 44 On that day, men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms where they kept the money that people gave for the temple. They also were in charge of the tithes and the first part of the grain and fruit that was harvested each year. They also brought into the storerooms a part of the harvest from the fields for the priests and the descendants of Levi. This was done because the people of Judah were so happy to have servants serving in the house of Yahweh.
 \v 45 The priests and Levites were serving Yahweh in their rituals to purify things, and the musicians in the temple and the gatekeepers also did their work as King David and his son Solomon had declared that they should do.
 
 \s5
@@ -958,7 +944,7 @@ the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, a descendant of Asaph.
 \s5
 \c 13
 \p
-\v 1 On that day the priests read and the people listened, and the passage was read with the laws God gave Moses that said no Amonite or Moabite was ever to be allowed to come into the place where God's people worship.
+\v 1 On that day, the priests read and the people listened to the laws that God gave to Moses. The priests read the passage that said no Ammonite or Moabite was ever to be allowed to come into the place where God's people worship.
 \v 2 The reason for that was that the people of Ammon and the people of Moab did not give any food or water to the Israelites while the Israelites were going through their areas after they left Egypt. Instead, the people of Ammon and Moab paid money to Balaam to influence him to curse the Israelites. But God turned that attempt to curse Israel into a blessing.
 \v 3 So when the people heard these laws being read to them, they sent away all the people whose ancestors had come from other countries.
 
@@ -969,7 +955,7 @@ the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, a descendant of Asaph.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 6 During that time I was not in Jerusalem. It was the thirty-second year that Artaxerxes was the king of Babylonia, and I had gone back to report to the king what I had been doing. After I had been there a while, I requested the king to allow me to return to Jerusalem.
+\v 6 During that time, I was not in Jerusalem. It was the thirty-second year that Artaxerxes was the king of Babylonia, and I had gone back to report to the king what I had been doing. After I had been there a while, I requested the king to allow me to return to Jerusalem.
 \v 7 When I returned, I found out that Eliashib had done an evil thing. He let Tobiah take over a storeroom in the very house of God for his own use.
 
 \s5
@@ -978,13 +964,13 @@ the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, a descendant of Asaph.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 10 I also found out that the temple musicians and other Levites had left Jerusalem and returned to their fields, because the people of Israel had not been bringing into the storerooms the food they needed.
+\v 10 I also found out that the temple musicians and other Levites had left Jerusalem and returned to their fields because the people of Israel had not been bringing into the storerooms the food they needed.
 \v 11 So I rebuked the officials, saying to them, "Why have you not taken care of the services to be held in the temple? So I got them together and put them back at their stations.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 12 Then all the people of Judah again started to bring to the temple storerooms their tithes of grain, wine, and olive oil.
-\v 13 I appointed these men to be in charge of the storerooms. Shelemiah the priest, Zadok, an expert in the Jewish laws, and Pedaiah, a descendant of Levi. I appointed Hanan son of Zaccur and grandson of Mattaniah to assist them. I knew that I could trust those men to distribute the offerings fairly to their fellow workers.
+\v 13 I appointed these men to be in charge of the storerooms: Shelemiah the priest; Zadok, an expert in the Jewish laws; and Pedaiah, a descendant of Levi. I appointed Hanan son of Zakkur and grandson of Mattaniah to assist them. I knew that I could trust those men to distribute the offerings fairly to their fellow workers.
 \p
 \v 14 My God, do not forget all these good deeds that I have done for your temple and for the work that is done there!
 
@@ -994,38 +980,38 @@ the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, a descendant of Asaph.
 
 \s5
 \v 16 I also saw some people from Tyre who were living there in Jerusalem who were bringing fish and other things into Jerusalem to sell to the people of Judea on the Sabbath day.
-\v 17 So I rebuked the Jewish leaders and told them, "This is a very evil thing that you are doing! You are making the Sabbath days into something God never wanted it to be.
-\v 18 Your ancestors did things like this, so God punished them. He allowed this city to be destroyed because of their sin! And now by breaking the laws for the Sabbath day, you are going to cause God to be angry with us, and he will punish us even more!"
+\v 17 So I rebuked the Jewish leaders and told them, "This is a very evil thing that you are doing! You are making the Sabbath day into something God never wanted it to be.
+\v 18 Your ancestors did things like this, so God punished them. He allowed this city to be destroyed because of their sin! And now, by breaking the laws for the Sabbath day, you are going to cause God to be angry with us, and he will punish us even more!"
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 19 When it became dark at the gates of Jerusalem, I put some of my men there, so they would make sure that no one could bring any goods into the city to sell on that day.
+\v 19 When it became dark at the gates of Jerusalem, I put some of my men there so they would make sure that no one could bring any goods into the city to sell on that day.
 \v 20 The merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods and merchandise camped outside Jerusalem a few times on Friday evening when the Sabbath begins, hoping to sell something the next day.
 
 \s5
 \v 21 I warned them, "It is useless for you to stay here outside the walls on Friday night! If you do this again, I will take you and remove you myself!" So after that, they did not come on Sabbath days.
-\v 22 I also commanded the descendants of Levi to perform the ritual to purify themselves and to take up their stations to guard the City Gates, to make sure that the Sabbath was kept holy by not allowing merchants to enter it on that holy day.
-\p My God, do not forget what I have done for you! And be kind to me, as kind as your love is for me.
+\v 22 I also commanded the descendants of Levi to perform the ritual to purify themselves and to take up their stations to guard the city gates, to make sure that the Sabbath was kept holy by not allowing merchants to enter it on that holy day.
+\p My God, do not forget what I have done for you! And be kind to me, as kind as your love is for me!
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 23 During that time, I also found out that many of the Jewish men had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
-\v 24 Half of their children spoke the language that people in Ashdod speak or some other language, and they did not know how to speak the language of Judah, only the language of the people where they lived.
+\v 24 Half of their children spoke the language that people in Ashdod spoke or some other language, and they did not know how to speak the language of Judah—only the language of the people where they lived.
 
 \s5
-\v 25 So I rebuked those men, and I asked God to curse them, and I struck some of them with my fists, and some of them I pulled out their hair! Then I forced them to make a solemn promise, knowing that God was listening, that they would never again marry foreigners and never allow their children to marry foreigners.
+\v 25 So I rebuked those men, and I asked God to curse them, and I struck some of them with my fists, and I pulled out the hair of some of them! Then I forced them to make a solemn promise, knowing that God was listening, that they would never again marry foreigners and never allow their children to marry foreigners.
 \v 26 I said to them, "Solomon, the king of Israel, sinned as a result of marrying foreign women. He was greater than any of the kings of other nations. God loved him and set him as the king over all the people of Israel. But his foreign wives caused even him to sin.
-\v 27 Do you think that we should do what you have done, you who married foreign wives, and do what we know is wrong, and commit a great sin against our God by marrying foreign women who worship idols?"
+\v 27 Do you think that we should do what you have done—you who married foreign wives—and do what we know is wrong and commit a great sin against our God by marrying foreign women who worship idols?"
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 28 One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the leader of all the priests, married the daughter of Sanballat. So I ran Joiada's son out of Jerusalem.
 \p
-\v 29 My God, remember those who brought shame to the priesthood, and they broke the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites by what they have done!
+\v 29 My God, remember those who brought shame to the priesthood and who broke the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites by what they have done!
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 30 I took away everything from them that was from other nations and religions, I also established regulations for the priests and descendants of Levi, so they would know what work each of them should do.
+\v 30 I took away everything from them that was from other nations and religions. I also established regulations for the priests and descendants of Levi so they would know what work each of them should do.
 \v 31 I made sure that there was wood to be burned on the altar at the set times and days. I also arranged for the people to bring into the storerooms the first portion of the harvest.
 \p My God, do not forget that I have done all these things, and bless me for doing them.
 

17-EST.usfm

@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1 King Ahasuerus ruled a very big empire which had 127 provinces. It extended from India in the east to Ethiopia in the west.
+\v 1 King Ahasuerus ruled a very large empire that had 127 provinces. It extended from India in the east to Ethiopia in the west.
 \v 2 He ruled the empire while he lived in the most strongly fortified part of the city of Susa.
 
 \s5
-\v 3 During the third year after he had become king, he invited all his administrators and other officials to a feast. He invited the armies of Persia and Media to come to the feast. He also invited the governors and other leaders of the provinces.
-\v 4 The celebration lasted for 180 days. During that time the king showed to the guests all his wealth and other things that made his kingdom great.
+\v 3 During the third year after he had become king, he invited all of his administrators and other officials to a feast. He invited the armies of Persia and Media to come to the feast. He also invited the governors and other leaders of the provinces.
+\v 4 The celebration lasted for 180 days. During that time, the king showed to the guests all of his wealth and other things that made his kingdom great.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 7 The guests drank wine from gold cups. Each cup had a different design on it. The king was generous with the wine, and they had much to drink.
-\v 8 There was a lot of wine, because the king wanted the guests to drink as much as they wanted, but the rule was, "No one is forced to drink."
+\v 8 There was much wine because the king wanted the guests to drink as much as they wanted, but the rule was, "No one is forced to drink."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 9 Queen Vashti invited the women to a feast in another place in the palace.
 \p
-\v 10 On the seventh day of those banquets, when King Ahasuerus was partially drunk from drinking wine, he spoke with Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Karkas (these were the seven servants who filled his personal needs and wishes).
+\v 10 On the seventh day of those banquets, when King Ahasuerus was partially drunk from drinking wine, he spoke with Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Karkas—these were the seven servants who filled his personal needs and wishes.
 \v 11 He told them to bring Queen Vashti to him, wearing her royal crown. He wanted his guests to see how beautiful she was.
 
 \s5
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 13 So the king talked with the men who were known to be wise, who understood the things that happened in their lives and the laws about these things.
-\v 14 Now the ones close to him were Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukan, seven princes of Persia and Media. They held the highest positions in his kingdom, and the king paid attention to them when they spoke.
+\v 14 Now the ones close to him were Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukan—seven princes of Persia and Media. They held the highest positions in his kingdom, and the king paid attention to them when they spoke.
 \v 15 The king said to them, "Queen Vashti has refused to obey me when I sent my servants to tell her to come here. What do our laws say that we should do to someone who acts like that?"
 
 \s5
@@ -63,25 +63,25 @@
 \v 2 So his personal servants said to him, "Your Majesty, you should send some men to search for beautiful young virgin girls for the king.
 
 \s5
-\v 3 After they find some, you can appoint some officials in each province to bring them to the place where you keep your wives here in Susa. They are to be cared for by Hegai (the king's eunuch) who is who protects and cares for these women, he can arrange for their cosmetics.
+\v 3 After they find some, you can appoint some officials in each province to bring them to the place where you keep your wives here in Susa. They are to be cared for by Hegai the king's eunuch, who protects and cares for these women. He can arrange for their cosmetics.
 \v 4 Then the young girl who pleases you most can become queen instead of Vashti." The king liked what they suggested, so he did it.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 5 At that time there was a Jew living in the city of Susa, whose name was Mordecai. He was the son of Jair who was the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, and he was a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
+\v 5 At that time there was a Jew living in the city of Susa, whose name was Mordecai. He was the son of Jair who was the son of Shimei son of Kish, and he was a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
 \v 6 Many years before that, Nebuchadnezzar, who had been king of Babylonia, had taken Mordecai and brought him from Jerusalem to Babylon. This was at the same time that he took away King Jehoiachin from Judah, along with many others.
 
 \s5
 \v 7 Mordecai was caring for his cousin, whose Hebrew name was Hadassah. She had a beautiful face and a lovely figure, and she was called Esther. After her father and mother died, Mordecai took care of Esther as though she were his own daughter.
 
 \s5
-\v 8 After the king commanded that they search for some beautiful women, servants brought Esther and many other young women to the king's palace in Susa, and put them under the care of Hegai.
-\v 9 Hegai was pleased with Esther. He immediately arranged for her to have the cosmetics she wanted, and he arranged for special food to be given to her. He assigned servant girls from the king's palace and arranged for her to stay in the best rooms in the women's part of the palace.
+\v 8 After the king commanded that they search for some beautiful women, servants brought Esther and many other young women to the king's palace in Susa and put them under the care of Hegai.
+\v 9 Hegai was pleased with Esther. He immediately arranged for her to have the cosmetics she wanted, and he arranged for special food to be given to her. He assigned to her servant girls from the king's palace and arranged for her to stay in the best rooms in the women's part of the palace.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 10 Esther did not tell anyone that she was a Jew, or anything about her relatives, because Mordecai had told her not to tell anyone.
-\v 11 Every day Mordecai walked near the courtyard of the place where those women stayed. He stood in the courtyard hoping to find out what was happening to Esther.
+\v 11 Every day, Mordecai walked near the courtyard of the place where those women stayed. He stood in the courtyard hoping to find out what was happening to Esther.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -89,38 +89,38 @@
 \v 13 When one of these women was summoned to go to the king, she was allowed to have whatever she wished to take with her from the house of the women, when she went to the king's palace.
 
 \s5
-\v 14 In the evening, she would go to the king, and the next morning she would return to the second house of the women, and to the protection of Shaashgaz, the king's official in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king again, except when the king wanted her and called her by name.
+\v 14 In the evening she would go to the king, and the next morning she would return to the second house of the women and to the protection of Shaashgaz, the king's official in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king again, except when the king wanted her and called her by name.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 15 Now when the time came for Esther (the daughter of Abihail, who was the uncle of Mordecai) to go in the king, she did not ask for anything from the house of the women to take with her, but only what Hegai, the king's official in charge of the women, suggested. Now Esther pleased everyone who saw her.
+\v 15 Now when the time came for Esther (the daughter of Abihail, who was the uncle of Mordecai) to go to the king, she did not ask for anything from the house of the women to take with her except what Hegai, the king's official in charge of the women, suggested. Now Esther pleased everyone who saw her.
 \p
 \v 16 Esther was taken up to King Ahasuerus into royal the residence on the tenth month (which is the month of Tebeth), in the seventh year of his reign.
 
 \s5
 \v 17 The king loved Esther more than any of the other women whom they brought to him. So he put a crown on her head and declared that Esther would be the queen instead of Vashti.
-\v 18 To celebrate her becoming the queen, he gave a great feast in her honor, that he prepared for all his officials and servants. He granted relief from paying taxes to all the provinces and gave expensive gifts to all with generosity that only a king can give.
+\v 18 To celebrate her becoming the queen, he gave in her honor a great feast that he prepared for all his officials and servants. He granted relief from paying taxes to all the provinces and gave expensive gifts to all with generosity that only a king can give.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 19 Later all those young women were gathered together again. By that time Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, where the elders and leaders would hold court and settle disputes for others in the kingdom.
-\v 20 But Esther still did not tell anyone about her family, or about her people, the Jews. She continued to do what Mordecai had told her to do; she continued to respect him and honor him by doing what he said.
-\v 21 One day when Mordecai was at the king's gate, two of the king's officials were there. Their names were Bigthana and Teresh. They were the guards who protected the king, standing just outside the king's own rooms. They became angry with the king, and they were planning how they could do him great harm.
+\v 19 Later, all those young women were gathered together again. By that time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, where the elders and leaders would hold court and settle disputes for others in the kingdom.
+\v 20 But Esther still did not tell anyone about her family or about her people, the Jews. She continued to do what Mordecai had told her to do; she continued to respect him and honor him by doing what he said.
+\v 21 One day, when Mordecai was at the king's gate, two of the king's officials were there. Their names were Bigthana and Teresh. They were the guards who protected the king, standing just outside the king's own rooms. They became angry with the king, and they were planning how they could do him great harm.
 
 \s5
-\v 22 But Mordecai heard about what they were planning, he told Queen Esther. Then she told the king, and she told the king that the information came from Mordecai, calling him by name.
-\v 23 The king investigated it and confirmed. So the king ordered those two men be hanged from a gallows. When that was done, an official wrote a report about it in the book called The History of the King.
+\v 22 When Mordecai heard about what they were planning, he told Queen Esther. Then she told the king, and she told the king that the information came from Mordecai, calling him by name.
+\v 23 The king investigated and confirmed it. So the king ordered those two men be hanged from a gallows. When that was done, an official wrote a report about it in the book called The History of the King.
 
 \s5
 \c 3
 \p
-\v 1 After these things happened, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite son of Hammedatha above all the other officials and he made it clear that Haman was over all others who served under him.
+\v 1 After these things happened, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite son of Hammedatha above all the other officials, and he made it clear that Haman was over all others who served under him.
 \v 2 All the other officials bowed down in front of Haman to honor him, and they gave him great honor, as the king commanded they should. But Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman or to give him that kind of honor.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 3 The other officials saw that, and they asked Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's command?"
-\v 4 They spoke with him day after day and he would not do what they said, or answer them. So they reported to Haman to see if he would tolerate Mordecai's actions, for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew.
+\v 4 They spoke with him day after day, and he would not do what they said or answer them. So they reported to Haman to see if he would tolerate Mordecai's actions, for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -134,17 +134,17 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 8 Then Haman went to the king and said to him, "Your Majesty, there is a certain group of people who live in many areas of your empire whose laws are different from ours. They even refuse to obey your laws. You should certainly not let them stay, but instead get rid of them.
-\v 9 If it pleases you, command that they should all be killed. If you do that, I will give 330,000 kilograms of silver to be weighed out and given into the accounts of those who are in of your treasury."
+\v 9 If it pleases you, command that they should all be killed. If you do that, I will give 330,000 kilograms of silver to be weighed out and given into the accounts of those who are in charge of your treasury."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 10 The king liked what Haman said, so, and to confirm what he decided, he gave the ring that had his official seal from his signet ring, and gave it to Haman, the Agagite, the one who hated the Jews.
+\v 10 The king liked what Haman said, so, and to confirm what he decided, he took the ring that had his official seal from his hand and gave it to Haman the Agagite, the one who hated the Jews.
 \v 11 The king told Haman, "I am giving the money back to you and your people. Do with it as you please."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 12 Then the king's scribes were called together on the thirteenth day of the first month. On that day, an order was written that had everything Haman commanded. The order was sent out to the king's provincial governors—those who were over all the provinces, to the governors of all the various people who were living in the kingdom, and to the officials of all the people. The order was written in every language and in the writing of those languages so they could be read and understood. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and was sealed with the his own ring, which he had given to Haman to use.
-\v 13 Couriers in every province in the kingdom spread the decree. The order was to kill every Jew, to kill them all, and to destroy the Jewish people, from young to old, children and women. This was to be done on one day—on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (which is the month of Adar). When the Jews were dead, the rest of the people would be allowed to take all their possessions.
+\v 12 Then the king's scribes were called together on the thirteenth day of the first month. On that day, an order was written that had everything Haman commanded. The order was sent out to the king's provincial governors—those who were over all the provinces, to the governors of all the various people who were living in the kingdom, and to the officials of all the people. The order was written in every language and in the writing of those languages so they could be read and understood. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and was sealed with his own ring that he had given to Haman to use.
+\v 13 Couriers in every province in the kingdom spread the decree. The order was to kill every Jew and to destroy the Jewish people, from young to old, including children and women. This was to be done on one day—on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (which is the month of Adar). When the Jews were dead, the rest of the people would be allowed to take all of their possessions.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -155,41 +155,41 @@
 \c 4
 \p
 \v 1 When Mordecai found out about those letters, he was so anguished that he tore his clothes and put on the clothes of mourning—rough sackcloth— and he sat in ashes, to show his distress. Then he went into the city, crying very loudly with bitterness and sorrow.
-\v 2 He stood outside the king's gate, he was not allowed to enter the palace, because the law forbid anyone dressed in sackcloth to be admitted through the king's gate.
-\v 3 In every province of the empire, when the letter from the king was read to the Jewish people, they cried and mourned. They fasted, and wailed loudly, and were filled with sorrow. Many of them lay, dressed in sackcloth and sat in ashes.
+\v 2 He stood outside the king's gate. He was not allowed to enter the palace because the law forbade anyone dressed in sackcloth to be admitted through the king's gate.
+\v 3 In every province of the empire, when the letter from the king was read to the Jewish people, they cried and mourned. They fasted, wailed loudly, and were filled with sorrow. Many of them lay down on sackcloth that was covered with ashes.
 
 \s5
 \v 4 When Esther's servant women and the male servants came to her and told her about the king's decree and the coming danger, she was very distressed. So she sent to Mordecai some good clothes so he could take off his sackcloth, but he refused to accept them.
-\v 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king's officials, whom he had appointed serve and protect her. She told him to go out and talk to Mordecai to find out what the trouble was about.
+\v 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king's officials whom he had appointed to serve and protect her. She told him to go out and talk to Mordecai to find out what the trouble was about.
 
 \s5
 \v 6 Hathak went to Mordecai in the city square in front of the gate to the king's palace.
 \v 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened. He told him how much silver Haman had promised to deposit in the king's treasury in order to kill the Jews.
-\v 8 Mordecai also gave Hathak a copy of the decree that had been issued in Susa, so that he might show it to Esther. Mordecai wanted to command Esther to take action about this order from the king and to beg favor from the king. He wanted her to go to the king and try to help the Jewish people.
+\v 8 Mordecai also gave Hathak a copy of the decree that had been issued in Susa so that he might show it to Esther. Mordecai wanted to command Esther to take action about this order from the king and to beg favor from the king. He wanted her to go to the king and try to help the Jewish people.
 
 \s5
 \v 9 So Hathak went to Esther and told her what Mordecai said.
-\v 10 Then Esther ordered Hathak to return to Mordecai, and to tell him this:
+\v 10 Then Esther ordered Hathak to return to Mordecai and tell him this:
 \v 11 "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that no one can come before the king unless the king invites him to come. There is only one result of breaking this law: The person is put to death. The only exception would be that the king would hold out his golden scepter to someone who came before him, and that would be the sign that the king would permit that person to live. About my own contact with the king, I have not been called to come to the king for thirty days."
 \v 12 So Hathak went back to Mordecai and told him what Esther had said.
 
 \s5
 \v 13 Mordecai told Hathak to tell this to Esther: "Do not think that just because you live there in the palace, you will escape when all the other Jews are killed.
-\v 14 If you remain silent at this time, someone else will rescue the Jews in some other way, but you and your father's family will die. Who knows, perhaps it was for just for a time like this that you were made queen."
+\v 14 If you remain silent at this time, someone else will rescue the Jews in some other way, but you and your father's family will die. Who knows? Perhaps it was for just for a time like this that you were made queen."
 
 \s5
 \v 15 Then Esther sent this message to Mordecai,
-\v 16 "Go and gather together all the Jews here in Susa, and tell them to fast for for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My young girls and I will fast in the same way. Then I will go to the king, even though I know it is against the law. And if I die, I die."
+\v 16 "Go and gather together all the Jews here in Susa, and tell them to fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My young girls and I will fast in the same way. Then I will go to the king, even though I know it is against the law. And if I die, I die."
 \v 17 Mordecai went and did what Esther told him to do.
 
 \s5
 \c 5
 \p
 \v 1 After three days, Esther put on her royal clothing. Then she went and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, before the front of the king's house. At that time, the king was sitting on his royal throne in his house, facing the entrance to the house.
-\v 2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, the king was glad and welcomed her. He held out to her the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther approached the king and touched the tip of the scepter.
+\v 2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, the king was glad and welcomed her. He held out to her the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached the king and touched the tip of the scepter.
 
 \s5
-\v 3 Then the king said to her, "What is it that you want Queen Esther? What is your request? I will give you up to half my kingdom, if that is what you request."
+\v 3 Then the king said to her, "What is it that you want, Queen Esther? What is your request? I will give you up to half my kingdom, if that is what you request."
 \v 4 Esther replied, "Your Majesty, if it pleases you, will you and Haman come to a feast that I have prepared for you?"
 
 \s5
@@ -198,16 +198,16 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 7 Esther answered, "My petition and my request is this,
-\v 8 if you are pleased with me, if you are willing to do this for me: will you and Haman come to another feast I am preparing for you tomorrow. At that time, I will answer your question."
+\v 8 if you are pleased with me, if you are willing to do this for me: Will you and Haman come to another feast I am preparing for you tomorrow. At that time, I will answer your question."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 9 Haman was feeling very happy when he left the feast. But he saw Mordecai sitting at the gate of the palace, and once again, Mordecai did not stand up or shake with fear in front of him. So Haman was filled with anger toward Mordecai.
 \v 10 However, he did nothing to show that he was angry. He went to his house and gathered his friends. He also called for his wife, Zeresh.
-\v 11 Haman told them all about the great riches he had accumulated. He talked about his many sons, and how he had achieved more than all the other officials and the servants of the king.
+\v 11 Haman told them all about the great riches he had accumulated. He talked about his many sons and how he had achieved more than all the other officials and the servants of the king.
 
 \s5
-\v 12 Then Haman added, "Even Queen Esther invited just two of us, me and the king, to a banquet she prepared for us today. And she is inviting just the two of us to another banquet that she is will give us tomorrow!"
+\v 12 Then Haman added, "Even Queen Esther invited just two of us, me and the king, to a banquet she prepared for us today. And she is inviting just the two of us to another banquet that she will give us tomorrow!"
 \v 13 Then Haman said, "But these things mean nothing to me as long as I can see Mordecai the Jew sitting there at the king's gate!"
 
 \s5
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@
 \s5
 \c 6
 \p
-\v 1 That night the king was unable to sleep, so he summoned a servant and told him to bring the book of the history of all that happened during the time he had been king. So the servant brought the records and read aloud to the king.
+\v 1 That night, the king was unable to sleep, so he summoned a servant and told him to bring the book of the history of all that happened during the time he had been king. So the servant brought the records and read aloud to the king.
 \v 2 The servant read about Bigthana and Teresh, the two officials who had guarded the entrance to the king's rooms. He read the account of when Mordecai had found out that they planned to assassinate King Ahasuerus and that he had told the king about it.
 \v 3 The king asked, "What was done to honor Mordecai for what he did for the king?" The young men serving the king answered, "Nothing has been done for him."
 
@@ -227,16 +227,16 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 7 So he replied to the king, "For the one you want to honor,
-\v 8 you should tell your servants to bring out some robes that you yourself have worn, and to bring out one of the horses you have ridden and that bears a royal crest on his head.
+\v 8 you should tell your servants to bring out some robes that you yourself have worn and to bring out one of the horses you have ridden and that bears a royal crest on his head.
 \v 9 Give the robes and the horse to your very important officials so that they may put the royal clothes on that man, and let them lead that man who sits on the horse through the city streets. As he goes, other servants will shout, 'This is what happens when the king wants to honor someone!'"
 
 \s5
 \v 10 The king replied to Haman, "Hurry, take the robes and horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king's gate! Do not forget anything you have said!"
-\v 11 So Haman took the robes and the horse. He put the royal clothes on Mordecai, and Haman led him on the horse through the city streets proclaiming "This is what is done for a man when the king wants to honor him!"
+\v 11 So Haman took the robes and the horse. He put the royal clothes on Mordecai, and Haman led him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming, "This is what is done for a man when the king wants to honor him!"
 
 \s5
 \v 12 Then, Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house. He was mourning and had covered his face.
-\v 13 Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends about everything that had happened to him. Then his men known for their wisdom, and Zeresh his wife, said to him, "If Mordecai is Jewish, and if you have been humiliated before him, you will not defeat him. You are sure to be defeated by him."
+\v 13 Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends about everything that had happened to him. Then his men known for their wisdom and Zeresh his wife said to him, "If Mordecai is Jewish and if you have been humiliated before him, you will not defeat him. You are sure to be defeated by him."
 \v 14 While they were still talking, some of the king's officials arrived to quickly take Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.
 
 \s5
@@ -247,25 +247,25 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 3 Esther replied, "If you are pleased with me, my king, and if you are willing to do what I ask, save my life! And save the lives of my people.
-\v 4 For I and my people have been condemned to destruction by a decree. I and my people, we have been handed over to be annihilated—to be killed, destroyed. If we had only been sold into slavery, I would have kept quiet, for that kind of trouble would not have been worth bothering you about."
+\v 4 For I and my people have been condemned to destruction by a decree. I and my people have been handed over to be annihilated—to be killed and destroyed. If we had only been sold into slavery, I would have kept quiet, for that kind of trouble would not have been worth bothering you about."
 \v 5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, "Who is the man who did this? Where is the one whose heart is full of this kind of evil?"
 
 \s5
 \v 6 Esther replied, "The man who is our enemy is this evil man Haman!" Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
-\v 7 The king got up in a rage. He left his wine and went outside into the palace garden to decide what to do. But Haman stayed in order to plead with Queen Esther, for her to intervene to save his life. He knew the king had decided to kill him.
+\v 7 The king got up in a rage. He left his wine and went outside into the palace garden to decide what to do. But Haman stayed in order to plead with Queen Esther for her to intervene to save his life. He knew the king had decided to kill him.
 
 \s5
 \v 8 Then the king returned from the palace garden and went back to where they were serving the wine. Just then Haman had fallen on the couch where Esther was. The king said, "Will he assault the queen in my own house, with me standing by?" As soon as he said this, the servants put a cloth over Haman's face.
 
 \s5
-\v 9 Then Harbona, one of the king's officials who served him said, "Outside, near Haman's house, there is a gallows. It is twenty-three meters high. Haman made it for Mordecai, the one who spoke to protect the king!" The king said, "Hang him on it."
+\v 9 Then Harbona, one of the king's officials who served him, said, "Outside, near Haman's house, there is a gallows. It is twenty-three meters high. Haman made it for Mordecai, the one who spoke to protect the king!" The king said, "Hang him on it."
 \v 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king became less angry.
 
 \s5
 \c 8
 \p
 \v 1 Later on that same day, King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther all the possessions of Haman, who had been the Jews' enemy. Mordecai served the king because Esther had by now told the king how she was related to him.
-\v 2 When Mordecai came in, the king took off the ring that had his official seal on it, the ring that he had recovered from Haman, and he gave it to Mordecai. Esther appointed Mordecai to be in charge of Haman's property.
+\v 2 When Mordecai came in, the king took off the ring that had his official seal on it—the ring that he had recovered from Haman—and he gave it to Mordecai. Esther appointed Mordecai to be in charge of Haman's property.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -273,19 +273,19 @@
 \v 4 The king held out his gold scepter toward Esther, so Esther arose and stood before the king.
 
 \s5
-\v 5 She said, "Your Majesty, if it pleases you, and if I have found grace in your eyes, make a new law to cancel out what Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite decreed, that all the Jews in all the provinces in your empire should be killed.
+\v 5 She said, "Your Majesty, if it pleases you and if I have found grace in your eyes, make a new law to cancel out what Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite decreed, that all the Jews in all the provinces in your empire should be killed.
 \v 6 How can I bear to see disaster come on my people? How can I endure seeing the destruction of all my relatives?"
 
 \s5
 \v 7 King Ahasuerus replied to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, "Because Haman tried to get rid of all the Jews, I have given to Esther everything that belonged to Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows.
-\v 8 So now I am also permitting you to write another letter with a new decree in it, so that you may save your people. You may put my name on the letters and use my ring to seal them. This is because no letter that has my name on it and that is sealed with my ring can ever be revoked."
+\v 8 So now I am also permitting you to write another letter with a new decree in it so that you may save your people. You may put my name on the letters and use my ring to seal them. This is because no letter that has my name on it and that is sealed with my ring can ever be revoked."
 
 \s5
-\v 9 Then the king's scribes were called at that time (in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day of the month). Mordecai dictated to them a new decree in order to protect the Jews. It was written to the provincial governors, the governors and officials of the provinces that are from India all the way to Ethiopia, in total, 127 provinces. The letter was written to every province in the way that every language was written. It was also written to the Jews in their writing and language.
+\v 9 Then the king's scribes were called at that time—in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day of the month. Mordecai dictated to them a new decree in order to protect the Jews. It was written to the provincial governors, the governors, and officials of the provinces that are from India all the way to Ethiopia; in total, 127 provinces. The letter was written to every province in the way that every language was written. It was also written to the Jews in their writing and language.
 
 \s5
 \v 10 Mordecai wrote the decree in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. He sent the documents by couriers riding on the fast horses that were used in the king's service, bred in the king's stables.
-\v 11 The king gave to the Jews living in every city permission to gather together and to fight together to protect their lives. He allowed them to kill any armed men belonging to any people or coming from any province, who might attack them or their families, or who might try to take their possessions.
+\v 11 The king gave to the Jews living in every city permission to gather together and to fight together to protect their lives. He allowed them to kill any armed men belonging to any people or coming from any province who might attack them or their families or who might try to take their possessions.
 \v 12 This was to be in effect in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which was the month of Adar.
 
 \s5
@@ -294,17 +294,17 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 15 Mordecai left the palace, wearing the blue and white robe and a large gold crown that the king gave him. He also put on a robe of fine purple cloth. When the people in Susa heard the new law, they all shouted and cheered.
-\v 16 The Jews in Susa were now happy, instead of being afraid. They rejoiced instead of fearing, and other people honored them.
-\v 17 When the new decree arrived in every city and province, the Jews there celebrated and prepared feasts and were very joyful. And many people throughout the empire became Jews, because they had become very afraid of the Jews.
+\v 16 The Jews in Susa were now happy instead of being afraid. They rejoiced instead of fearing, and other people honored them.
+\v 17 When the new decree arrived in every city and province, the Jews there celebrated and prepared feasts and were very joyful. And many people throughout the empire became Jews because they had become very afraid of the Jews.
 
 \s5
 \c 9
 \p
 \v 1 It was in the twelfth month, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, that the Jews' enemies had hoped to destroy them completely. They would have been following the king's decree. However, it all turned out differently, for the Jews defeated their enemies.
-\v 2 The Jews gathered together in their cities in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to attack those who wanted to harm them. No one could fight against the Jews, because all the people in the areas were afraid of them.
+\v 2 The Jews gathered together in their cities in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to attack those who wanted to harm them. No one could fight against the Jews because all the people in every area were afraid of them.
 
 \s5
-\v 3 All the king's officials everywhere helped the Jews, because they had become afraid of Mordecai and the power that the king had given to him.
+\v 3 All the king's officials everywhere helped the Jews because they had become afraid of Mordecai and the power that the king had given to him.
 \v 4 Mordecai was now the king's most important official in the king's palace, and his fame was spreading throughout the provinces because he was becoming very powerful.
 \v 5 So the Jews attacked their enemies and killed them. They defeated all those who hated them, and they were completely victorious.
 
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@
 \v 7-10 They killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha, the ten grandsons of Hammedatha, the sons of Haman—the enemy of the Jews. The Jews killed them, but they did not take their possessions.
 
 \s5
-\v 11 At the end of that day someone reported to the king the number of people whom the Jews killed in Susa, the fortified city.
+\v 11 At the end of that day, someone reported to the king the number of people whom the Jews killed in Susa, the fortified city.
 \v 12 Then the king told Queen Esther, "The Jews have killed five hundred people right here in Susa, including Haman's ten sons! What must they have done in the rest of my provinces? Now what else do you ask me to do for you? You tell me. What else do you want? And I will do it."
 
 \s5
@@ -321,13 +321,13 @@
 \v 14 So the king commanded that the Jews be permitted to kill more of their enemies the next day. After he issued another order in Susa, the bodies of Haman's ten sons were hanged.
 
 \s5
-\v 15 The Jews in Susa gathered together and killed three hundred more people. But again, they did not take away any of their possessions.
-\v 16 That happened on the 14th day of the month of Adar. On the following day, the Jews in Susa rested and celebrated. In all the other provinces, the Jewish people gathered together to defend themselves, and they killed seventy-five thousand people who hated them, but again, they took none of their possessions.
+\v 15 The Jews in Susa gathered together and killed three hundred more people. But again, they did not take away any of their possessions. That happened on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar.
+\v 16 In all the other provinces, the Jewish people gathered together to defend themselves, and they killed seventy-five thousand people who hated them, but again, they took none of their possessions.
 
 \s5
-\v 17 On the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day, they rested and made that a day of feasting and celebration.
-\v 18 But the Jews who were in Susa came together on the thirteenth and the fourteenth days to fight, but on the fifteenth day they rested and made it a day of feasting and celebration.
-\v 19 That is why the Jews of the villages, the Jews who live in the rural towns, observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day of gladness and celebration, when they send gifts of food to one another.
+\v 17 On the thirteenth day of the month of Adar and on the fourteenth day, they rested and made that a day of feasting and celebration.
+\v 18 But the Jews who were in Susa came together on the thirteenth and fourteenth days to fight, but on the fifteenth day they rested and made it a day of feasting and celebration.
+\v 19 That is why the Jews of the villages—the Jews who live in the rural towns—observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day of gladness and celebration, when they send gifts of food to one another.
 
 \s5
 \v 20 Mordecai wrote down all the things that had happened. Then he sent letters to the Jews who lived throughout the empire of King Ahasuerus.
@@ -336,8 +336,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 23 So the Jews agreed to do what Mordecai wrote. They agreed to celebrate on those days every year.
-\v 24 They would remember how Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, became an enemy of all the Jews. They would remember how he had made an evil plan to kill the Jews, and that he had cast lots to find a day to crush and destroy them.
-\v 25 They would remember that when the king learned about Haman's plan, he arranged that the evil plan to kill the Jews would result instead in Haman's own destruction, that Haman would be killed in place of the Jews, that he and that his sons would be hanged.
+\v 24 They would remember how Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, became an enemy of all the Jews. They would remember how he had made an evil plan to kill the Jews and that he had cast lots to find a day to crush and destroy them.
+\v 25 They would remember that when the king learned about Haman's plan, he arranged that the evil plan to kill the Jews would result instead in Haman's own destruction—that Haman would be killed in place of the Jews and that he and his sons would be hanged.
 
 \s5
 \v 26 Therefore they called these days Purim, after the name of Pur (the lots that they cast). So that is what was written in this letter, what they had seen, and what had happened to them.
@@ -356,8 +356,8 @@
 \c 10
 \p
 \v 1 King Ahasuerus made the people living on land and along the sea pay a tax.
-\v 2 And all the great things that Ahasuerus did because of his power have been written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia. Also written there is a history of the great things done by Mordecai, and of the honor that the king gave him.
+\v 2 And all the great things that Ahasuerus did because of his power have been written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia. Also written there is a history of the great things done by Mordecai and of the honor that the king gave him.
 
 \s5
-\v 3 Mordecai the Jew, was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and all the Jews also considered him to be a very great man. He was respected by his Jewish brothers and sisters, for he sought the welfare of his people, and he spoke to gain security for all of them.
+\v 3 Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and all the Jews also considered him to be a very great man. He was respected by his Jewish brothers and sisters, for he sought the welfare of his people, and he spoke to gain security for all of them.
 

18-JOB.usfm

@@ -9,18 +9,18 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1 In the land named Uz, there was a man named Job. He obeyed God and always avoided doing evil things.
+\v 1 In the land called Uz, there was a man named Job. He obeyed God and always avoided doing evil things.
 \v 2 He had seven sons and three daughters.
-\v 3 He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, one thousand oxen, and five hundred donkeys. He also had many servants. This was the man who was the richest in all the area east of the Jordan River.
+\v 3 He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, one thousand oxen, and five hundred donkeys. He also had many servants. This was the man who was the richest man in all the area east of the Jordan River.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 4 Job's sons often held feasts in their houses. Whenever each one made a feast, he would invite all his brothers and sisters to come and eat together.
+\v 4 Job's sons often held feasts in their houses. Whenever each one made a feast, he would invite all of his brothers and sisters to come and eat together.
 \v 5 After each celebration, Job would summon them. He would ask Yahweh to purify them from any action they might have committed during their feasting that would make them unacceptable to him. He would get up early in the morning, kill animals, and burn them on the altar as sacrifices, one for each of his children. For Job always said, "Perhaps my children have sinned and said something evil about God in their hearts."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 6 One day, the angels came and gathered together in front of Yahweh, and Satan came, too.
+\v 6 One day, the angels came and gathered together in front of Yahweh, and Satan also came.
 \v 7 Yahweh asked Satan, "Where have you just come from?"
 \p Satan replied, "I have come from the earth, where I been traveling back and forth to see what is happening."
 \p
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 \p
 \v 13 One day after that, Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the home of their oldest brother.
 \v 14 While they were doing that, a messenger arrived at Job's home and said to him, "While your oxen were plowing the fields and the donkeys were grazing nearby,
-\v 15 a group of men from the people of Sheba came and attacked us. They killed all your servants who were working in the fields and took away all the oxen and donkeys! I am the only one who has escaped to come and tell you what happened."
+\v 15 a group of men from the people of Sheba came and attacked us. They killed all of your servants who were working in the fields and took away all the oxen and donkeys! I am the only one who has escaped to come and tell you what happened."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
 \q1 and it is Yahweh who has taken it all away.
 \q1 But we must always praise Yahweh!"
 \p
-\v 22 So in spite of all the things that happened to Job, he did speak not like a foolish man—he did not sin by saying that what God had done was wrong.
+\v 22 So in spite of all the things that happened to Job, he did not speak like a foolish man—he did not sin by saying that what God had done was wrong.
 
 \s5
 \c 2
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 3 Yahweh asked Satan, "You have you noticed my servant Job, who worships me, have you not?
+\v 3 Yahweh asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job, who worships me?
 \p He continues to honor me; he is very exceptional, for he lives in a way that is more right than anyone else on the earth. He does this even though you persuaded me to attack him for no reason."
 
 \s5
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 9 His wife said to him, "Are you still trying to be loyal to God? You should curse God, and then go ahead and die."
+\v 9 His wife said to him, "Are you still trying to be loyal to God? You should curse God and then go ahead and die."
 \p
 \v 10 But Job replied, "You talk like people talk who do not know God. We should not only accept the good things that God does for us. We should also accept the bad things." So in spite of all these things that happened to Job, he did not offend God by saying anything against him.
 
@@ -106,18 +106,18 @@
 \v 1 Finally, Job spoke, and he cursed the day that he was born.
 \v 2 He said,
 \q1
-\v 3 "I wish that the day when I was born could be eradicated,
-\q2 the night when I was born.
+\v 3 "I wish someone could destroy the day I was born
+\q2 and also the night when I was conceived.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 4 I wish that the day when I was born could have been dark.
-\q2 I wish that God who is in heaven would forget about that day,
+\q2 I wish that God who is in heaven would forget about that day
 \q2 and that the sun would not have shone on it.
 \q1
-\v 5 I wish that thick darkness would have filled that day,
+\v 5 I wish that thick darkness would have filled that day
 \q1 and that death would have come over it like a shadow
-\q2 and blotted out all light,
+\q2 and blotted out all light
 \q2 and caused the people then to be terrified.
 
 \s5
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@
 \q2 that it would never again appear as one night in any month,
 \q2 and that it would not be included in any calendar.
 \q1
-\v 7 I wish that no child would again be born on that date,
+\v 7 I wish that no child would again be born on that date
 \q2 and that no one would again be happy then.
 
 \s5
@@ -134,8 +134,8 @@
 \v 8 The magicians who are able to awaken the great sea monster—I want them to curse the day I was born.
 \q1
 \v 9 I wish that the stars that shone early in the morning on that day after I was born may not shine again.
-\q2 If only those stars had wished in vain for light to shine,
-\q2 and that they had not shone on that day.
+\q2 If only those stars had wished in vain for light to shine
+\q2 and that they had not shone on that day!
 \q1
 \v 10 That was an evil day because my mother's womb was not closed;
 \q2 instead, I was born, and I have now experienced all these terrible things.
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 23 I do not understand why God keeps alive anyone whom he keeps from being happy,
+\v 23 I do not understand why God keeps alive anyone whom he keeps from being happy—
 \q2 anyone whom he forces to live in misery.
 \q1
 \v 24 I cry very much; as a result, I cannot eat;
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@
 \v 5 But now, when you yourself suffer from disasters, you become discouraged.
 \q2 The disasters hit you, and you are stunned.
 \q1
-\v 6 You say that you honor God; so you should be trusting in him, for him not to let you suffer.
+\v 6 You say that you honor God, so you should be trusting in him for him not to let you suffer.
 \q2 If you really had not sinned, you would have been confident that God would not let these disasters happen to you!
 
 \s5
@@ -230,10 +230,10 @@
 \v 7 Think about this: No innocent people ever die when they are still young!
 \q2 God never kills innocent people!
 \q1
-\v 8 I have seen this happen: if farmers plant bad seeds, they do not harvest good crops;
+\v 8 I have seen this happen: If farmers plant bad seeds, they do not harvest good crops;
 \q2 anyone who starts trouble for others later brings trouble on himself.
 \q1
-\v 9 These people die when God commands them to,
+\v 9 These people die when God commands them to
 \q2 because he is very angry with them.
 
 \s5
@@ -266,15 +266,15 @@
 \q1 and it said in a quiet voice,
 \q1
 \v 17 'No human being can be more righteous than God.
-\q1 No man can be better than God, who made him.
+\q1 No man can be better than God who made him.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 18 God cannot be sure that his own angels will always do what is right;
 \q2 he declares that some of them have done wrong.
 \q1
-\v 19 So he certainly cannot trust human beings whom he has made from dust and clay,
-\q2 human beings, whom disaster crushes as easily as you can crush a moth!
+\v 19 So he certainly cannot trust human beings whom he has made from dust and clay—
+\q2 human beings whom disaster crushes as easily as you can crush a moth!
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 4 Their sons are never safe;
-\q2 they always lose to their opponents in court,
+\q2 they always lose to their opponents in court
 \q2 because there is no one to defend them.
 \q1
 \v 5 Hungry people steal the crops that foolish people harvest;
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 11 He defends those who are humble,
+\v 11 He defends those who are humble
 \q2 and puts those who mourn into places where they are safe.
 \q1
 \v 12 He causes crafty people to not be able to do what they plan to do,
@@ -339,12 +339,12 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 14 It is as though even in the daytime they were living in darkness
-\q2 and were groping around trying to find the road at noontime like people do at night.
+\q2 and were groping around trying to find the road at noontime as people do at night.
 \q1
 \v 15 But God saves helpless people from the wicked who say evil things about them;
 \q2 he saves poor people from powerful people harming them.
 \q1
-\v 16 So poor people confidently expect that good things will happen to them;
+\v 16 So poor people confidently expect that good things will happen to them,
 \q2 but God stops wicked people from saying evil things.
 
 \s5
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@
 \v 24 You will know that things will go well for you in your home;
 \q2 when you look at your livestock, you will see that they are all there.
 \q1
-\v 25 You will be certain that you will have many descendants,
+\v 25 You will be certain that you will have many descendants
 \q2 who will be as numerous as blades of grass.
 
 \s5
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@
 \q2 It is as though those arrows have poison on their tips, and that poison has gone into my spirit.
 \q1 The things that God has done to me are like soldiers lined up to attack me.
 \q1
-\v 5 Just like a wild donkey does not complain by braying when it has plenty of grass to eat,
+\v 5 Just as a wild donkey does not complain by braying when it has plenty of grass to eat,
 \q2 and an ox does not complain by bellowing when it has food to eat,
 \q1 I would not complain if you were really helping me.
 \q1
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@
 \q1 You have seen that terrible things have happened to me,
 \q2 and you are afraid that God might do similar things to you.
 \q1
-\v 22 After I lost all my wealth, I did not ask any of you for money.
+\v 22 After I lost all of my wealth, I did not ask any of you for money.
 \q2 I did not plead with any of you to spend some of your money to help me.
 \q1
 \v 23 I never asked any of you to rescue me from my enemies,
@@ -490,9 +490,8 @@
 \v 26 I am a man who has nothing to hope for,
 \q2 but you try to correct me, and you think what I say is as useless as the wind!
 \q1
-\v 27 You do not sympathize with me at all for the things
-that I am suffering.
-\q2 You will do anything to get something for yourselves! You would even play a game to see who gets an orphan as a prize!
+\v 27 You will do anything to get something for yourselves! You would even play a game to see who gets an orphan as a prize, 
+\q2 and you would barter to sell your own friend!
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -501,8 +500,8 @@ that I am suffering.
 \v 29 Stop saying that I have sinned, and stop criticizing me unjustly!
 \q2 You should realize that I have not done things that are wrong.
 \q1
-\v 30 Do you think that I am lying?
-\q2 No, I am not lying, because I know what is right to say, and what is wrong."
+\v 30 Do you think I am lying?
+\q2 No, I am not lying, because I know what is right to say and what is wrong."
 
 \s5
 \c 7
@@ -513,7 +512,7 @@ that I am suffering.
 \v 2 We are like slaves who keep wanting to be in the cool of evening,
 \q2 and we are like workers who keep waiting to be paid.
 \q1
-\v 3 God has given to me many months in which I think that it is useless to remain alive;
+\v 3 God has given to me many months in which I think it is useless to remain alive;
 \q1 he has assigned to me many nights during which I feel miserable.
 
 \s5
@@ -551,8 +550,8 @@ that I am suffering.
 \q1 I will complain to God about what has happened to me
 \q2 because I am very angry.
 \q1
-\v 12 God, why do you watch closely what I am doing?
-\q2 Do you think that I am a dangerous sea monster?
+\v 12 God, why do you closely watch what I am doing?
+\q2 Do you think I am a dangerous sea monster?
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -562,7 +561,7 @@ that I am suffering.
 \v 14 But then you give me dreams that cause me to be afraid;
 \q2 you give me visions that terrify me;
 \q1
-\v 15 these things make me wish that someone would strangle me to death,
+\v 15 these things make me wish that someone would strangle me to death
 \q2 rather than for me to continue to be alive when I am only a bunch of bones.
 
 \s5
@@ -570,12 +569,11 @@ that I am suffering.
 \v 16 I detest continuing to be alive; I do not want to live for many more years.
 \q2 Allow me to be alone, because I will be alive for only a very short time.
 \q1
-\v 17 We human beings are not very important;
-\q2 so why do you pay so much attention to us ?
+\v 17 We human beings are not very important,
+\q2 so why do you pay so much attention to us?
 \q1
 \v 18 You look at us every morning to see what we are doing,
-\q2 and you
-examine us every moment to see if we are doing what is right.
+\q2 and you examine us every moment to see if we are doing what is right.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -665,7 +663,7 @@ examine us every moment to see if we are doing what is right.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 19 Truly, this is all the joy that evil people have:
+\v 19 Truly, this is all the joy that evil people have;
 \q2 other people just come and take their places.
 \q1
 \v 20 So, I tell you, Job, God will not reject you if you honor him,
@@ -674,8 +672,7 @@ examine us every moment to see if we are doing what is right.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 21 He will always enable you to laugh
-\q2 and to
-shout joyfully.
+\q2 and to shout joyfully.
 \q1
 \v 22 But those who hate you will be very ashamed,
 \q2 and the homes of wicked people will disappear."
@@ -708,7 +705,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 \v 7 Some days he speaks to the sun, and it does not rise,
 \q2 and some nights he prevents the stars from shining.
 \q1
-\v 8 He alone stretched [stretches] out the sky;
+\v 8 He alone spreads out the sky;
 \q2 he alone puts his feet on the waves and stops their violence.
 \q1
 \v 9 He set in their places the groups of stars— the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the groups of stars in the southern sky.
@@ -748,7 +745,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 19 If I tried to wrestle with him, there would be no way to defeat him,
+\v 19 If I tried to wrestle with him, there would be no way to defeat him
 \q2 because he is stronger than I am.
 \q1 If I called him to appear in court,
 \q2 there is no one who could force him to go there.
@@ -770,7 +767,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 \v 24 God has allowed wicked people to control what happens in the world.
 \q2 It is as though he had caused judges to be blind, no longer able to judge fairly.
 \q1 If it is not God who has done that,
-\q2 who, then, has done it?
+\q2 who then has done it?
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -802,7 +799,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 32 God is not a human, as I am,
+\v 32 God is not a human as I am,
 \q2 so there is no way that I could answer him to prove that I am innocent
 \q2 if we went together to have a trial in a courtroom.
 \q1
@@ -811,11 +808,11 @@ shout joyfully.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 34 I wish someone else could stop God from making me suffer,
+\v 34 I wish someone else could stop God from making me suffer
 \q2 and that he would not continue to terrify me.
 \q1
 \v 35 If he did that, I would declare that I am innocent without being afraid of him
-\q2 because I know within myself that I really have not done what is wrong like God thinks that I have.
+\q2 because I know within myself that I really have not done what is wrong, as God thinks that I have.
 
 \s5
 \c 10
@@ -835,12 +832,12 @@ shout joyfully.
 \q1
 \v 4 Do you understand things the way that we humans do?
 \q1
-\v 5 Do you live for only a few years, like [as] we do?
+\v 5 Do you live for only a few years, as we do?
 \q1
 \v 6 So why do you continue to search for my faults
 \q2 and to hunt for my sins?
 \q1
-\v 7 You know that I am not guilty,
+\v 7 You know that I am not guilty
 \q2 and that no one can rescue me from your power.
 
 \s5
@@ -883,26 +880,26 @@ shout joyfully.
 \q1
 \v 17 You constantly find more witnesses to testify that I have done what is wrong,
 \q2 and you continually become more angry with me.
-\q2 It is as though you are [were] always bringing new troops to attack me.
+\q2 It is as though you are always bringing new troops to attack me.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 18 God, why did you allow me to be born?
-\q2 I wish had died when I was born, and that no one had ever seen me.
+\q2 I wish I had died when I was born and that no one had ever seen me.
 \q1
 \v 19 I think it would have been better if I had been carried directly from my mother's womb to the grave
 \q2 than for me to live.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 20 I think that there are only a few days for me to remain alive;
-\q2 so allow me to be alone, in order that I may have a little peace
+\v 20 I think that there are only a few days for me to remain alive,
+\q2 so allow me to be alone so that I may have a little peace
 \q1
 \v 21 before I go to the place from which I will never return,
-\q2 [a place] where it is always gloomy and very dark,
+\q2 where it is always gloomy and very dark—
 \q1
 \v 22 a place of darkness and dark shadows where everything is confused
-\q2 [and] where even the small light there is like darkness.'"
+\q2 and where even the small light there is like darkness.'"
 
 \s5
 \c 11
@@ -910,7 +907,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 \v 1 Then Zophar, the friend from the region of Naamah, said this to Job:
 \q1
 \v 2 "Should no one answer all that you have said?
-\q2 Just because you talk a lot, that fact should not persuade us to declare that you are innocent.
+\q2 Just because you talk much, that fact should not persuade us to declare that you are innocent.
 \q1
 \v 3 Job, should your babbling really cause us to be silent?
 \q2 When you make fun of what we think, certainly there should be someone to rebuke you and cause you to be ashamed!
@@ -932,9 +929,9 @@ shout joyfully.
 \v 7 Tell me, will you ever be able to find out the things about God that are very difficult to understand?
 \q2 Will you be able to find out everything that there is to know about Almighty God?
 \q1
-\v 8 What there is to know about God is greater than the distance from earth to heaven;
+\v 8 What there is to know about God is greater than the distance from earth to heaven,
 \q2 so there is no way that you can understand it all.
-\q1 It is greater than the distance from here to the place of the dead;
+\q1 It is greater than the distance from here to the place of the dead,
 \q2 so it is impossible for you to know it all.
 \q1
 \v 9 What there is to know about God is wider than the earth
@@ -945,34 +942,34 @@ shout joyfully.
 \v 10 If God comes to you and puts you in prison and then brings you to a trial,
 \q2 who can stop him?
 \q1
-\v 11 He knows which people are worthless;
+\v 11 He knows which people are worthless,
 \q2 and when he sees people doing wicked things, he certainly does not ignore them.
 \q1
-\v 12 Stupid people like you will start to become wise
-\q2 when wild donkeys start giving birth to people.
+\v 12 A stupid person cannot become wise in their understanding 
+\q2 any more than a wild donkey's colt can give birth to a human child. 
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 13 Job, repent and make your heart humble;
 \q2 reach out your hands toward God and plead with him.
 \q1
-\v 14 If you have done evil things, stop doing them;
+\v 14 If you have done evil things, stop doing them,
 \q2 and do not allow any people in your house to do wicked deeds.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 15 If you do that, surely you will be able to carry your head high, because you will not be ashamed;
+\v 15 If you do that, surely you will be able to carry your head high because you will not be ashamed;
 \q2 you will be strong and not afraid of anything.
 \q1
-\v 16 You will forget all your troubles;
+\v 16 You will forget all of your troubles;
 \q2 they will be like the water that has all flowed away and dried up.
 \q1
-\v 17 Your troubles will be ended, like the darkness ends at the dawn;
-\q2 it will be as though the sun were shining brightly on you, like it shines at noon.
+\v 17 Your troubles will be ended, as the darkness ends at the dawn;
+\q2 it will be as though the sun were shining brightly on you, as it shines at noon.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 18 You will feel safe, because you will be confident that good things will happen to you;
+\v 18 You will feel safe because you will be confident that good things will happen to you;
 \q2 God will protect you and allow you to rest safely each night.
 \q1
 \v 19 You will lie down to sleep, and no one will make you afraid.
@@ -982,14 +979,14 @@ shout joyfully.
 \q1
 \v 20 But wicked people will not be able to understand why bad things are happening to them;
 \q2 they will not have any way to escape from their troubles.
-\q2 The only thing that they will want to do is to die. "
+\q2 The only thing that they will want to do is to die."
 
 \s5
 \c 12
 \p
 \v 1 Then Job said to his three friends,
 \q1
-\v 2 "There is no doubt that you are the people to whom everyone should listen,
+\v 2 "There is no doubt that you are the people to whom everyone should listen
 \q2 and that when you die, there will be no more wise people alive.
 \q1
 \v 3 But I have as much good sense as you do;
@@ -1012,11 +1009,11 @@ shout joyfully.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 7 But ask the wild animals what they know about God;
-\q2 if they could speak they would teach you.
+\q2 if they could speak, they would teach you.
 \q1 If you could ask the birds,
 \q2 they would tell you.
 \q1
-\v 8 If you could ask the creatures that crawl on the ground, or the fish in the sea,
+\v 8 If you could ask the creatures that crawl on the ground or the fish in the sea,
 \q2 they would tell you about God.
 
 \s5
@@ -1030,7 +1027,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 \q1
 \v 11 When we hear what people like you say,
 \q2 we think carefully about what they say to determine what is good and what is bad,
-\q2 like we taste food to know what is good and what is bad.
+\q2 as we taste food to know what is good and what is bad.
 \q1
 \v 12 Old people are usually very wise;
 \q2 because they have lived a long time, they understand much.
@@ -1041,17 +1038,17 @@ shout joyfully.
 \q2 he has good sense and understands everything.
 \q1
 \v 14 If he tears something down, no one can rebuild it;
-\q2 if he puts someone in prison, no one can open the door to let that person to escape.
+\q2 if he puts someone in prison, no one can open the door to let that person escape.
 \q1
 \v 15 When he prevents rain from falling, everything dries up.
-\q2 When he causes a lot of rain to fall, the result is that there are floods.
+\q2 When he causes much rain to fall, the result is that there are floods.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 16 He is the one who is truly strong and wise;
 \q2 he rules over those who deceive others and those whom they deceive.
 \q1
-\v 17 He sometimes causes the king's officials to lose their wisdom and grieve because of it'
+\v 17 He sometimes causes the king's officials to lose their wisdom and grieve because of it,
 \q2 and he causes judges to become foolish.
 \q1
 \v 18 He takes from kings the ornaments that they wear
@@ -1081,9 +1078,9 @@ shout joyfully.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 24 He causes some rulers to become foolish,
-\q2 and then he causes them to wander around, lost, as if they were in the wilderness with no way out.
+\q2 and then he causes them to wander around lost, as if they were in the wilderness with no way out.
 \q1
-\v 25 It is as if they were feeling around in the darkness, without any light;
+\v 25 It is as if they were feeling around in the darkness, without any light—
 \q2 as if they were drunk, not knowing what they should do."
 
 \s5
@@ -1148,7 +1145,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 16 No wicked person would dare to stand in the presence of God,
-\q1 but because I say that I have not done things that are wrong,
+\q1 but because I say I have not done things that are wrong,
 \q2 perhaps, if I can prove that to God, he will declare me innocent."
 \q1
 \v 17 "God, listen very carefully to what I say; pay attention to me.
@@ -1159,7 +1156,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 \q2 and I know that you also will declare that I am not guilty.
 \q1
 \v 19 I certainly do not think that you or anyone else will say that what I say is false;
-\q2 if you did so, then I would speak no more, and I would die.
+\q2 if you did so, then I would speak no more and I would die.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -1181,13 +1178,13 @@ shout joyfully.
 \q2 Why do you act toward me as though I were your enemy?
 \q1
 \v 25 I am as insignificant as a leaf that the wind blows.
-\q2 Why are you trying to make me afraid ?
+\q2 Why are you trying to make me afraid?
 \q1 Why are you making me suffer?
 \q2 After all, I am as useless as a bit of dry chaff!
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 26 It seems that you are writing things to accuse me of having sinned,
+\v 26 It seems that you are writing things to accuse me of having sinned
 \q2 and that you are writing down even the bad things I did when I was young.
 \q1
 \v 27 It is as though you have put my feet in stocks
@@ -1206,7 +1203,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 \v 2 We disappear quickly, like flowers that grow from the ground quickly and then wither and die.
 \q2 We are like shadows that disappear when the sun stops shining.
 \q1
-\v 3 Yahweh, why do you keep watching me to see if I am doing something that is wrong ?
+\v 3 Yahweh, why do you keep watching me to see if I am doing something that is wrong?
 \q2 Do you want to take me to court to judge me?
 
 \s5
@@ -1240,15 +1237,15 @@ shout joyfully.
 \q2 or as a riverbed dries up,
 \q1
 \v 12 people lie down and die and do not get up again.
-\q1 Until the heavens do not exist any longer;
+\q1 Until the heavens do not exist any longer,
 \q2 people who die do not wake up,
 \q2 and no one can wake them up.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 13 Yahweh, I wish that you would put me safely in the place of the dead and forget about me, so that I do not suffer any more
+\v 13 Yahweh, I wish you would put me safely in the place of the dead and forget about me, so that I do not suffer anymore
 \q2 until you are no longer angry with me.
-\q1 I wish that you would decide how much time I would spend there,
+\q1 I wish you would decide how much time I would spend there
 \q2 and then remember that I am there.
 \q1
 \v 14 When we humans die, we will certainly not live again.
@@ -1258,7 +1255,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 15 You would call me, and I would answer.
-\q2 You would be eager to see me, one of the creatures that you had made.
+\q2 You would be eager to see me, one of the creatures that you have made.
 \q1
 \v 16 You would carefully see where I went,
 \q2 and you would not be interested in seeing whether I sinned or not.
@@ -1321,7 +1318,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 10 My friends and I are also wise;
-\q2 we acquired wisdom from old gray-haired people,
+\q2 we acquired wisdom from old, gray-haired people—
 \q2 from people who were born before your father was.
 \q1
 \v 11 God wants to comfort you
@@ -1334,7 +1331,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 \q2 Why do your eyes flash with anger?
 \q1
 \v 13 You are angry with God,
-\q2 and so you say harsh things against him.
+\q2 so you say harsh things against him.
 \q1
 \v 14 How can any person, including you, be sinless?
 \q2 How can anyone on the earth be completely righteous?
@@ -1371,7 +1368,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 \v 22 Wicked people do not really think that they will escape from darkness;
 \q2 they are sure that someone is waiting to kill them with a sword.
 \q1
-\v 23 They wander around, searching for food, saying 'Where can I find some?'
+\v 23 They wander around searching for food, saying, 'Where can I find some?'
 \q2 They know that they will soon experience disasters.
 \q1
 \v 24 Because they are afraid of those things happening to them, they worry
@@ -1382,7 +1379,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 \v 25 These things happen to them because they shook their fists against Almighty God
 \q2 and thought that they were strong enough to defeat him.
 \q1
-\v 26 They stubbornly rush to attack God
+\v 26 They stubbornly rush to attack God,
 \q2 thinking that a strong shield will protect them.
 
 \s5
@@ -1395,7 +1392,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 29 But they will not remain rich very long;
-\q2 Others will take everything that they own,
+\q2 others will take everything they own,
 \q2 and even their shadows will disappear from the earth.
 \q1
 \v 30 They will not escape from the darkness of death;
@@ -1447,8 +1444,8 @@ shout joyfully.
 \v 6 But now, if I talk, my pain does not decrease,
 \q2 and if I am silent, my pain still certainly does not go away.
 \q1
-\v 7 God, you have now taken away all my strength;
-\q2 you have destroyed all my family.
+\v 7 God, you have now taken away all of my strength;
+\q2 you have destroyed all of my family.
 \q1
 \v 8 You have shriveled me up,
 \q2 and people think that shows me to be a sinner.
@@ -1477,7 +1474,7 @@ shout joyfully.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 13 It is as though I were a target, and that people were surrounding me and shooting arrows at me.
+\v 13 It is as though I were a target and people were surrounding me and shooting arrows at me.
 \q1 God's arrows pierce my kidneys
 \q2 and cause the bile from my liver to spill onto the ground;
 \q2 God does not pity me at all.
@@ -1493,13 +1490,12 @@ shout joyfully.
 \v 16 My face is red because I have cried very much,
 \q2 and there are dark circles around my eyes.
 \q1
-\v 17 All this has happened to me even though I have not acted violently toward anyone,
+\v 17 All this has happened to me even though I have not acted violently toward anyone
 \q2 and even though I always pray sincerely to God.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 18 When I die, I want the ground to act as though I had been murdered;
-I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
+\v 18 When I die, I want the ground to act as though I had been murdered; I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q2 and I do not want anyone to stop me while I am demanding that God act justly toward me.
 \q1
 \v 19 But even now, I know that there is someone in heaven who will testify for me,
@@ -1514,19 +1510,19 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q2 as a person pleads for his friend.
 \q1
 \v 22 I say this because within a few years I will die;
-\q2 I will walk along the road to a place from which I will never return."
+\q2 I will walk along the road to a place from which I will never return.
 
 \s5
 \c 17
 \q1
-\v 1 "My time to live is almost ended; I have no strength left;
+\v 1 My time to live is almost ended; I have no strength left;
 \q2 those who have dug my grave are waiting for me.
 \q1
 \v 2 Those who are around me are making fun of me;
-\q2 I must always see them mocking me."
+\q2 I must always see them mocking me.
 \q1
-\v 3 "God, it is as though I were in prison;
-\q1 please pay the money in order that I may be released,
+\v 3 God, it is as though I were in prison;
+\q1 please pay the money so that I may be released,
 \q2 because there is certainly no one else who will help me.
 
 \s5
@@ -1535,7 +1531,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q2 but you will not allow them to triumph over me, saying that I have done wrong things.
 \q1
 \v 5 Our ancestors said, 'It often happens that when someone betrays his friends in order to get some of their property,
-\q2 it is that person's children who will be punished for it;'
+\q2 it is that person's children who will be punished for it,'
 \q1 so I desire that will be true of these friends of mine who are lying about me.
 
 \s5
@@ -1592,7 +1588,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 3 Why do you think that we are as stupid as cattle and as unrighteous?
+\v 3 Why do you think that we are as stupid and as unrighteous as cattle?
 \q1
 \v 4 By being very angry, you are only hurting yourself.
 \q2 Do you think that everyone on the earth must leave to prove that you are right,
@@ -1609,7 +1605,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 7 While they are alive, they walk confidently,
-\q2 but later it will be as though they stumbled and fell,
+\q2 but later it will be as though they stumbled and fell
 \q1 because they themselves do not pay attention to the advice that they give to others.
 \q1
 \v 8 It will be as though they had walked into their own net
@@ -1657,7 +1653,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \v 19 They will have no children or grandchildren,
 \q2 no descendants where they will have previously lived.
 \q1
-\v 20 People from the east to the west who hear about what happened to them, everyone,
+\v 20 Everyone—from the east to the west—who hears about what happened to them
 \q2 will be shocked and horrified.
 
 \s5
@@ -1691,7 +1687,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 7 I cry out, 'People are murdering me!',
+\v 7 I cry out, 'People are murdering me!'
 \q2 but no one answers me.
 \q1 I call out loudly, but there is no one, not even God, who acts fairly toward me.
 \q1
@@ -1717,7 +1713,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 13 God has caused my brothers to abandon me,
-\q2 and for all those who know me to act like strangers to me.
+\q2 and all those who know me act like strangers to me.
 \q1
 \v 14 All my relatives and good friends have left me.
 
@@ -1731,7 +1727,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 17 My breath smells very bad to my wife so she stays away from me,
+\v 17 My breath smells very bad to my wife, so she stays away from me,
 \q2 and my brothers detest me.
 \q1
 \v 18 Even young children despise me;
@@ -1745,23 +1741,23 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \v 20 My body is only skin and bones;
 \q2 I am barely alive.
 \q1
-\v 21 I plead with you, my three friends, pity me
+\v 21 I plead with you, my three friends, pity me,
 \q2 because God has struck me very hard.
 \q1
-\v 22 Why do you cause me to suffer, also? Do you think you are God?
+\v 22 Why do you also cause me to suffer? Do you think you are God?
 \q2 Why do you never get enough of accusing me of doing wrong?
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 23 I wish that someone would take these words of mine
-\q2 and write them permanently in a book in order that people can read them.
+\q2 and write them permanently in a book so that people can read them.
 \q1
 \v 24 Or else, I wish that someone would carve my words on a rock with a chisel
-\q2 in order that they would last forever.
+\q2 so that they would last forever.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 25 But I know that the one who vindicates me in court is alive,
+\v 25 But I know that the one who vindicates me in court is alive
 \q2 and that he will stand here on the earth and make the final decision about whether I deserve to be punished.
 \q1
 \v 26 And even after diseases have destroyed my body,
@@ -1796,12 +1792,12 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \v 4 Do you not know that from long ago,
 \q2 ever since God first put people on the earth,
 \q1
-\v 5 that wicked people like you do not continue to rejoice for a long time,
+\v 5 that wicked people like you do not continue to rejoice for a long time
 \q2 and that people who refuse to honor God are happy only for a moment?
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 6 Although their reputations reach up to the sky,
+\v 6 Although their reputations reach up to the sky
 \q2 and their fame goes up as high as the clouds,
 \q1
 \v 7 they will disappear forever, like their own excrement,
@@ -1820,7 +1816,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q1
 \v 10 Their children will be forced to return the valuable things that they stole from poor people.
 \q1
-\v 11 The bodies of the wicked were once young and strong,
+\v 11 The bodies of wicked people were once young and strong,
 \q2 but they will die and be buried in the ground.
 
 \s5
@@ -1830,13 +1826,13 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q1
 \v 13 and although they did not want to stop doing those things,
 \q1
-\v 14 those evil things will someday become like poison that they swallow,
+\v 14 those evil things will someday become like poison that they swallow
 \q2 or like the poison from snakes.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 15 Wicked people pile up wealth for themselves, but they do not keep it forever,
-\q2 just like people do not keep down the food that they vomit.
+\q2 just as people do not keep down the food that they vomit.
 \q1 God takes their wealth from them.
 \q1
 \v 16 Doing evil deeds is like swallowing snake poison;
@@ -1844,12 +1840,12 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 17 The wicked will not remain alive to see the abundant blessings from God,
+\v 17 Wicked people will not remain alive to see the abundant blessings from God,
 \q2 which are like a stream that flows.
 \q1
-\v 18 They will be forced to give back the things that they stole from the poor;
+\v 18 They will be forced to give back the things that they stole from poor people;
 \q2 they will not be able to continue to enjoy those things.
-\q1 They will not remain happy because of what they got from their business
+\q1 They will not remain happy because of what they got from their business,
 \q1
 \v 19 because they oppressed poor people and refused to help them,
 \q2 and they took other people's houses by cheating them.
@@ -1859,7 +1855,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \v 20 They were always greedy and never satisfied.
 \q2 So when they ate, they ate so much that they never saved anything that they enjoyed.
 \q1
-\v 21 When they finished eating their food, there was never anything left over because they had greedily eaten it all;
+\v 21 When they finished eating their food, there was never anything left over, because they had greedily eaten it all;
 \q2 but now their prosperity will end.
 \q1
 \v 22 When they are still very wealthy,
@@ -1921,7 +1917,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 7 But allow me to ask this: 'Why do wicked people continue to live,
-\q2 and become prosperous, and not die until they are very old?'
+\q2 become prosperous, and not die until they are very old?'
 \q1
 \v 8 They see their children around them,
 \q2 and they watch them while they grow up and start to live in their own houses.
@@ -1956,7 +1952,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \v 16 Wicked people think that they have become prosperous because of what they have done,
 \q2 but I do not want to have anything to do with their thinking.
 \q1
-\v 17 How often does it happen that wicked people die,
+\v 17 How often does it happen that wicked people die
 \q2 without experiencing disasters?
 \q2 Does God ever punish them because he is angry with them?
 \q1
@@ -1966,9 +1962,9 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 19 You say, 'When people have committed sins,
-\q2 God waits and punishes their children because of those sins;'
+\q2 God waits and punishes their children because of those sins.'
 \q1 I say that God should punish those who sin, not their children,
-\q2 in order that the sinners may know that it is because of their own sins that they are being punished.
+\q2 so that the sinners may know that it is because of their own sins that they are being punished.
 \q1
 \v 20 I hope that wicked people will live to experience God destroying them,
 \q2 that they will experience Almighty God punishing them.
@@ -2006,11 +2002,11 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 29 Have you never asked people who travel much?
-\q2 Do you not believe their reports about what they have seen,
+\v 29 Have you not asked people who travel on the roads,
+\q2 and do you not believe their reports about what they have seen?
 \q1
-\v 30 that wicked people usually do not suffer at the time when there are great disasters;
-\q2 that when God punishes people, someone rescues the wicked? that wicked people are the ones whom someone else rescues when God punishes people?
+\v 30 They would tell you that wicked people do not always suffer when there is a great disaster
+\q2 and that they may be rescued on the day God punishes people.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -2035,7 +2031,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \v 1 Then Eliphaz replied, saying this:
 \q1
 \v 2 "No one can be useful to God!
-\q2 People who are wise can be useful to themselves, but not to God.
+\q2 People who are wise can be useful to themselves but not to God.
 \q1
 \v 3 If you were righteous, that would not please Almighty God, would it?
 \q2 If you lived a perfect life, that would not help him, would it?
@@ -2043,7 +2039,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 4 Do you honor God, and is that why he punishes you?
-\q2 Is that the reason that he puts you on trial?
+\q2 Is that the reason he puts you on trial?
 \q1
 \v 5 No, it certainly must be because you are extremely wicked.
 \q2 It must be that no one can count the evil things that you have done!
@@ -2057,7 +2053,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q2 and you must have refused to give food to those who were hungry.
 \q1
 \v 8 Because you were very powerful, you must have taken over all the people's land,
-\q2 and then you began to live on that land, even though others honored you very much.
+\q2 and then you began to live on that land even though others honored you very much.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -2079,7 +2075,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q2 And why do you say, 'Dark clouds keep him from seeing us, so he cannot judge us'?
 \q1
 \v 14 Do you think that while he walks on the dome that covers the sky,
-\q2 where there are thick clouds around him, he cannot see what we do?'
+\q2 where there are thick clouds around him, he cannot see what we do?
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -2087,14 +2083,14 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q2 that evil people have done for many years?
 \q1
 \v 16 They suddenly died while they were still young;
-\q2 they disappeared like everything disappears when there is a flood .
+\q2 they disappeared like everything disappears when there is a flood.
 \q1
 \v 17 They kept saying to God, 'Leave us alone,' 'Allow us to be alone,'
 \q2 and they also said defiantly, 'Almighty God can do nothing to harm us!'
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 18 Yet it was God who filled their houses with good things;
+\v 18 Yet it was God who filled their houses with good things,
 \q2 so I cannot agree at all to follow what the wicked plan.
 \q1
 \v 19 When righteous people see that God punishes wicked people, they are glad,
@@ -2172,7 +2168,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q2 I have gone to the west, but I have not found him there.
 \q1
 \v 9 I have gone north and I have gone south,
-\q2 but I have not seen him anywhere for he keeps himself from me.
+\q2 but I have not seen him anywhere, for he keeps himself from me.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -2200,7 +2196,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q1
 \v 16 Almighty God has made me very afraid.
 \q1
-\v 17 The thick darkness in front of me has not make me silent,
+\v 17 The thick darkness in front of me has not made me silent;
 \q2 even that terrible darkness that covers my face has not kept me from speaking."
 
 \s5
@@ -2211,7 +2207,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 2 Some evil people remove the boundary markers of other people's land, in order to take their land;
+\v 2 Some evil people remove the boundary markers of other people's land in order to take their land;
 \q2 they seize other people's sheep and put them in their own pastures.
 \q1
 \v 3 Some take away the donkeys that belong to orphans,
@@ -2222,13 +2218,13 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 5 The result is that poor people have to search for food in the desert plain
+\v 5 The result is that poor people must search for food in the desert plain
 \q2 like wild donkeys do.
 \q1
-\v 6 The poor people harvest leftover grain in other people's fields,
+\v 6 The poor people harvest leftover grain in other people's fields
 \q2 and gather leftover grapes from vineyards that belong to wicked men.
 \q1
-\v 7 During the night they have nothing to cover their bodies,
+\v 7 During the night they have nothing to cover their bodies—
 \q2 nothing to keep them warm.
 
 \s5
@@ -2237,7 +2233,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q2 so they huddle under the rock ledges to protect themselves from the rain.
 \q1
 \v 9 Some evil men snatch poor, fatherless infants away from their mothers;
-\q2 they say 'I will return your babies to you when you repay the money that I lent to you.'
+\q2 they say, 'I will return your babies to you when you repay the money that I lent to you.'
 \q1
 \v 10 But the poor people walk around with no clothes on;
 \q2 they are hungry while they are working to carry other people's bundles of grain to the places where their grain will be threshed.
@@ -2257,7 +2253,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q2 they do not walk on roads that are lit.
 \q1
 \v 14 Murderers steal things during the night,
-\q2 and then they rise before dawn in order that they may go out again and kill poor and needy people.
+\q2 and then they rise before dawn so that they may go out again and kill poor and needy people.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -2285,8 +2281,8 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q2 wicked people will be destroyed like trees that are cut down,
 \q2 and maggots will eat their corpses.
 \q1
-\v 21 The wicked mistreat women who have been unable to give birth to children who would have grown up to take care of them;
-\q2 the wicked they never help widows.
+\v 21 Wicked people mistreat women who have been unable to give birth to children who would have grown up to take care of them;
+\q2 wicked people never help widows.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -2391,13 +2387,13 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q1
 \v 2 "Almighty God has refused to treat me justly.
 \q2 He has caused me to feel bitter.
-\q2 But just as surely as he lives,
+\q2 But just as surely as he lives—
 \q1
 \v 3 I will say this as long as God's Spirit enables me to breathe!
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 4 I will not lie!
+\v 4 I will not lie!—
 \q2 I will not say anything to deceive anyone.
 \q1
 \v 5 I will never admit that what you three have said is true;
@@ -2408,8 +2404,8 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \v 6 I will say that I am innocent, and I will never say anything different;
 \q2 my inner being will never reproach me as long as I live.
 \q1
-\v 7 I want God to punish my enemies like he will punish all wicked people;
-\q2 I want him to punish those who oppose me like he punishes all unrighteous people.
+\v 7 I want God to punish my enemies as he will punish all wicked people;
+\q2 I want him to punish those who oppose me as he punishes all unrighteous people.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -2427,7 +2423,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \v 11 I will teach you three something about God's power;
 \q2 I will reveal to you what he is thinking.
 \q1
-\v 12 You three have seen for yourselves powerful things that God has done;
+\v 12 You three have seen for yourselves powerful things that God has done,
 \q2 so I do not understand why you have been saying such nonsense to me.
 
 \s5
@@ -2555,7 +2551,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \v 20 So from where does wisdom come?
 \q2 Where can we find out how to truly understand things?
 \q1
-\v 21 No living humans can see it;
+\v 21 No living humans can see it,
 \q2 and birds cannot see it while they are up in the sky.
 \q1
 \v 22 It is as though the places where people go after they die said,
@@ -2574,7 +2570,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 26 He decided where rain should fall,
+\v 26 He decided where rain should fall
 \q2 and what path lightning should take from the clouds down to the ground.
 \q1
 \v 27 At that time he saw wisdom and decided that it is very valuable.
@@ -2626,11 +2622,11 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \q2 they said good things about me.
 \q1 When they saw me, they always praised me
 \q1
-\v 12 because I had helped those who were poor when they cried out for help,
+\v 12 because I had helped those who were poor when they cried out for help
 \q2 and because I aided those who had no fathers, those who had no one else to help them.
 \q1
 \v 13 Those who were suffering and about to die praised me,
-\q2 and I caused widows to sing joyfully, because I helped them.
+\q2 and I caused widows to sing joyfully because I helped them.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -2689,7 +2685,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \v 2 They were men who were old and weak;
 \q2 what could I gain from having these men work for me, even when they thought they were strong?
 \q1
-\v 3 They were very poor and hungry,
+\v 3 They were very poor and hungry
 \q2 so that they chewed on roots at night
 \q2 in dry and desolate places.
 
@@ -2767,7 +2763,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 22 You allow the wind to lift me up and blow me away;
+\v 22 You allow the wind to lift me up and blow me away,
 \q2 and you make a violent storm blow me around.
 \q1
 \v 23 I know that you will cause me to die,
@@ -2798,7 +2794,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 30 My skin has become dark and is peeling off,
-\q2 and I have a fever which causes my body to feel as though it were burning up with a fever.
+\q2 and I have a fever that causes me to feel as though my bones were burning up.
 \q1
 \v 31 Previously, I played joyful music on my harp and with my flute,
 \q2 but now I play only the sad music of those who mourn."
@@ -2815,7 +2811,7 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 3 Previously I thought that surely it was unrighteous people who would experience calamities,
+\v 3 Previously I thought that surely it was unrighteous people who would experience calamities
 \q2 and that it was those who do what is wrong who would experience disasters.
 \q1
 \v 4 God certainly sees everything that I do,
@@ -2832,16 +2828,16 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 7 If it were true that I had turned away from walking on the right paths,
-\q2 or that I had seen wrong things to do and then did them,
+\v 7 If it were true that I had turned away from walking on the right paths
+\q2 or that I had seen wrong things to do and then did them
 \q2 or that my hands were stained because I had sinned,
 \q1
-\v 8 then I hope that when I plant seeds, someone else will harvest the crops and eat them,
-\q2 and that others will uproot the crops that I have planted.
+\v 8 then I hope that when I plant seeds, someone else will harvest the crops and eat them
+\q2 and others will uproot the crops that I have planted.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 9 If it is true that I have been attracted by some other man's wife,
+\v 9 If it is true that I have been attracted by some other man's wife
 \q2 or that I have hidden myself and waited outside the door to her house,
 \q1
 \v 10 I hope another man will sleep with my own wife
@@ -2870,19 +2866,18 @@ I want it to cry out against those who killed me,
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 16-18 From the time I was young I have taken care of orphans;
-All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
-\q1 So if it is true that I ate all my food myself and did not share some of it with orphans,
-\q2 or that I refused to give poor people the things that they wanted,
+\v 16-18 From the time I was young I have taken care of orphans; all my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
+\q1 So if it is true that I ate all my food myself and did not share some of it with orphans
+\q2 or that I refused to give poor people the things that they wanted
 \q2 or that I caused widows to live in despair, then you do to me whatever you must do to me.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 19 If I had seen people die from cold because they had no clothes,
-\q2 or that I had seen poor people who did not have clothes to keep them warm,
+\v 19 If I had seen people die from cold because they had no clothes
+\q2 or I had seen poor people who did not have clothes to keep them warm,
 \q1
 \v 20 and they were not able to become warm from clothes made from the wool of my sheep
-\q2 and they thanked me for it,
+\q2 and thank me for it,
 \q1
 \v 21 or if it is true that I threatened to strike any orphan
 \q2 because I knew that the elders at the city gates would approve of me, then do to me whatever you must do to me.
@@ -2890,25 +2885,25 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 22 For if those things were true about me, I hope that my shoulder blade would be torn out
-\q2 and my arm be torn from my shoulder.
+\q2 and my arm would be torn from my shoulder.
 \q1
 \v 23 I always feared that God would cause me to experience a great disaster if I did any of those evil things,
 \q2 and I would not have been able to endure the powerful things that he would do to punish me.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 24 If it is true that I trusted in my gold,
+\v 24 If it is true that I trusted in my gold
 \q1
 \v 25 or that I rejoiced because I had acquired many things
-\q2 and had become very rich,
+\q2 and had become very rich
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 26 or that I looked at the sun when it was shining,
+\v 26 or that I looked at the sun when it was shining
 \q2 or that I looked at the beautiful moon,
 \q1
 \v 27 and I had been tempted to worship them
-\q2 by kissing my hand to honor them,
+\q2 by kissing my hand to honor them—
 \q1
 \v 28 those things also would be sins for which the judges would say that I must be punished
 \q2 because I would have been rejecting God by doing those things.
@@ -2922,7 +2917,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 31-32 No one can truthfully that I did not welcome travelers to stay in my house,
+\v 31-32 No one can truthfully say that I did not welcome travelers to stay in my house
 \q2 or that I did not open my doors to them, but that I forced them to sleep in the streets!
 \q2 All the men who work for me certainly know that I have given food to anyone who needed it!
 
@@ -2932,30 +2927,30 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q2 but I have never done that;
 \q1
 \v 34 and I never remained silent and refused to go outside
-\q2 because I was afraid of what people would say about me,
+\q2 because I was afraid of what people would say about me
 \q2 and that they would hate me.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 35 I wish that there was someone who would hear what I am saying!
-\q2 I solemnly declare that all that I have said is true.
-\q1 I wish that those who oppose me would write down on a scroll the evil things that they say that I did.
+\q2 I solemnly declare that all I have said is true.
+\q1 I wish that those who oppose me would write down on a scroll the evil things that they say I did.
 \q1
-\v 36 If they did that, I would wear that scroll on my shoulder or on top of my head, in order that everyone could see it.
+\v 36 If they did that, I would wear that scroll on my shoulder or on top of my head so that everyone could see it.
 \q1
 \v 37 I would tell God everything that I have done,
 \q2 and I would approach him like a ruler would, without being afraid.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 38 If it is true that I have stolen land,
-\q2 so that its furrows were like someone who shouted out to accuse me;
+\v 38 If it is true that I have stolen land
+\q2 so that its furrows were like someone who shouted out to accuse me
 \q1
 \v 39 or that I have eaten the crops that grew in someone else's fields
-\q2 without paying for those crops,
-\q2 so that the farmers who grew those crops died from hunger;
+\q2 without paying for those crops
+\q2 so that the farmers who grew those crops died from hunger,
 \q1
-\v 40 then I wish that thorns would grow in my fields instead of wheat,
+\v 40 then I wish that thorns would grow in my fields instead of wheat
 \q2 and that bad weeds would grow instead of barley!"
 \q1 That is the end of what Job said to his three friends.
 
@@ -2963,7 +2958,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \c 32
 \p
 \v 1 Then those three men stopped replying to Job because they could not convince Job that he had done anything wrong.
-\v 2 Then Elihu son of Barakel, a descendant of Buz, from the clan of Ram, became very angry at Job. He was angry because Job continued to claim that he was innocent, and that God had been wrong to punish him.
+\v 2 Then Elihu son of Barakel, a descendant of Buz, from the clan of Ram, became very angry at Job. He was angry because Job continued to claim that he was innocent and that God had been wrong to punish him.
 
 \s5
 \v 3 He was also angry with Job's three friends because they had declared that Job must have done many things that were wrong, but they could not convince him.
@@ -2995,20 +2990,20 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q2 I wanted to hear the wise things that you would say.
 \q2 I waited while you thought carefully about what you should say.
 \q1
-\v 12 I paid attention carefully,
+\v 12 I paid careful attention,
 \q2 but surprisingly, none of you was able to prove that what Job said was wrong.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 13 So do not say to yourselves, 'We have discovered what is wise!'
-\q2 It is God who must refute Job because you three have not been able to do that.
+\q2 It is God who must refute Job, because you three have not been able to do that.
 \q1
 \v 14 Job was replying to you, not to me,
 \q2 so I will not reply to him by saying what you three have said.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 15 I tell myself this: These three men are confused because they have nothing more to say to Job;
+\v 15 I tell myself this: These three men are confused because they have no more answer to Job;
 \q2 they have nothing more to say to him.
 \q1
 \v 16 But because you do not speak, I certainly will not wait any longer;
@@ -3027,7 +3022,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 20 I must speak in order that I can rest from trying to hold in my words;
+\v 20 I must speak so that I can rest from trying to hold in my words;
 \q2 I must say something to reply to you all.
 \q1
 \v 21 I will speak fairly, not favoring any of you,
@@ -3098,7 +3093,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \v 16 He reveals things to us in those times;
 \q2 he terrifies us by warning us about things.
 \q1
-\v 17 He tells us those things in order that we may stop doing evil deeds
+\v 17 He tells us those things so that we may stop doing evil deeds
 \q2 and to prevent us from becoming proud.
 \q1
 \v 18 He does not want us to be destroyed;
@@ -3122,12 +3117,12 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 23 Yet sometimes an angel may come to one of us,
-\q2 one of the thousands of angels who come to intervene between us and God,
+\v 23 Yet sometimes an angel may come to one of us—
+\q2 one of the thousands of angels who come to intervene between us and God—
 \q2 to tell us what are the right things for us to do.
 \q1
 \v 24 The angel is kind to us and says to God,
-\q2 'Please release that person,
+\q2 'Please release that person
 \q1 so that he does not descend to the place where dead people are!
 \q2 Do that because I have found a way for you to keep him from dying!
 
@@ -3138,7 +3133,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q1
 \v 26 If that happens, that person will pray to God, and God will accept him;
 \q2 he will enter God's presence joyfully,
-\q2 and then he will tell others how God saved him from dying.
+\q2 then he will tell others how God saved him from dying.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -3154,7 +3149,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \v 29 God does all these things for us many times;
 \q1
 \v 30 he preserves us from dying and going to the place where the dead are,
-\q2 in order that we can continue to enjoy being alive.
+\q2 so that we can continue to enjoy being alive.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -3228,7 +3223,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \v 16 So, Job, if you say that you understand everything,
 \q2 listen to what I am saying.
 \q1
-\v 17 God could certainly never hate was is right and still rule the world.
+\v 17 God could certainly never hate what is right and still rule the world.
 \q2 So you really cannot criticize God, who is righteous and powerful, and you cannot say that what he has done is wrong, can you?
 
 \s5
@@ -3237,7 +3232,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q2 and he says to some officials that they are wicked.
 \q1
 \v 19 He does not favor rulers more than he favors others;
-\q2 he does not favor rich people more than poor people
+\q2 he does not favor rich people more than poor people,
 \q2 because he created all of them.
 \q1
 \v 20 They often die suddenly;
@@ -3253,7 +3248,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q2 in which wicked people can hide from God.
 \q1
 \v 23 God does not need to set a time
-\q2 when we will stand in front of him in order that he may judge us.
+\q2 when we will stand in front of him so that he may judge us.
 \q2 He already knows everything about us.
 
 \s5
@@ -3266,7 +3261,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 26 He strikes them because of the wicked things that they have done;
+\v 26 He strikes them because of the wicked things they have done;
 \q2 many people see him do it.
 \q1
 \v 27 He strikes them down because they turned away from doing what he wanted them to do
@@ -3301,7 +3296,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 34 People who have good sense, those who are wise and who listen to what I say,
+\v 34 People who have good sense—those who are wise and who listen to what I say—
 \q2 will say to me,
 \q1
 \v 35 'Job is speaking ignorantly;
@@ -3309,7 +3304,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 36 To you friends of Job, I say this: I think that a court should thoroughly try Job,
+\v 36 To you friends of Job, I say this: I think that a court should thoroughly try Job
 \q2 because he answers us, his friends, as wicked men would answer.
 \q1
 \v 37 To add to the other sins that he has committed, he is rebelling against God;
@@ -3321,7 +3316,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \p
 \v 1 Then Elihu also said this:
 \q1
-\v 2 "Job, do you really think that you have done nothing wrong?
+\v 2 "Job, do you really think you have done nothing wrong?
 \q1 You say, 'God knows that I am innocent,'
 \q1
 \v 3 and you also say, 'What good have I received for not sinning?
@@ -3362,7 +3357,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 12 People cry out for help,
-\q2 but God does not answer them
+\q2 but God does not answer them,
 \q2 because those who cry out are proud and evil people.
 \q1
 \v 13 It is useless for them to cry out
@@ -3406,7 +3401,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q2 and he always acts justly toward those who are suffering.
 \q1
 \v 7 He always watches over those who are righteous;
-\q2 he makes them prosper, as if they were kings,
+\q2 he makes them prosper as if they were kings,
 \q2 and he causes others to honor them forever.
 
 \s5
@@ -3415,7 +3410,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q2 or if they suffer in prison for having done wrong,
 \q1
 \v 9 then God shows them what they have done;
-\q2 he shows them the sins that they have committed,
+\q2 he shows them the sins they have committed,
 \q2 and he shows them that they have been arrogant.
 
 \s5
@@ -3462,7 +3457,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \v 19 If that happens, it certainly will not help you to cry out when you are distressed;
 \q2 none of your strength will help you in that case.
 \q1
-\v 20 Do not wish that it would be nighttime in order that you might mistreat others without anyone knowing it;
+\v 20 Do not wish that it would be nighttime so that you might mistreat others without anyone knowing it;
 \q2 night is the time when even entire peoples are destroyed!
 \q1
 \v 21 Be careful not to begin doing evil deeds,
@@ -3512,7 +3507,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q2 and then he commands it to strike where he wants it to.
 \q1
 \v 33 When we hear his thunder, we know that there will be a storm,
-\q2 and the cattle know it, too.
+\q2 and the cattle know it also.
 
 \s5
 \c 37
@@ -3540,7 +3535,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 7 When God does that, it prevents people from working,
-\q2 in order that all people may know that he is the one who does these things.
+\q2 so that all people may know that he is the one who does these things.
 \q1
 \v 8 When it rains, the animals go into their hiding places,
 \q2 and they stay there until the rain stops.
@@ -3559,7 +3554,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 12 He guides the clouds and causes them to move back and forth
-\q2 in order that they may accomplish all that he commands them to do all over the world.
+\q2 so that they may accomplish all that he commands them to do all over the world.
 \q1
 \v 13 Sometimes God sends rain to punish us, sometimes to water the land that he has made,
 \q2 and sometimes because he wants to be very kind to us.
@@ -3574,7 +3569,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 16 Do you know how God decides where to place the clouds in the sky?
-\q2 Can you understand all the wonderful things that God does,
+\q2 Can you understand all the wonderful things that God does
 \q1 and how he knows everything and he knows them completely?
 \q1
 \v 17 No, you just sweat there in your hot clothing
@@ -3596,7 +3591,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q1
 \v 21 You know that people cannot look directly at the sun
 \q2 when it shines brightly in the sky after the wind has blown the clouds away;
-\q2 likewise we certainly cannot look at the brightness of God.
+\q2 likewise, we certainly cannot look at the brightness of God.
 \q1
 \v 22 God comes out of the north with a light that shines like gold;
 \q2 his glory causes us to be afraid.
@@ -3635,8 +3630,8 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 6-7 What supports the pillars on which the earth rests?
-\q1 When the stars that shine early in the morning sang together,
-\q2 and someone put in place the stone that causes the earth to stay in its place,
+\q1 When the stars that shine early in the morning sang together
+\q2 and someone put in place the stone that causes the earth to stay in its place
 \q2 and all the angels shouted joyfully when they saw that happen,
 \q1 who laid that cornerstone?
 
@@ -3668,7 +3663,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 14 When it becomes light after the dawn,
-\q2 the hills and the valleys become clear like a seal gives an image to the clay under it, or like the folds in a cloth.
+\q2 the hills and the valleys become clear, like a seal gives an image to the clay under it or like the folds in a cloth.
 \q1
 \v 15 When it becomes daylight, the wicked do not have the darkness that they like;
 \q2 in the daylight they no longer are able to hurt anyone.
@@ -3678,7 +3673,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \v 16 Job, have you traveled to the springs in the bottom of the ocean from which the water in the seas comes?
 \q2 Have you investigated the very bottom of the oceans?
 \q1
-\v 17 Has someone shown you the gates to the place where dead people are,
+\v 17 Has someone shown you the gates to the place where dead people are—
 \q2 the gates to the place where it is very dark among those who are dead?
 \q1
 \v 18 Do you know how big the earth is?
@@ -3701,7 +3696,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \v 22 Have you entered the place where I store the snow
 \q2 and the place where I keep the hail?
 \q1
-\v 23 I store the snow and the hail in order that I can use them when people are fighting on earth,
+\v 23 I store the snow and the hail so that I can use them when people are fighting on earth,
 \q2 in times when they are fighting wars.
 \q1
 \v 24 Where is the road to the place from which I cause the lightning to flash?
@@ -3764,7 +3759,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 41 Who provides dead animals for the raven,
+\v 41 Who provides dead animals for the raven
 \q2 when its young are calling out to me for food,
 \q2 when they are so weak because of their lack of food that they stagger around in their nests?
 
@@ -3805,14 +3800,14 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q2 Will it allow you to keep it penned up at night in the place where you put feed for your animals?
 \q1
 \v 10 Can you fasten a rope on it
-\q2 so that it will plow furrows in your fields, your fields in the valley?
+\q2 so that it will plow furrows in your fields that are in the valley?
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 11 Since it is very strong, can you for that reason trust it to work for you?
 \q2 Can you go away after you tell it what work it should do and assume that it will do that work?
 \q1
-\v 12 Can you rely on it to come back from the field
+\v 12 Can you rely on it to come back from the field,
 \q2 bringing your grain to the place where you thresh it?
 
 \s5
@@ -3878,7 +3873,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q2 because you commanded them to do that?
 \q1
 \v 28 They live in holes in those cliffs.
-\q2 They are safe in those high pointed rocks because no animals can reach them there.
+\q2 They are safe in those high, pointed rocks because no animals can reach them there.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -3918,7 +3913,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 8 Are you going to accuse me and say that I am unjust?
-\q2 Are you going to say that what I have done is wrong, in order that you can say that what you have done is right?
+\q2 Are you going to say that what I have done is wrong, so that you can say that what you have done is right?
 \q1
 \v 9 Do you have the same amount of power as I do?
 \q2 Can your voice sound as loud as thunder, as mine can?
@@ -3926,7 +3921,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 10 If you can do that, then put on the robes
-\q2 that show that you are glorious and are greatly honored!
+\q2 that show that you are glorious and greatly honored!
 \q1
 \v 11 Show that you are very angry;
 \q2 show that you have the right to humble people who are very proud!
@@ -3947,7 +3942,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q1
 \v 15 Think also about hippopotamuses.
 \q2 I made you, and I made them also.
-\q2 They eat grass, like oxen do.
+\q2 They eat grass as oxen do.
 \q1
 \v 16 Their legs are very strong,
 \q2 and the muscles of their bellies are very powerful.
@@ -3993,7 +3988,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q2 or thrust hooks through their jaws?
 \q1
 \v 3 Will they plead with you to act mercifully toward them
-\q2 or use sweet talk in order that you will not harm them?
+\q2 or use sweet talk so that you will not harm them?
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -4004,7 +3999,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q2 Can you put a leash around their necks so that your servant girls can play with them?
 \q1
 \v 6 Will men who partner in selling fish try to sell them in the market?
-\q2 Will they cut a crocodile up into pieces and sell the meat?
+\q2 Will they cut up a crocodile into pieces and sell the meat?
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -4026,7 +4021,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q2 Therefore, no one is able to give anything to me and require me to pay money for it!
 \q1
 \v 12 I will tell you about how strong crocodiles' legs are
-\q2 and how strong their well formed bodies are.
+\q2 and how strong their well-formed bodies are.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -4077,7 +4072,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \q2 As a result, people fall back.
 \q1
 \v 26 People cannot injure them with swords;
-\q2 spears, arrows, or or other weapons with sharp points cannot injure them, either.
+\q2 spears, arrows, or other weapons with sharp points cannot injure them either.
 \q1
 \v 27 They certainly are not afraid of weapons made of straw or rotten wood,
 \q2 but they are not even afraid of weapons made of iron or bronze!
@@ -4087,7 +4082,7 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 \v 28 Shooting arrows at them does not cause them to run away.
 \q2 Hurling stones at them from a sling is like hurling bits of chaff at them.
 \q1
-\v 29 They are not afraid of clubs anymore than they would be afraid of men throwing bits of straw at them,
+\v 29 They are not afraid of clubs any more than they would be afraid of men throwing bits of straw at them,
 \q2 and they laugh when they hear a spear coming at them.
 \q1
 \v 30 Their bellies are covered with scales that are as sharp as broken pieces of pottery.
@@ -4136,21 +4131,21 @@ All my life I have never given the widowed mothers a reason to lose hope.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 7 After Yahweh said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz, "I am angry with you and your two friends, Bildad and Zophar, because you did not say true things about me, as my servant Job did.
-\v 8 So now you must take to Job seven young bulls and seven rams and kill them and burn them on the altar as a sacrifice for yourselves. Then Job will pray for you, and I will do what he requests me to do. I will forgive you for speaking wrongly about me. I will not punish you, even though you deserve to be punished, because what you said about me was not right."
+\v 7 After Yahweh said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz, "I am angry with you and your two friends, Bildad and Zophar, because you did not say true things about me as my servant Job did.
+\v 8 So now you must take to Job seven young bulls and seven rams and kill them and burn them on the altar as a sacrifice for yourselves. Then Job will pray for you, and I will do what he requests me to do. I will forgive you for speaking wrongly about me. I will not punish you, even though you deserve to be punished because what you said about me was not right."
 \p
 \v 9 So Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar did what Yahweh commanded them to do, and Yahweh did what Job requested him to do for the three of them.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 10 After Job prayed for his three friends, Yahweh healed him and caused him to become rich again. Yahweh gave him twice as many things as he had before.
-\v 11 Then all his brothers and sisters, and all the people who had known him before, came to his house, and they had a feast together. They consoled him because of all the troubles that Yahweh had allowed to happen to him. Each of them gave Job a piece of silver and a gold ring.
+\v 11 Then all his brothers and sisters and all the people who had known him before came to his house, and they had a feast together. They consoled him because of all the troubles that Yahweh had allowed to happen to him. Each of them gave Job a piece of silver and a gold ring.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 12 Then Yahweh blessed Job in the second half of his life more than he had blessed him in the first half of his life. He now acquired fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand oxen, and one thousand female donkeys.
 \v 13 And he also had seven more sons and three more daughters.
-\v 14 He named the first daughter Jemimah, he named the second daughter Keziah, and he named the third daughter Keren Happuch.
+\v 14 He named the first daughter Jemimah, he named the second daughter Keziah, and he named the third daughter Keren-Happuch.
 
 \s5
 \v 15 In all of the land of Uz, there were no young women who were as beautiful as the daughters of Job, and Job declared that they would inherit some of his possessions, just as their brothers would inherit some.

19-PSA.usfm

@@ -7141,7 +7141,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 3 My life is ending like smoke that disappears;
-\q1 I have a big fever which burns my body as a fire burns.
+\q1 I have a big fever that burns my body as a fire burns.
 \q1
 \v 4 I feel as though I am drying up like grass that has been mown,
 \q2 and I do not even think about eating any food.

21-ECC.usfm

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 7 All the streams flow into the sea,
 \q2 but the sea is never full.
-\q1 The water returns under the earth and comes up again into the rivers;
+\q1 The water returns under the earth and comes up again into the rivers,
 \q2 then it flows to the sea again.
 \q1
 \v 8 Everything is so unsatisfactory
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 16 I said to myself, "I am wiser than any of those who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I am wiser and know more than any of them!"
-\v 17 So I determined to learn more about being wise, and also to learn about doing things that are very stupid and foolish. But I found out that trying to understand those things was also useless, like trying to control the wind.
+\v 17 So I determined to learn more about being wise; also to learn about doing things that are very stupid and foolish. But I found out that trying to understand those things was also useless, like trying to control the wind.
 \v 18 Anyone who becomes very wise also becomes very frustrated. The more one knows, the sadder he becomes.
 
 \s5
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
 \v 2 So I said to myself, "It is foolish to laugh all the time, and continually doing what makes me happy does not bring any lasting benefit."
 
 \s5
-\v 3 So, after thinking a lot about it, I decided to cheer myself up by drinking a lot of wine. While I was still trying to be wise, I acted stupidly. I tried to learn what people can do to be happy during the short time that they are alive on the earth.
+\v 3 So, after thinking much about it, I decided to cheer myself up by drinking a large amount of wine. While I was still trying to be wise, I acted stupidly. I tried to learn what people can do to be happy during the short time that they are alive on the earth.
 
 \s5
 \v 4 I did great things. I caused houses to be built for myself and vineyards to be planted.
@@ -103,13 +103,13 @@
 \q2 I saw that none of my work brought me any lasting benefit.
 \q1 It was all like trying to control the wind.
 \q1
-\v 12 Then I started to think about being wise, and also about being foolish.
+\v 12 Then I started to think about being wise; also about being foolish.
 \q2 I said to myself, "I certainly do not think that anybody will be able to do anything better than I can."
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 13 And I thought, "Surely it is better to be wise than to be foolish,
-\q2 like light is better than darkness,
+\q2 as light is better than darkness,
 \q1
 \v 14 because wise people walk in the daylight and can see where they are going,
 \q2 but foolish people walk in the darkness and cannot see where they are going."
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 15 So I said to myself,
-\q1 "I am very wise, but I will die at the end of my life like foolish people do.
+\q1 "I am very wise, but I will die at the end of my life, as foolish people do.
 \q2 So how has it benefited me to be very wise?
 \q1 I do not understand why people consider that it is valuable to be wise.
 \q1
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 24 So I decided that the best thing that we can do is to enjoy what we eat and drink, and also to enjoy our work. And I realized that those things are what God intends for us.
+\v 24 So I decided that the best thing that we can do is to enjoy what we eat and drink; also to enjoy our work. And I realized that those things are what God intends for us.
 \v 25 There is absolutely no one who is able to enjoy those things if God does not give those things to him.
 
 \s5
@@ -189,10 +189,10 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 12 I know that the best thing for us people to do is to rejoice and to do good things during the time that we are alive.
-\v 13 And I also know that everyone should enjoy what they eat and drink, and enjoy the work that they do. Those are gifts that God gives to us.
+\v 13 And I also know that everyone should enjoy what they eat and drink and enjoy the work that they do. Those are gifts that God gives to us.
 
 \s5
-\v 14 I also know that what God does endures forever. No one can add to what God does, and no one can take away from the things that he does. God does those things in order that people will honor him.
+\v 14 I also know that what God does endures forever. No one can add to what God does, and no one can take away from the things that he does. God does those things so that people will honor him.
 \q1
 \v 15 Things that exist now have already existed previously,
 \q2 and things that will happen in the future have already happened previously;
@@ -245,8 +245,8 @@
 \q2 They sit idly with their hands folded and do not work.
 \q2 So they ruin themselves.
 \q1
-\v 6 So some say, "It is better to be content with working quietly for a little bit of money,
-\q2 than to work anxiously and try to get a lot of money,
+\v 6 So some say, "It is better to be content with working quietly for a little bit of money
+\q2 than to work anxiously and try to get a large amount of money,
 \q2 which is as useless as trying to control the wind."
 
 \s5
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 8 There are people who live alone;
 \q2 they do not have a family nor even children or any brothers or sisters living with them.
-\q1 Every day they work very hard without stopping; they make a lot of money,
+\q1 Every day they work very hard without stopping; they make a large amount of money,
 \q2 but they are never satisfied with the things that they get.
 \q1 They ask themselves,
 \q2 "Why am I working so hard; whom am I actually helping?
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@
 \q2 If you have a friend, he can help you to do your work.
 \q1
 \v 10 If you fall down, he can help you get up again.
-\q2 But if you fall down when you are alone, you will have trouble,
+\q2 But if you fall down when you are alone, you will have trouble
 \q2 because there is no one to help you stand up.
 \q1
 \v 11 Similarly, if two people lie down together,
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@
 \v 12 Someone who is alone can easily be attacked and defeated by another person,
 \q2 but two people can help each other and resist someone who attacks them.
 \q1 Three people can defend themselves even more easily,
-\q2 like a rope that is made from three cords is harder to break than a rope made from two cords.
+\q2 as a rope that is made from three cords is harder to break than a rope made from two cords.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 15 But then some other young man becomes king, and everyone starts to support him.
-\v 16 Large crowds of people crowd around him. But after a few years, they will be tired of him, too. So it is all senseless, like trying to control the wind.
+\v 16 Large crowds of people crowd around him. But after a few years, they will be tired of him also. So it is all senseless, like trying to control the wind.
 
 \s5
 \c 5
@@ -330,16 +330,16 @@
 \q1 They will never be satisfied with the money that they have.
 \q2 That fact also makes no sense.
 \q1
-\v 11 The more money that people have,
+\v 11 The more money people have,
 \q2 the more they want to spend it.
-\q1 People who have a lot of money do not benefit from it,
+\q1 People who have a large amount of money do not benefit from it
 \q2 except to look at it and admire it.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 12 Those who work hard sleep peacefully at night,
 \q2 even if they do not have much food to eat.
-\q1 But rich people do not sleep well
+\q1 But rich people do not sleep well,
 \q2 because they worry about their money.
 
 \s5
@@ -371,17 +371,17 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 18 So the best thing for people to do here on the earth during the few years that God allows them to be alive is to eat, drink, and enjoy their work, because those are the things that he allows them to do.
+\v 18 So the best thing for people to do here on the earth during the few years that God allows them to be alive is to eat, drink, and enjoy their work because those are the things that he allows them to do.
 
 \s5
-\v 19 If people are rich and have a lot of possessions, and are able to enjoy the things that they have and to enjoy their work, those things are also gifts from God.
+\v 19 If people are rich, have a large amount of possessions, and are able to enjoy the things that they have and to enjoy their work, those things are also gifts from God.
 \v 20 Those people do not think much about everything that has happened during their lifetime, because God makes sure that they keep working at what they enjoy.
 
 \s5
 \c 6
 \p
 \v 1 I have seen something else here on this earth that troubles people.
-\v 2 God enables some people to receive a lot of money and possessions and to be honored by him. They have everything that they want. But God sometimes does not allow them to enjoy those things. Someone else gets them and enjoys them. That seems senseless and unfair.
+\v 2 God enables some people to receive a large amount of money and possessions and to be honored by him. They have everything that they want. But God sometimes does not allow them to enjoy those things. Someone else gets them and enjoys them. That seems senseless and unfair.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 7 People work hard to earn enough money to buy food to eat,
-\q2 but often they never get enough to eat.
+\q2 but they never get enough to eat.
 \q1
 \v 8 So it seems that wise people do not receive more lasting benefits
 \q2 than foolish people do.
@@ -416,11 +416,11 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 11 The more that we talk,
+\v 11 The more we talk,
 \q2 the more often we say things that are senseless,
-\q2 so it certainly does not benefit us to talk a lot.
+\q2 so it certainly does not benefit us to talk much.
 \p
-\v 12 No human being can know everything that is good for himself in this life. People live for a few seemingly meaningless days. Life passes by quickly, like a shadow, and no one know what is coming after we die. We live for only a short time, and then we disappear like a vapor.
+\v 12 No human being can know everything that is good for himself in this life. People live for a few, seemingly meaningless days. Life passes by quickly like a shadow, and no one knows what is coming after we die. We live for only a short time, and then we disappear like a vapor.
 
 \s5
 \c 7
@@ -429,13 +429,13 @@
 \q2 The day that we die is better than the day that we are born.
 \q1
 \v 2 It is better to go to a house where people are mourning about someone who has died
-\q2 than to go to a house where people are feasting,
+\q2 than to go to a house where people are feasting;
 \q1 everyone will have a day in which they die,
 \q2 and people who are alive should think about the day when they will die.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 3 It is better to be sad than to be always laughing,
+\v 3 It is better to be sad than to be always laughing
 \q2 because when we are sad, we can think better about the things that will make us wise and happy.
 \q1
 \v 4 Wise people go to where others are mourning to comfort them,
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@
 \q2 than to listen to the songs of a foolish person.
 \q1
 \v 6 By listening to foolish people laughing
-\q2 we will not learn anymore than by listening to the crackling of thorns being burned under a pot.
+\q2 we will not learn any more than by listening to the crackling of thorns being burned under a pot.
 \q2 Listening to fools is senseless.
 
 \s5
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 10 Do not say, "Things were a lot better previously,"
+\v 10 Do not say, "Things were much better previously,"
 \q2 because it is only foolish people who say that.
 
 \s5
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 12 We are sometimes protected by being wise,
 \q2 as we are sometimes protected by having a lot of money.
-\q1 However, being wise is better than having a lot of money,
+\q1 However, being wise is better than having a lot of money
 \q2 because being wise prevents us from doing foolish things that would cause us to die.
 
 \s5
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 15 During all the time that I have been alive I have seen many things that seem senseless.
+\v 15 During all the time that I have been alive, I have seen many things that seem senseless.
 \q1 I have seen righteous people die while they were still young,
 \q2 and I have seen wicked people remain alive for a very long time
 \q2 in spite of their continuing to be wicked.
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@
 \v 28 and I continued to try to learn more, but I could not find all that I was searching for. But one thing that I found out was that among one thousand people I found one righteous man, but I did not find even one righteous woman.
 
 \s5
-\v 29 I have learned only this: That when God created people, they were righteous, but they have found many ways to complicate their own lives.
+\v 29 I have learned only this: that when God created people, they were righteous, but they have found many ways to complicate their own lives.
 
 \s5
 \c 8
@@ -617,10 +617,10 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 2 But we know that some time in the future we will all die.
+\v 2 But we know that sometime in the future, we will all die.
 \q1 It does not matter whether we act righteously or wickedly,
 \q2 whether we are good or whether we are bad,
-\q1 whether we are acceptable for worshiping God
+\q1 whether we are acceptable for worshiping God,
 \q2 or whether we have done things to cause us to be unacceptable.
 \q1 It does not matter if we offer sacrifices to God or if we do not.
 \q1 It does not matter if we do what we have promised God that we will do or if we do not.
@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@
 \q1 the strongest soldiers do not always win the battle,
 \q1 the wisest people do not always have food,
 \q1 the smartest people do not always become rich,
-\q1 and the people who have studied a lot are not always honored by others.
+\q1 and the people who have studied much are not always honored by others.
 \q1 We cannot always control what things will happen to us and where they will happen.
 \p
 \v 12 No one knows when he will die.
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@
 \q2 than they hear a king who is shouting to a foolish crowd.
 \q1
 \v 18 Being wise is more useful
-\q2 than having a lot of weapons;
+\q2 than having many weapons;
 \q1 however, if a person does just one foolish thing,
 \q2 he might ruin many good things that others have done.
 
@@ -711,7 +711,7 @@
 \v 5 There is something else that I have seen here on this earth,
 \q2 something that rulers sometimes do that is wrong:
 \q1
-\v 6 they appoint foolish people to have important positions,
+\v 6 They appoint foolish people to have important positions,
 \q2 while they appoint rich people to have unimportant positions.
 \q1
 \v 7 They allow slaves to ride on horses like rich people usually do,
@@ -749,7 +749,7 @@
 \q2 and they end by saying things that are both wicked and foolish.
 \q2
 \v 14 They talk too much.
-\q1 None of us knows what will happen in the future,
+\q1 None of us knows what will happen in the future
 \q2 or what will happen after we die.
 
 \s5
@@ -759,8 +759,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 16 Terrible things will happen to the people of a nation whose ruler is a foolish young person,
-\q2 whose leaders continually eat, all during the day, every day.
+\v 16 Terrible things will happen to the people of a nation whose ruler is a foolish young person
+\q2 and whose leaders continually eat, all during the day, every day.
 \q1
 \v 17 But how fortunate is a nation if its ruler comes from a noble family,
 \q2 if its leaders feast only at the proper times,
@@ -778,7 +778,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 20 Do not even think about cursing the king,
+\v 20 Do not even think about cursing the king
 \q2 or about cursing rich people, even when you are alone in your bedroom.
 \q1 It is always possible that a little bird will hear what you are saying
 \q2 and tell those people what you said about them.
@@ -813,8 +813,8 @@
 \q1
 \v 6 Start planting your seeds in the morning,
 \q2 and do not stop planting them until the evening,
-\q1 because you do not know which ones will grow better,
-\q2 the ones you plant in the morning or the ones you plant later in the day,
+\q1 because you do not know which ones will grow better—
+\q2 the ones you plant in the morning, the ones you plant later in the day,
 \q2 or whether both will grow well.
 \q1
 \v 7 It is very delightful to be alive
@@ -840,8 +840,8 @@
 \s5
 \c 12
 \q1
-\v 1 While you are still young, keep thinking about God, who created you.
-\q2 Do that before you are old and you experience many troubles,
+\v 1 While you are still young, keep thinking about God who created you.
+\q2 Do that before you are old and you experience many troubles
 \q1 during the years when you say,
 \q2 "I no longer enjoy being alive."
 \q1
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 3 Then your arms that you use to protect yourself,
+\v 3 Then your arms that you use to protect yourself
 \q2 and your legs that support your body will become weak.
 \q1 Many of the teeth that you use to grind your food will fall out,
 \q2 and your eyes that you use to look out of windows will not see clearly.
@@ -875,8 +875,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 6 Think much about God now, because soon our lives will end,
-\q2 like silver chains or golden bowls that break easily,
-\q1 or like pitchers that are broken at the water fountain,
+\q2 like silver chains or golden bowls that break easily
+\q1 or like pitchers that are broken at the water fountain
 \q2 or like broken pulleys at a well.
 \q1
 \v 7 Then our corpses will decay and become dirt again,
@@ -891,7 +891,7 @@
 \s5
 \v 10 I searched for words that would be pleasing to hear, and what I have written is reliable and true.
 \p
-\v 11 The things that I and other wise people say give directions, and they are like nails that fix things together and last a long time. When people follow clear and understandable directions, they know what is right, and, so then they can do it. The sayings of the wise are like our shepherd who guides us where we need to go.
+\v 11 The things that I and other wise people say give directions, and they are like nails that fix things together and last a long time. When people follow clear and understandable directions, they know what is right, so then they can do it. The sayings of the wise are like our shepherd who guides us where we need to go.
 
 \s5
 \v 12 So, my son, pay careful attention to what I have written, and choose carefully what you read that others have written. This work of writing many books is endless. Trying to study them all will be an endless task.
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@
 \q1 Revere God, and obey his commandments,
 \q2 because those commandments summarize everything that people should do.
 \q1
-\v 14 And do not forget that God will judge everything that we do,
+\v 14 And do not forget that God will judge everything that we do—
 \q2 good things and bad things,
 \q2 even things that we do secretly.
 

22-SNG.usfm

@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@
 \c 1
 \p
 \v 1 This is King Solomon's most beautiful song.
-\sp The young woman speaking to herself
+\s2 The woman speaking to herself
 \q1
 \v 2 I wish he would kiss me on my lips,
-\sp The woman speaks to her lover
+\s2 The woman speaks to her lover
 \q2 because your love for me is more delightful than wine.
 \q1
 \v 3 The fragrance of the perfume on your skin is very sweet.
@@ -23,29 +23,29 @@
 \q1
 \v 4 Take me quickly;
 \q2 take me to your home.
-\sp The woman speaking to herself
+\s2 The woman speaking to herself
 \q1 He is like a king to me;
 \q2 he has brought me into his bedroom.
-\sp The woman speaking to her lover
+\s2 The woman speaking to her lover
 \q1 I am very happy about you;
 \q2 my love for you is better than wine.
 \q2 It is not surprising that the other young women adore you.
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman speaking to the other women
+\s2 The woman speaking to the other women
 \q1
 \v 5 You women of Jerusalem,
 \q2 I am dark but beautiful;
-\q1 my dark skin is like the tents in Kedar,
+\q1 my dark skin is like the tents in Kedar
 \q2 or like the beautiful curtains in Solomon's palace.
 \q1
 \v 6 But do not stare at me because the sun has made my skin dark.
-\q1 my brothers were angry with me,
+\q1 My brothers were angry with me,
 \q1 so they forced me to work out in the sunshine in the vineyards,
 \q2 so I was not able to take good care of my body.
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman speaking to her lover
+\s2 The woman speaking to her lover
 \q1
 \v 7 You whom I love, where will you take your flock of sheep today?
 \q2 Where will you allow them to rest at noontime?
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
 \q2 looking for you among the flocks that belong to your friends.
 
 \s5
-\sp Her lover answering her
+\s2 Her lover answering her
 \q1
 \v 8 You who are the most beautiful of all the women,
 \q2 if you search for me and do not know where I will take my sheep,
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
 \q2 that are decorated with silver.
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman speaking to herself
+\s2 The woman speaking to herself
 \q1
 \v 12 While the king was on his couch,
 \q2 the smell of my perfume spread around the room.
@@ -82,14 +82,14 @@
 \v 14 He is like a bunch of flowers from the vineyards at En Gedi.
 
 \s5
-\sp Her lover speaking to her
+\s2 Her lover speaking to her
 \q1
 \v 15 You whom I love, you are beautiful;
 \q2 you are very beautiful!
 \q1 Your eyes are as delightful as doves.
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman speaking to her lover
+\s2 The woman speaking to her lover
 \q1
 \v 16 You who love me, you are very delightful,
 \q2 you are wonderful!
@@ -100,17 +100,17 @@
 
 \s5
 \c 2
-\sp The woman speaking to her lover
+\s2 The woman speaking to her lover
 \q1
 \v 1 I am like an insignificant flower in the plains,
 \q2 like an insignificant lily growing in a valley.
-\sp The man speaking to her
+\s2 Her lover speaking to her
 \q1
 \v 2 Among all the other young women,
 \q2 you, the one whom I love, are like a lily growing among thorns!
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman speaking to herself
+\s2 The woman speaking to herself
 \q1
 \v 3 Among all the other men, this man is the one who loves me; he is like a tree that grows in the forest.
 \q2 Under his shade I am safe from the sun.
@@ -120,18 +120,18 @@
 \q2 where he made love to me as if he were covering me with his love.
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman speaking to her lover
+\s2 The woman speaking to her lover
 \q1
 \v 5 Refresh me and strengthen me with your lovemaking.
-\q2 It is like eating raisins and other fruit,
+\q2 It is like eating raisins and other fruit
 \q2 because I want you to love me even more.
-\sp The woman speaking to herself
+\s2 The woman speaking to herself
 \q1
 \v 6 I hope he puts his left arm under my head
 \q2 and holds me close with his right arm.
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman speaking to the other women
+\s2 The woman speaking to the other women
 \q1
 \v 7 You young women of Jerusalem,
 \q2 I want you to take an oath, while the does and gazelles are listening, that you will not
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@
 \q2 until the right time comes.
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman speaking to herself
+\s2 The woman speaking to herself
 \q1
 \v 8 I hear the voice of the man who loves me.
 \q2 It is as though he is leaping over the mountains
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 9 like a deer or a gazelle.
 \q2 Now he is standing outside the wall of our house,
-\q1 looking in the window,
+\q1 looking in the window
 \q2 and peering through the lattice.
 
 \s5
@@ -166,8 +166,8 @@
 \q1 we hear the pigeons cooing.
 \q1
 \v 13 There are young figs on the fig trees,
-\q2 and there are blossoms on the grapevines
-\q1 and their fragrance fills the air.
+\q2 and there are blossoms on the grapevines;
+\q1 their fragrance fills the air.
 \q2 You whom I love, get up;
 \q2 my beautiful one, come with me!
 
@@ -176,11 +176,11 @@
 \v 14 You are like a dove hiding in the rocky cliff.
 \q1 Show me your face,
 \q2 and allow me to hear your voice,
-\q2 because your voice is sounds sweet,
+\q2 because your voice sounds sweet,
 \q1 and your face is lovely."
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman speaking to the man
+\s2 The woman speaking to her lover
 \q1
 \v 15 There are other men who ruin women as wild dogs ruin vineyards;
 \q2 do not allow those men to attack me.
@@ -190,14 +190,14 @@
 \v 16 This man whom I love—I belong to him, and he belongs to me.
 \q2 He takes great pleasure in kissing my lips,
 \q2 as sheep love to graze in pastures.
-\sp The woman speaking to her lover
+\s2 The woman speaking to her lover
 \q1
 \v 17 You whom I love, you must go away before dawn, when the darkness disappears.
 \q2 Go away quickly, like a gazelle or like a young deer running on the high hills.
 
 \s5
 \c 3
-\sp The woman speaking to herself
+\s2 The woman speaking to herself
 \q1
 \v 1 During the entire night while I lay on my bed,
 \q2 I was longing to see the one I love with all my heart.
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@
 \q2 to the room where my mother had conceived me.
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman speaking to the other women
+\s2 The woman speaking to the other women
 \q1
 \v 5 You women of Jerusalem,
 \q2 solemnly promise me, while the does and gazelles are listening, that you will not
@@ -233,10 +233,10 @@
 \q2 until we are ready to stop.
 
 \s5
-\sp The young woman speaking to herself
+\s2 The woman speaking to herself
 \q1
 \v 6 What is that I see coming from the wilderness,
-\q2 something that is stirring up dust like a column of smoke
+\q2 something that is stirring up dust like a column of smoke—
 \q1 like smoke from burning myrrh and incense
 \q2 made from spices imported by merchants?
 \q1
@@ -264,12 +264,12 @@
 \v 11 You women of Jerusalem,
 \q2 come and look at King Solomon
 \q1 wearing the headdress that his mother put on his head
-\q2 on the day when he was married,
+\q2 on the day when he was married—
 \q1 the happiest day of his life.
 
 \s5
 \c 4
-\sp The woman's lover speaking to her
+\s2 The woman's lover speaking to her
 \q1
 \v 1 My darling, you are beautiful,
 \q2 you are very beautiful!
@@ -279,11 +279,11 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 2 Your teeth are very white,
+\v 2 Your teeth are very white—
 \q2 as white as sheep whose wool people have just cut,
 \q1 as white as sheep that people have just washed in a stream.
 \q1 You have all of your teeth on both sides;
-\q2 none of them is missing.
+\q2 none of them are missing.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 10 My bride, your love for me is delightful!
-\q2 It more delightful than wine!
+\q2 It is more delightful than wine!
 \q1 The fragrance of your perfume
 \q2 is more pleasing than any spice!
 \q1
@@ -343,12 +343,12 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 12 You who are most dear to me, you are like a garden that the owner keeps locked
-\q2 in order that other men cannot enter it;
+\q2 so that other men cannot enter it;
 \q1 you are like a spring that is covered
-\q2 in order that others may not drink from it.
+\q2 so that others may not drink from it.
 \q1
 \v 13 You are like an orchard of pomegranate trees
-\q2 full of delicious fruit,
+\q2 full of delicious fruit
 \q2 and plenty of plants that produce henna and nard spices,
 \q2
 \v 14 saffron and calamus and cinnamon
@@ -361,29 +361,29 @@
 \v 15 You are like a fountain in a garden,
 \q2 like a spring of clear water
 \q2 that flows down from the mountains of Lebanon.
-\sp The young woman speaking to her lover
+\s2 The woman speaking to her lover
 \q1
-\v 16 I want the north wind and the south wind to come,
-\q2 and blow on my garden,
-\q1 in order that the fragrance of the spices will spread through the air.
-\q1 Similarly, I want the one who loves me to come and enjoy being close to me
+\v 16 I want the north wind and the south wind to come
+\q2 and blow on my garden
+\q1 so that the fragrance of the spices will spread through the air.
+\q1 Similarly, I want the one who loves me to come and enjoy being close to me,
 \q2 like someone comes into a garden and enjoys eating the fruit that grows there.
 
 \s5
 \c 5
-\sp The woman's lover speaking to her
+\s2 The woman's lover speaking to her
 \q1
 \v 1 You who are most dear to me,
 \q2 I have come to be next to you.
 \q1 It will be as though I am gathering myrrh with my other spices,
 \q2 eating my honey and honeycomb,
 \q2 and drinking my wine and my milk.
-\sp The woman's lover speaking to her
+\s2 The woman's lover speaking to her
 \q1 Friends, enjoy making love;
 \q2 fully enjoy all that you do with each other.
 
 \s5
-\sp The young woman speaking to herself
+\s2 The woman speaking to herself
 \q1
 \v 2 I was asleep, and I had a dream.
 \q2 In it I heard my lover knocking at the door.
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@
 \q2 those men who were guarding the city walls took my robe.
 
 \s5
-\sp The young woman speaking to the women of the city
+\s2 The woman speaking to the women of the city
 \q1
 \v 8 You young women of Jerusalem,
 \q2 I want you to take an oath
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@
 \q2 you will tell him that I want him so much that I feel sick.
 
 \s5
-\sp The women of the city speaking to the young woman
+\s2 The women of the city speaking to the woman
 \q1
 \v 9 You who are the fairest among women,
 \q2 why do you think that the one who loves you is better than other men?
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@
 \q2 Why do you want us to swear that we will tell him that?
 
 \s5
-\sp The young woman speaking to the women of the city
+\s2 The woman speaking to the women of the city
 \q1
 \v 10 It is because the man who loves me is handsome and healthy,
 \q2 outstanding among other men.
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 12 His eyes as gentle as doves
+\v 12 His eyes are as gentle as doves
 \q2 along the streams;
 \q1 the white parts of his eyes are as white as milk,
 \q2 with what resembles jewels inlaid in them.
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 14 His arms are like gold rods that have rounded ends,
+\v 14 His arms are like gold rods that have rounded ends
 \q2 and that are decorated with precious stones.
 \q1 His body is like ivory
 \q2 that is decorated with sapphires.
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \c 6
-\sp The women of Jerusalem speaking to the young woman
+\s2 The women of Jerusalem speaking to the woman
 \q1
 \v 1 You who are the most beautiful of the women,
 \q2 where has the one who loves you gone?
@@ -496,11 +496,11 @@
 \q2 we will go with you to search for him.
 
 \s5
-\sp The young woman speaking to herself
+\s2 The woman speaking to herself
 \q1
-\v 2 The one who loves me has come to me, I, who am like his garden,
+\v 2 The one who loves me has come to me—I, who am like his garden.
 \q2 He has come to enjoy my charms,
-\q1 to enjoy cuddling embracing me
+\q1 to enjoy cuddling and embracing me
 \q2 and kissing my lips, which are like lilies.
 \q1
 \v 3 I belong to the one who loves me, and the one who loves me belongs to me.
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@
 \q2 like sheep enjoy grazing.
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman's lover speaking to her
+\s2 The woman's lover speaking to her
 \q1
 \v 4 My darling, you are beautiful,
 \q2 as Tirzah the capital city of Israel and Jerusalem the capital city of Judah are beautiful;
@@ -527,32 +527,32 @@
 \q2 like a flock of sheep whose wool has just been shorn
 \q1 and have come up from being washed in a stream.
 \q1 You have all of your teeth on both sides;
-\q2 none of them is missing.
+\q2 none of them are missing.
 \q1
 \v 7 Beneath your veil,
 \q2 your cheeks are like the halves of a pomegranate.
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman's lover speaking to himself
+\s2 The woman's lover speaking to himself
 \q1
-\v 8 Even if a king had 60 queens and 80 concubines
+\v 8 Even if a king had sixty queens and eighty concubines
 \q2 and more young women than anyone can count,
 \q1
-\v 9 none of them would be like my dove, who is perfect,
+\v 9 none of them would be like my dove, who is perfect—
 \q2 you who are your mother's only daughter,
 \q2 whom your mother considers to be very precious.
 \q1 Other young women who see you say that you are fortunate,
 \q2 and the queens and concubines recognize that you are very beautiful.
 
 \s5
-\sp What the queens and the concubines said
+\s2 What the queens and the concubines said
 \q1
 \v 10 Who is this who looks like the dawn,
 \q2 who is as beautiful to look at as the moon,
 \q2 who is an endless mystery?
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman's lover speaking to himself
+\s2 The woman's lover speaking to himself
 \q1
 \v 11 I went down to some walnut trees
 \q2 to look at the new plants that were growing in the valley.
@@ -563,17 +563,17 @@
 \q2 I were riding in a chariot belonging to a prince.
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman's lover speaking to her
+\s2 The woman's lover speaking to her
 \q1
 \v 13 You who are the perfect one,
-\q2 come back to us, in order that I may see you!
-\sp The young woman speaking to her lover
+\q2 come back to us so that I may see you!
+\s2 The woman speaking to her lover
 \q1 Why do you want to look at me, the one who is perfect,
 \q2 dancing between two rows of dancers?
 
 \s5
 \c 7
-\sp The woman's lover speaking to her
+\s2 The woman's lover speaking to her
 \q1
 \v 1 You, the daughter of a prince,
 \q2 have lovely feet in your sandals.
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@
 \v 3 Your breasts are as delicate as two young twin deer.
 \q1
 \v 4 Your neck is like a tower made of ivory.
-\q1 Your eyes sparkle the pools in the city of Heshbon,
+\q1 Your eyes sparkle like the pools in the city of Heshbon
 \q2 near the Bath Rabbim Gate.
 \q1 Your nose is long, like the tower in Lebanon
 \q2 that faces Damascus.
@@ -612,7 +612,7 @@
 \q2 and your breasts are like grape clusters.
 \q1
 \v 8 I said to myself, "I will climb that palm tree
-\q2 and take hold of those clusters of dates."
+\q2 and take hold of those clusters."
 \q1 I want your breasts to be also like clusters of grapes that I can feel;
 \q2 I want your breath to be like the sweet fragrance of apricots.
 
@@ -623,12 +623,12 @@
 \q2 I want it to be as if it was wine flowing over our mouths and teeth.
 
 \s5
-\sp The young woman speaking to her lover
+\s2 The woman speaking to her lover
 \q1
 \v 10 I belong to the man who loves me,
 \q2 and he desires me.
 \q1
-\v 11 You who love me, let us go to the countryside,
+\v 11 You who love me, let us go to the countryside
 \q2 and sleep in a village somewhere.
 
 \s5
@@ -648,7 +648,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \c 8
-\sp The young woman speaking to her lover
+\s2 The woman speaking to her lover
 \q1
 \v 1 I wish that everyone knew that we love each other, just as they all know that I have a brother,
 \q1 my own brother, who nursed at my mother's breasts.
@@ -661,24 +661,24 @@
 \q2 to where our mother, who taught me so many things, lives.
 \q1 I would like to take you to our mother's house so I could make love to you there.
 \q1 That would be as delightful as juice squeezed from pomegranates, as wine mixed with spices.
-\sp The young woman speaking to herself
+\s2 The woman speaking to herself
 \q1
 \v 3 Oh yes! He will put his left arm under my head,
 \q2 and he will hold me close with his right arm.
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman speaking to the other women
+\s2 The woman speaking to the other women
 \q1
 \v 4 I want you to promise me, you women of Jerusalem,
 \q1 that you will not disturb us while we are making love
 \q2 until we are ready to stop."
 
 \s5
-\sp The women of Jerusalem speaking
+\s2 The women of Jerusalem speaking
 \q1
 \v 5 Who is that woman who is coming up from the wilderness,
 \q2 the woman who is leaning on the man who loves her?
-\sp The young woman speaking to her lover
+\s2 The woman speaking to her lover
 \q1 I woke you up when you were under the apricot tree
 \q2 at the place where your mother conceived you,
 \q2 the place where she gave birth to you.
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 6 Keep me close to you,
-\q2 like a seal on your heart,
+\q2 like a seal on your heart
 \q1 or like a bracelet on your arm.
 \q1 Our love for each other is as powerful as death;
 \q2 it is as strong as the grave.
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@
 \q2 she would refuse.
 
 \s5
-\sp The young woman's brothers speaking among themselves
+\s2 The woman's brothers speaking among themselves
 \q1
 \v 8 We have a younger sister,
 \q2 and her breasts are not large yet.
@@ -715,14 +715,14 @@
 \q2 we will decorate her with bits of cedar wood.
 
 \s5
-\sp The young woman speaking to herself
+\s2 The woman speaking to herself
 \q1
 \v 10 My chest was previously flat like a wall,
 \q2 but now my breasts are big like towers.
 \q1 So I am delightful to my beloved.
 
 \s5
-\sp The young woman speaking to himself
+\s2 The woman speaking to herself
 \q1
 \v 11 King Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon,
 \q1 and he rented it to people for them to farm it.
@@ -734,14 +734,14 @@
 \q2 but I will give two hundred pieces of silver to those who take care of me.
 
 \s5
-\sp The woman's lover speaking to her
+\s2 The woman's lover speaking to her
 \q1
-\v 13 You are staying in the gardens,
-\q2 my friends are listening to your voice;
-\q2 so allow me to hear it, too!
+\v 13 You are staying in the gardens;
+\q2 my friends are listening to your voice,
+\q2 so allow me to hear it also!
 
 \s5
-\sp The young woman speaking to her lover
+\s2 The woman speaking to her lover
 \q1
 \v 14 You who love me, come to me quickly;
 \q2 run to me like a gazelle or young deer,

25-LAM.usfm

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 \q1 Once everyone in the world honored it like a king's daughter,
 \q2 but now it is like a slave.
 \q1
-\v 2 We in the city weep bitterly all during the nights,
+\v 2 We in the city weep bitterly all during the nights
 \q2 with tears flowing down our cheeks.
 \q1 We did not trust Yahweh to help us, and the peoples that we did trust failed to help us;
 \q2 none of those people comfort us now.
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 \q2 were forced to leave our land.
 \q1 We now live in another country
 \q2 and we have no peace.
-\q1 When the people Judah were unable to defend ourselves,
+\q1 When the people of Judah were unable to defend ourselves,
 \q2 that was when our enemies captured us.
 
 \s5
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 \q2 and they prosper.
 \q1 Yahweh has punished us, the people of Jerusalem,
 \q2 because of all the sins that we have committed.
-\q1 Our enemies have taken all our children
+\q1 Our enemies have taken all of our children
 \q2 and made them go to other countries.
 
 \s5
@@ -87,9 +87,9 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 10 Our enemies have taken away all our treasures,
+\v 10 Our enemies have taken away all of our treasures,
 \q2 all the valuable things that we owned.
-\q1 People who do not worship you, Yahweh, are going into our sacred temple,
+\q1 People who do not worship you, Yahweh, are going into our sacred temple
 \q2 where you had said no foreigner must go into the place where your people worship you.
 
 \s5
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
 \q2 while they search for food.
 \q1 They have given their most valuable things
 \q2 to get food to eat to restore their strength.
-\q1 Yahweh, look at me,
+\q1 Yahweh, look at me;
 \q2 no one values my life.
 \q1
 \v 12 You people who pass by,
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 13 It is as though he sent a fire from heaven
 \q2 that burned in my bones;
-\q1 it is as though he has placed a trap to entangle my feet,
+\q1 it is as though he has placed a trap to entangle my feet
 \q2 and made me turn back.
 \q1 He has abandoned me;
 \q2 I am weak and alone every day, all during the day.
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 15 The Lord looked at my mighty soldiers, who kept me safe.
+\v 15 The Lord looked at my mighty soldiers who kept me safe.
 \q1 He summoned a great army
 \q2 to come and crush me to defeat my strong young soldiers.
 \q1 The Lord has trampled on the people of Judah
@@ -137,13 +137,13 @@
 \q2 My eyes are filled with tears.
 \q1 There is no one to comfort me.
 \q2 The one who comforts me is far away from me.
-\q1 My children have no hope
+\q1 My children have no hope,
 \q2 because the enemy has taken us all captive.
 \q1
-\v 17 The people who lived in Zion (the city of Jerusalem)
+\v 17 The people who lived in Zion, which is the city of Jerusalem,
 \q2 have no one to give them comfort.
 \q1 Yahweh has given the order that the people in nearby nations
-\q2 will become the enemies of the descendants of our father Jacob (who are also called the Israelites).
+\q2 will become the enemies of our father Jacob's descendants, who are also called the Israelites.
 \q2 Jerusalem has become disgusting to them.
 
 \s5
@@ -153,10 +153,10 @@
 \q1 You people everywhere, listen to me!
 \q2 Look and see that I am suffering greatly.
 \q1 My young daughters and brave sons
-\q2 have been taken away to far off lands.
+\q2 have been taken away to far-off lands.
 \q1
 \v 19 I pleaded with our allies, in whom we trusted, to help,
-\q2 but they all refused,
+\q2 but they all refused;
 \q2 they told lies and did not keep their promises.
 \q1 My priests and my leaders
 \q2 died within the walls of the city
@@ -166,16 +166,16 @@
 \q1
 \v 20 Yahweh, see that I am suffering very much!
 \q2 Inside of my body I am in great distress.
-\q1 I am sad in the center of my being,
+\q1 I am sad in the center of my being
 \q2 because I have rebelled against you
 \q2 and have caused you great sadness!
-\q1 Our enemies kill people in the streets with their swords;
-\q2 and that makes our homes the places where the dead are kept.
+\q1 Our enemies kill people in the streets with their swords,
+\q2 and that makes our homes the places where dead people are kept.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 21 Hear my groaning!
-\q2 but no one came to comfort me.
+\q2 But no one came to comfort me.
 \q1 All our enemies know what happened to me;
 \q2 they were all happy to hear
 \q2 about what Yahweh has done to his people.
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@
 \v 22 Yahweh, let those evil deeds come near to you
 \q2 so you may see them all!
 \q1 Punish them as you have punished me
-\q2 for all my sins!
+\q2 for all of my sins!
 \q1 I suffer and groan very much,
 \q2 and I faint within my inner self.
 
@@ -228,13 +228,13 @@
 \q2 to us Israelites; he has destroyed us;
 \q1 he has destroyed our palaces
 \q2 and made our fortresses into ruins.
-\q1 He has gotten rid of many people in Jerusalem,
+\q1 He has gotten rid of many people in Jerusalem
 \q2 and caused us to mourn and weep for those who were killed.
 \q1
 \v 6 He has caused our enemies to smash his temple
 \q2 as easily as if it had been a hut in a garden.
 \q1 He has caused us, his people, to forget
-\q2 all our sacred festivals and Sabbath days.
+\q2 all of our sacred festivals and Sabbath days.
 \q1 He has hated our kings and priests
 \q2 because he was extremely angry with them.
 
@@ -244,8 +244,8 @@
 \q2 he has abandoned his temple.
 \q1 He has allowed our enemies to tear down the walls
 \q2 of our temple and our palaces.
-\q1 They shout victoriously in the temple of Yahweh,
-\q2 like we previously shouted during our sacred festivals.
+\q1 They shout victoriously in the temple of Yahweh
+\q2 as we previously shouted during our sacred festivals.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@
 \q2 and they say nothing.
 \q1 They are so sad that they wear rough sackcloth
 \q2 and throw dust on their heads.
-\q1 The young girls of Jerusalem bow down sorrowfully,
+\q1 The young girls of Jerusalem bow down sorrowfully;
 \q2 their faces touch the ground.
 
 \s5
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@
 \q2 Is it the city that people said was the most beautiful city in the world,
 \q2 the city that caused all the people on the earth to rejoice?"
 \q1
-\v 16 Now all our enemies laugh at you;
+\v 16 Now all of our enemies laugh at you;
 \q2 they hate you so much that they hiss at you and grind their teeth at you.
 \q1 They say, "We have destroyed Israel!
 \q2 This is what we longed for,
@@ -374,13 +374,13 @@
 \s5
 \c 3
 \q1
-\v 1 I, the one who am writing this, am a man whom Yahweh made to suffer,
+\v 1 I, the one who am writing this, am a man whom Yahweh made to suffer
 \q2 because he was angry.
 \q1
 \v 2 It was as though he caused me to walk in a very dark place
 \q2 without any light at all.
 \q1
-\v 3 He has punished me many times,
+\v 3 He has punished me many times—
 \q2 many times during each day.
 \q1
 \v 4 He has caused my skin and my flesh to become old.
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@
 \v 6 It is as though he has buried me in a dark place
 \q2 like those who have been dead for a long time.
 \q1
-\v 7 It is as though he has built a prison wall around me,
+\v 7 It is as though he has built a prison wall around me
 \q2 and fastened me with heavy chains, so I cannot escape.
 \q1
 \v 8 Although I call out and cry out for him to help me,
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@
 \v 10 He has waited to attack me
 \q2 like a bear or a lion hides and waits to attack a man.
 \q1
-\v 11 It is as though a bear has dragged me off the path and mauled me,
+\v 11 It is as though a bear has dragged me off the path and mauled me
 \q2 and left me alone without help.
 
 \s5
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@
 \q2 all during each day they sing songs that make fun of me.
 \q1
 \v 15 Yahweh has made me suffer greatly,
-\q2 like someone suffers after drinking something very bitter.
+\q2 as someone suffers after drinking something very bitter.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -472,13 +472,13 @@
 \v 28 Those who seek him to help them should sit by themselves and not complain,
 \q2 because they know that it is Yahweh who has allowed them to suffer.
 \q1
-\v 29 They should lie in the dirt, with their faces on the ground,
+\v 29 They should lie in the dirt with their faces on the ground
 \q2 because they can still hope that Yahweh will help them.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 30 If someone strikes us on one cheek,
-\q2 we should turn the other cheek toward that person in order that he may strike it, too,
+\q2 we should turn the other cheek toward that person so that he may strike it also
 \q2 and accept it when others insult us.
 \q1
 \v 31 The Lord does not abandon his people forever.
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 34 If people mistreat and oppress all the prisoners,
 \q1
-\v 35 or if they rebel against God
+\v 35 if they rebel against God
 \q2 by refusing to do for others what is right,
 \q1
 \v 36 or if they cause judges to decide matters unjustly,
@@ -517,7 +517,7 @@
 \q2 we should turn back to Yahweh.
 \q1
 \v 41 We should pray with all our inner beings and lift up our arms
-\q2 toward God in heaven, and say,
+\q2 toward God in heaven and say,
 \q1
 \v 42 "We have sinned and rebelled against you,
 \q2 and you have not forgiven us.
@@ -527,15 +527,15 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 44 You have hidden yourself away, as if you were in a cloud,
+\v 44 You have hidden yourself away as if you were in a cloud
 \q2 so that you will not hear us when we pray.
 \q1
 \v 45 You have made us go among the foreign peoples,
 \q2 and they think we are only garbage.
 \q1
-\v 46 All our enemies have spoken things to insult us.
+\v 46 All of our enemies have spoken things to insult us.
 \q1
-\v 47 We are constantly afraid that people will trap us,
+\v 47 We are constantly afraid that people will trap us
 \q2 because we have experienced so many disasters and so much ruin.
 
 \s5
@@ -554,10 +554,10 @@
 \q2 because of what has happened to the women of my city.
 \q1
 \v 52 My enemies hunted for me
-\q2 like people hunt for a bird to kill it
+\q2 as people hunt for a bird to kill it
 \q1 even though there was no reason for them to do that.
 \q1
-\v 53 They threw me into a pit to kill me,
+\v 53 They threw me into a pit to kill me
 \q2 and placed a heavy stone over the top of it.
 \q1
 \v 54 The water in the pit rose above my head,
@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@
 \q2 all during the day.
 \q1
 \v 63 Look at them! Whatever they are doing at the moment,
-\q2 they make fun of me by the songs that they sing.
+\q2 they make fun of me by the songs they sing.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@
 \q2 and you punish them by taking away their shame.
 \q2 That is why your curse is upon them.
 \q1
-\v 66 Because you are angry with them, pursue them and get rid of them,
+\v 66 Because you are angry with them, pursue them and get rid of them
 \q2 until none of them remain on the earth."
 
 \s5
@@ -665,13 +665,13 @@
 \q1
 \v 10 Women who usually acted with love and compassion
 \q2 have killed and cooked their own children;
-\q1 they ate them when there was no other food,
+\q1 they ate them when there was no other food
 \q2 when Jerusalem was being destroyed by attacking armies.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 11 Yahweh has shown to everyone how angry he was with his people!
-\q1 His anger spread like a fire in Zion (the city of Jerusalem)
+\q1 His anger spread like a fire in Zion—the city of Jerusalem—
 \q2 that burned the city down to its rock foundations.
 
 \s5
@@ -722,11 +722,11 @@
 \q2 or hid in the desert,
 \q2 they went there ahead of us and waited to attack us.
 \q1
-\v 20 Our king, whom Yahweh had appointed,
+\v 20 Our king whom Yahweh had appointed,
 \q2 the one who enabled us to live,
 \q1 the one whom we trusted to protect us
 \q2 when we had to live in the other nations as slaves—
-\q1 the enemy captured him,
+\q1 the enemy captured him
 \q2 as you would capture an animal in a pit.
 
 \s5
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@
 \q1 but Yahweh will punish you also.
 \q2 You will become so drunk that you will strip off your own clothes.
 \q1
-\v 22 You people of Zion (whose home is in Jerusalem),
+\v 22 You people of Zion, whose home is in Jerusalem,
 \q2 the time when Yahweh punishes you for your sins will come to an end.
 \q1 He will bring an end to the time you must spend in exile.
 \q2 But you people who are from Edom, Yahweh will punish you for your sins
@@ -751,10 +751,10 @@
 \v 2 Foreigners have seized our property,
 \q2 and now they live in our homes.
 \q1
-\v 3 Our enemies have killed our fathers,
+\v 3 Our enemies have killed our fathers
 \q2 and caused our mothers to become widows.
 \q1
-\v 4 Now they make us pay for water to drink,
+\v 4 Now they make us pay for water to drink
 \q2 and pay for firewood.
 
 \s5
@@ -766,14 +766,14 @@
 \q2 we begged Egypt and Assyria to help us.
 \q1
 \v 7 Our ancestors sinned, and now they are dead,
-\q2 but we are suffering for the sins that they committed.
+\q2 but we are suffering for the sins they committed.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 8 Now the people who rule over us are themselves slaves to their own masters in Babylon.
 \q2 There is no one who can rescue us from their power.
 \q1
-\v 9 We go far to look for food, but we are in danger of dying when we do so,
+\v 9 We go far to look for food, but we are in danger of dying when we do so
 \q2 because of the robbers who live in the wilderness.
 \q1
 \v 10 Our skin has become hot like an oven,
@@ -800,7 +800,7 @@
 \v 15 We are no longer joyful;
 \q2 instead of dancing joyfully, we now mourn.
 \q1
-\v 16 The wreaths of flowers have fallen off our heads.
+\v 16 The wreaths of flowers have fallen off of our heads.
 \q2 Terrible things have happened to us because of the sins that we committed.
 
 \s5

26-EZK.usfm

@@ -9,20 +9,20 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1-2 "When I, Ezekiel, was thirty years old, I was living among the Israelite people by the Kebar Canal, which was south of Babylon. The Babylonians had taken us from the land of Judah and brought us here. On the fifth day of the fourth month of that year, it was as though the sky opened and I saw visions from God.
+\v 1-2 "When I, Ezekiel, was thirty years old, I was living among the Israelite people by the Kebar Canal, which was south of Babylon. The Babylonians had taken us from the land of Judah and brought us there. On the fifth day of the fourth month of that year, it was as though the sky opened and I saw visions from God.
 \p The fifth day of the fourth month was almost five years after King Jehoiachin had been exiled."
 \v 3 So God gave Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, messages in Babylonia while he was beside the Kebar Canal. Yahweh's power went to him there.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 4 In one of the visions, I saw a windstorm coming from the north. There was a huge cloud, and lightning was flashing within it continually, and a brilliant light surrounded the cloud. In the center of where the lightning was flashing, there was amber-colored fire.
-\v 5 In the center of the storm I saw what resembled four living creatures. They resembled humans,
+\v 5 In the center of the storm, I saw what resembled four living creatures. They resembled humans,
 \v 6 but each of them had four faces and four wings.
 
 \s5
 \v 7 Their legs were like human legs, but their feet resembled the hooves of calves that shined like polished bronze.
 \v 8 On the four sides of their bodies under their wings there were hands like humans have.
-\v 9 As the four creatures stood there, they formed a circle, with their wings touching each other. They did not turn when they were moving; they went straight ahead.
+\v 9 As the four creatures stood there, they formed a circle with their wings touching each other. They did not turn when they were moving; they went straight ahead.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 13 The four creatures resembled burning coals or torches. A blazing fire moved back and forth among the creatures, and lightning flashed from among them.
-\v 14 The creatures were moving back and forth very rapidly, so that they looked like flashes of lightning.
+\v 14 The creatures were moving back and forth very rapidly so that they looked like flashes of lightning.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -46,16 +46,16 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 19 Whenever the living creatures moved, the wheels moved with them. So whenever the creatures rose up from the ground, the wheels also rose up.
-\v 20 Wherever the Spirit of God, who controlled the creatures, wanted them to go, they went; and the wheels went with them, because their spirit controlled the wheels.
+\v 20 Wherever the Spirit of God, who controlled the creatures, wanted them to go, they went; and the wheels went with them because their spirit controlled the wheels.
 \v 21 Whenever the creatures moved, the wheels moved. Whenever the creatures stood still, the wheels stopped. Whenever the creatures rose up from the ground, the wheels rose up with them.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 22 Above the heads of the creatures there was something that resembled a dome. It glistened as ice shines, and it was awesome.
-\v 23 Under the dome, the creatures stretched out their wings. Each one had two wings that touched the wings of the creatures on either side, and two wings that covered his own body.
+\v 23 Under the dome, the creatures stretched out their wings. Each one had two wings that touched the wings of the creatures on either side and two wings that covered his own body.
 
 \s5
-\v 24 Whenever the creatures moved, their wings made a sound that resembled the crashing of waves in the sea. It also sounded like the voice of Almighty God, and like the noise of a huge army marching. Whenever the creatures stood still on the ground, they lowered their wings.
+\v 24 Whenever the creatures moved, their wings made a sound that resembled the crashing of waves in the sea. It also sounded like the voice of Almighty God and like the noise of a huge army marching. Whenever the creatures stood still on the ground, they lowered their wings.
 \v 25 While they stood on the ground with their wings lowered, there was a voice from the dome that was over their heads.
 
 \s5
@@ -77,14 +77,14 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 4 The people to whom I will send you are very stubborn. But say to them, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says to you.'
-\v 5 And when you tell them my messages, perhaps those rebellious people will heed those messages and perhaps they will not heed them; but they will know that a prophet has been among them!
+\v 5 And when you tell them my messages, perhaps those rebellious people will heed those messages and perhaps they will not heed them, but they will know that a prophet has been among them!
 
 \s5
-\v 6 And you, son of man, you must not be afraid of them or afraid of what they say. Living among them will be like living in the midst of briers or scorpions, but do not be afraid of them. They are rebellious people, but do not allow them to frighten you.
+\v 6 And you, son of man—you must not be afraid of them or afraid of what they say. Living among them will be like living in the midst of briers or scorpions, but do not be afraid of them. They are rebellious people, but do not allow them to frighten you.
 
 \s5
 \v 7 Tell them my message, but do not expect them to pay attention to it, because they are very rebellious.
-\v 8 But son of man, you must pay attention to what I say. Do not be rebellious like they are. Now open your mouth and eat what I give to you."
+\v 8 But son of man, you must pay attention to what I say. Do not be rebellious, as they are. Now open your mouth and eat what I give to you."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 4 Then he said to me, "Son of Man, go to the Israelite people and tell them my message.
-\v 5 The people to whom I am sending you are not people whose language is very difficult to learn, a language which you do not understand. I am sending you to your Israelite people.
+\v 5 The people to whom I am sending you are not people whose language is very difficult to learn—a language you do not understand. I am sending you to your Israelite people.
 \v 6 I am sending you to people whose language you understand very well. If I were sending you to people whose language was difficult for you to understand, they would pay attention to what you say to them.
 \v 7 But because the Israelite people do not want to listen to me, they will not want to listen to you. They do not want to listen because they are all very rebellious.
 
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 10 He also said to me, "Son of Man, listen very carefully to what I say, and keep thinking about it.
-\v 11 Go to your fellow Israelites who are here after being exiled, and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says' and then tell them my message, whether they want to hear it or whether they would rather cease to exist."
+\v 10 He also said to me, "Son of Man, listen very carefully to what I say and keep thinking about it.
+\v 11 Go to your fellow Israelites who are here after being exiled and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says,' and then tell them my message, whether they want to hear it or whether they would rather cease to exist."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -128,13 +128,13 @@
 \p
 \v 16 After those seven days had ended, Yahweh gave me this message:
 \v 17 "Son of Man, I am appointing you to be like a watchman. So listen to these messages that I will give you, and tell them those messages to warn them.
-\v 18 When I say about some wicked people, 'They will surely die because of their sins,' if you do not warn them or tell them that they must turn from their wicked behavior if they want to save their lives, they will die because of their sin, and it will be your responsibility since you did not act to prevent it.
+\v 18 When I say about some wicked people, 'They will surely die because of their sins,' if you do not warn them or tell them that they must turn from their wicked behavior if they want to save their lives, they will die because of their sins, and it will be your responsibility since you did not act to prevent it.
 \v 19 But if you warn wicked people and they do not turn from all their wicked behavior, they will die because of their sins, but you will have saved yourself from my punishment.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 20 Similarly, when righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and do evil deeds, and I cause bad things to happen to them, they will die. But you must warn them. If they do not stop their sinful behavior, they will die because of their sins. I will not think about the righteous things that they did previously. But if you have not warned them, I will hold you responsible for their deaths .
-\v 21 But if you warn righteous people not to sin, and they do not sin; they will surely remain alive because they heeded your warning, and you will have saved yourself from my punishment."
+\v 20 Similarly, when righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and do evil deeds, and I cause bad things to happen to them, they will die. But you must warn them. If they do not stop their sinful behavior, they will die because of their sins. I will not think about the righteous things that they did previously. But if you have not warned them, I will hold you responsible for their deaths.
+\v 21 But if you warn righteous people not to sin, and they do not sin, they will surely remain alive because they heeded your warning, and you will have saved yourself from my punishment."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -148,33 +148,33 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 26 Even though they are very rebellious people, I will cause your tongue to stick to the roof of your mouth, with the result that you will be unable to talk and to rebuke them.
-\v 27 But then when I speak to you again, I will enable you to talk and tell them 'This is what the Lord Yahweh is saying to you.' The one who wants to hear me will hear me, but the one who ignores the message will come to an end, since they are a rebellious people!"
+\v 27 But then when I speak to you again, I will enable you to talk and tell them, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh is saying to you.' The one who wants to hear me will hear me, but the one who ignores the message will come to an end, since they are a rebellious people!"
 
 \s5
 \c 4
 \p
 \v 1 Yahweh continued and said, "Son of man, take a large clay tablet and scrape lines on it that represent Jerusalem.
 \v 2 Then draw figures around it to represent enemy soldiers who will build earthworks and forts around the city in order to take it. Set figures around it that represent battering rams.
-\v 3 Then take an iron pan, and place it to be like an iron wall between you and the carving of the city. Then stare at the image of the city. This means that enemy troops will surround the city to attack it. This will be a warning to the Israelite people.
+\v 3 Then take an iron pan and place it to be like an iron wall between you and the carving of the city. Then stare at the image of the city. This means that enemy troops will surround the city to attack it. This will be a warning to the Israelite people.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 4-5 Then lie on your left side, and stay like that for 390 days. You will be symbolically bearing the punishment for the sins of the Israelites, the northern kingdom; you must lie like that one day for each year that I will punish them.
+\v 4-5 Then lie on your left side and stay like that for 390 days. You will be symbolically bearing the punishment for the sins of the Israelites, the northern kingdom; you must lie like that one day for each year that I will punish them.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 6 After that, lie down again. This time, lie on your right side for forty days. That will symbolize that the Judean people, the southern kingdom, will be punished for their sins, one year for each day that you lie there.
-\v 7 Turn your face toward the drawing of Jerusalem and bare your arm like a soldier does who prepares to go into battle, and prophesy about what will happen to the city.
+\v 7 Turn your face toward the drawing of Jerusalem, bare your arm like a soldier does who prepares to go into battle, and prophesy about what will happen to the city.
 \v 8 You will not be able to move; it will be as though I have tied you with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished symbolizing how many years the city will be besieged.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 9 Before you do that, take some wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; and put them in a storage jar, and use that to bake bread for yourself. That is what you will eat during the 390 days while you lie on your left side.
+\v 9 Before you do that, take some wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use that to bake bread for yourself. That is what you will eat during the 390 days while you lie on your left side.
 \v 10 You will eat about two hundred grams of bread each day throughout the day.
 \v 11 Also measure out about one-half liter of water to drink each day throughout the day.
 
 \s5
-\v 12 Eat that bread like you would eat a loaf of barley bread. But use your own dried dung for fuel to bake the bread while people are watching.
+\v 12 Eat that bread as you would eat a loaf of barley bread. But use your own dried dung for fuel to bake the bread while people are watching.
 \v 13 That will symbolize that the Israelite people will be forced to eat food that is unacceptable to me when they are living in the nations to which I will force them to go."
 
 \s5
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 16 Then he said to me, "Son of man, I will cause the supply of food to Jerusalem to be cut off. Then the people will eat the small amounts of food and drink the small amounts of water that their leaders permit them to have, and they will be very distressed and anxious as they do that,
+\v 16 Then he said to me, "Son of man, I will cause the supply of food to Jerusalem to be cut off. Then the people will eat the small amounts of food and drink the small amounts of water that their leaders permit them to have, and they will be very distressed and anxious as they do that
 \v 17 because water and food will be very scarce. They will see each other becoming extremely thin, and they will be appalled; but this will happen because they are being punished for the sins that they have committed."
 
 \s5
@@ -210,37 +210,37 @@
 \v 8 Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: I am opposed to you people of Jerusalem. I will punish you, and the people of other nations will see it.
 
 \s5
-\v 9 Because of all your detestable idols and practices, I will punish you people of Jerusalem like I have never done before and will never do again.
+\v 9 Because of all your detestable idols and practices, I will punish you people of Jerusalem as I have never done before and will never do again.
 \v 10 As a result, parents among you will eat their children, and children will eat their parents because there will be nothing else to eat. I will punish you severely, and I will cause those who will still be alive to be scattered in every direction.
 
 \s5
-\v 11 Therefore, I, Yahweh the Lord, make this declaration! That as surely as I am alive, because you have polluted my temple with all your disgusting idols and with the other awful things that you do, I will no longer bless you. I will not pity you or act mercifully toward you.
-\v 12 One-third of your people will die inside the city because of the plagues they will experience, or by famine. One-third of your people will be killed by your enemies' swords outside the city. And one-third I will scatter in every direction, but your enemies will still pursue you and kill you with their swords.
+\v 11 Therefore, I, Yahweh the Lord, make this declaration!—that as surely as I am alive, because you have polluted my temple with all your disgusting idols and with the other awful things that you do, I will no longer bless you. I will not pity you or act mercifully toward you.
+\v 12 One third of your people will die inside the city because of the plagues they will experience or by famine. One third of your people will be killed by your enemies' swords outside the city. And one third I will scatter in every direction, but your enemies will still pursue you and kill you with their swords.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 13 Then I will no longer be angry with you; I will stop punishing you after I have avenged myself against you. And when I stop punishing you, you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken to you because I have finished punishing you in my anger.
 \p
-\v 14 I will cause your city to be a ruins, so that people of other nations that are around you will pass by and see it and sneer at you.
+\v 14 I will cause your city to be a ruins so that people of other nations that are around you will pass by and see it and sneer at you.
 
 \s5
 \v 15 They will scorn you and taunt you. When I severely punish you because of my great anger, they will be horrified and you will be a warning to them. That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, have said it.
 \v 16 And when I cut off your food supply and cause there to be more famine, it will be as though I am shooting at you with my arrows that will destroy you.
-\v 17 So I will cause you to experience a famine, and I will send wild beasts to attack you and your children, and all your children will be killed. You will experience plagues and wars, and I will cause your enemies to attack you with their swords. That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, have said it."
+\v 17 So I will cause you to experience a famine, and I will send wild beasts to attack you and your children, and all of your children will be killed. You will experience plagues and wars, and I will cause your enemies to attack you with their swords. That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, have said it."
 
 \s5
 \c 6
 \p
 \v 1 Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
-\v 2 "Son of man, turn toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy about what will happen to them, and say,
+\v 2 "Son of man, turn toward the mountains of Israel, prophesy about what will happen to them, and say,
 \v 3 'Mountains of Israel, listen to what Yahweh the Lord says to you! He says this to the mountains and the high hills and to the streambeds and the low valleys. He says: I am about to send enemy soldiers with swords to destroy all the hilltops where you worship idols.
 
 \s5
-\v 4 They will smash all your altars for worshiping idols and your pillars you use for astronomy, and they will kill many Israelite people in front of their idols.
-\v 5 Their corpses will lie in front of their idols, and their bones will be scattered around their altars.
-
-\s5
-\v 6 Wherever you live, your towns will be ruined and the places where idols were worshiped on the hilltops will be smashed. Your altars will be completely smashed, and everything that you own will become a pile of ruins.
+\v 4 I, Yahweh, make this promise to you: Your altars will be destroyed, and the places where you worship idols will all be broken into pieces. I, Yahweh, promise that I will be sure that the Israelite people will be put to death where they worshiped their idols.  
+\v 5 The dead bodies of the Israelite people will be lying in front of their idols, and their bones will be scattered around their altars.  
+  
+\s5  
+\v 6 Wherever you live, your towns will be ruined and the places where idols were worshiped on the hilltops will be smashed. Your idols will be completely smashed, your altars for burning incense will be destroyed, and everything that you own will become a pile of ruins.   
 \v 7 Many of your people will be killed right in front of you, and then you will know that I am Yahweh and I do what I say I will do.
 
 \s5
@@ -252,26 +252,26 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 11 So this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say to you, Ezekiel: Slap your hands and stamp your feet and cry out to show that you are distressed, and groan about what will happen to the Israelite people because of all their wicked and detestable behavior. They will be killed by their enemies' swords, they will die from hunger, and they will die from plagues.
-\v 12 Those who are far from Jerusalem will die from plagues, those who are close to Jerusalem will be killed by their enemies' swords. Those who are still alive after that will die from hunger. That is how I will punish them.
+\v 12 Those who are far from Jerusalem will die from plagues, and those who are close to Jerusalem will be killed by their enemies' swords. Those who are still alive after that will die from hunger. That is how I will punish them.
 
 \s5
-\v 13 Some of your people's corpses will lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hilltop and on all the mountaintops, under every big tree—at all the places where they burned incense to honor their idols. When this happens you will realize that I, Yahweh, have done this.
+\v 13 Some of your people's corpses will lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hilltop, on all the mountaintops, and under every big tree—at all the places where they burned incense to honor their idols. When this happens, you will realize that I, Yahweh, have done this.
 \v 14 For I will display my power and cause every area in which they live in your country to become an empty wasteland, from the desert in the far south to the town of Diblah in the far north. Then they will realize that I, Yahweh, have done this.'"
 
 \s5
 \c 7
 \p
 \v 1 Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
-\v 2 "You, son of man, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say to the people of Israel: All of Israel, everything within its borders, will soon be destroyed.
+\v 2 "You son of man, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say to the people of Israel: All of Israel, everything within its borders, will soon be destroyed.
 
 \s5
-\v 3 You people of Israel, the end has come. I will punish you severely. I will judge you for all the wicked things that you have done, and pay you back for your disgusting behavior.
+\v 3 You people of Israel, the end has come. I will punish you severely. I will judge you for all the wicked things you have done and pay you back for your disgusting behavior.
 \v 4 I will not pity you or act mercifully toward you. I will surely punish you for your wicked behavior. Then you will know that it has happened because I, Yahweh, have done it.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 5 This is also what Yahweh the Lord says: You will soon experience many terrible disasters!
-\v 6 This will be the end of Israel; your country will be finished! And your lives will be ended!
+\v 6 This will be the end of Israel; your country will be finished, and your lives will be ended!
 \v 7 It will be the end of you people who live in the land of Israel. The time has come; the day when you will be destroyed is near. At that time the people who worship idols on the mountains will not be happy; they will panic.
 
 \s5
@@ -284,19 +284,19 @@
 \v 11 People are acting violently and doing more wicked things. And nothing that belongs to those people will be left, none of their money, and they will not be respected by anyone.
 
 \s5
-\v 12 Now is the time; that day has arrived. People who buy things should not rejoice because they bought things very cheaply and those who sell things should not be sad because they had to sell things cheaply, because Yahweh will be punishing everyone.
+\v 12 Now is the time; that day has arrived. People who buy things should not rejoice because they bought things very cheaply, and those who sell things should not be sad because they had to sell things cheaply, because Yahweh will be punishing everyone.
 \v 13 People who sell some of their property will never be able to buy it back—they will not even be able to return to see it; because they have sinned, not one of them will succeed in staying alive.
 
 \s5
-\v 14 Your commanders will blow trumpets to get the army ready to fight, but no one will respond, because I will be angry at all the people.
+\v 14 Your commanders will blow trumpets to get the army ready to fight, but no one will respond because I will be angry at all the people.
 \p
-\v 15 When those things happen, your enemies will be outside the city with their swords, and there will be plagues and famines inside the city. Those who are caught outside of the city in the fields will be killed by their enemies' swords, and those who are in the city will die from famines and plagues.
-\v 16 Those who survive and escape will flee to the mountains, and they all will moan because of their sins, as pigeons moan.
+\v 15 When those things happen, your enemies will be outside the city with their swords, and there will be plagues and famines inside the city. Those who are caught outside the city in the fields will be killed by their enemies' swords, and those who are in the city will die from famines and plagues.
+\v 16 Those who survive and escape will flee to the mountains, and because of their sins, they all will moan as pigeons moan.
 
 \s5
 \v 17 Because they will be very afraid, all the people's hands will become limp and weak, and their knees will become very weak and unable to hold them up.
 \v 18 They will put on clothes made from rough cloth, and they will be terrified. Their faces will show that they are ashamed, and they will shave their heads to show that they are very sad.
-\v 19 They will throw their silver into the streets, and consider their gold the same way they would consider garbage, because they will realize that their silver and gold will not be able to rescue them when Yahweh punishes them. They will not be able to buy food to fill their stomachs, because having a lot of gold and silver has led them to sin.
+\v 19 They will throw their silver into the streets and consider their gold the same way they would consider garbage, because they will realize that their silver and gold will not be able to rescue them when Yahweh punishes them. They will not be able to buy food to fill their stomachs because having much gold and silver has led them to sin.
 
 \s5
 \v 20 They were proud, so they used their beautiful jewelry to make detestable and disgusting idols of their false gods. So I will make them see how disgusting and unacceptable these things are.
@@ -305,8 +305,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 23 Prepare chains to be fastened on you when your enemies capture you as punishment because the people throughout the country are committing murder, and people in the city are being violent.
-\v 24 So I will bring armies of the nations whose people are extremely wicked to take the houses of the Israelite people. I will make Israelite people realize that they are to no longer be proud. Your enemies will cause your places of worship to no longer be acceptable to be used.
+\v 23 Prepare chains to be fastened on you when your enemies capture you as punishment, because the people throughout the country are committing murder and people in the city are being violent.
+\v 24 So I will bring armies of the nations whose people are extremely wicked to take the houses of the Israelite people. I will make the Israelite people realize that they are to no longer be proud. Your enemies will cause your places of worship to no longer be acceptable to be used.
 \v 25 When your enemies cause you to be terrified, you will plead for them to make peace, but there will be no peace.
 
 \s5
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@
 \c 8
 \p
 \v 1 On the fifth day of the sixth month, almost six years after the Babylonians had taken us Israelites to their land, I was sitting with the leaders of Judah in my house when I felt the presence of Yahweh the Lord come on me again.
-\v 2 Then in a vision I saw someone who resembled a man, but below his waist his body was like fire and above his waist his body was glowing like very hot metal.
+\v 2 Then in a vision I saw someone who resembled a man, but below his waist his body was like fire, and above his waist his body was glowing like very hot metal.
 
 \s5
 \v 3 He reached out what seemed to be a hand and grabbed me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up high above the earth, and in visions God took me from Babylon to Jerusalem. He took me to the temple, to the inner north gate, to the place where there was an idol that caused Yahweh to be very disgusted and furious.
@@ -337,8 +337,8 @@
 \v 9 He said to me, "Go in and see the wicked and detestable things that they are doing here!"
 
 \s5
-\v 10 So I went in through the doorway and looked, and I saw all over the walls of a big room, drawings of all kinds of creatures that crawl along the ground and other detestable animals, and drawings of all the idols that the people of Israel were worshiping.
-\v 11 In front of them stood seventy elders of Israel. Jaazaniah son of Shaphan, was standing among them. Each of them was holding a pan in which incense was burning, and fragrant smoke of burning incense was rising up.
+\v 10 So I went in through the doorway and looked, and I saw all over the walls of a big room, drawings of all kinds of creatures that crawl along the ground and other detestable animals and drawings of all the idols that the people of Israel were worshiping.
+\v 11 In front of them stood seventy elders of Israel. Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each of them was holding a pan in which incense was burning, and fragrant smoke of burning incense was rising up.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -356,24 +356,24 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 17 He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing? Do you think that it is not a serious thing that these men of Judah are doing, worshiping these detestable things here? But they are doing other terrible things. They are acting violently throughout their country, and continually provoking my anger. Look at them! They are insulting me by their actions of false worship!
+\v 17 He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing? Do you think it is not a serious thing these men of Judah are doing, worshiping these detestable things here? But they are doing other terrible things. They are acting violently throughout their country and continually provoking my anger. Look at them! They are insulting me by their actions of false worship!
 \v 18 So I will show them that I am very angry. I will not pity them or act mercifully toward them. And even if they shout loudly to me to help them, I will not pay attention to them."
 
 \s5
 \c 9
 \p
-\v 1 Then Yahwehed call out loudly, "You men who are going to punish this city, bring your tools of destruction here."
+\v 1 Then Yahweh called out loudly, "You men who are going to punish this city, bring your tools of destruction here."
 \v 2 Then I saw six men coming from the north gate of the temple. Each one was carrying a weapon. With them was a man wearing a white linen robe. He carried at his side a case containing things to write with. They all came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 3 Then the glory that symbolized the presence of the God of Israel rose up from above the four winged creatures and moved to the entrance of the temple, and Yahweh called to the man wearing the linen robe,
+\v 3 Then the glory that symbolized the presence of the God of Israel rose up from above the four winged creatures and moved to the entrance of the temple, and Yahweh called to the man wearing the linen robe
 \v 4 and said to him, "Go throughout Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who are very sad because of the detestable things that are being done inside the city."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 5 While I was listening, he said to the other six men, "Follow the man wearing the white robe, and kill people. Do not pity them or act mercifully toward them.
-\v 6 Slaughter old men, young men and women, older women and children; but do not harm any of those who have that mark on their forehead. Start at my temple." So they began by killing the elders who were worshiping idols in front of the temple.
+\v 6 Slaughter old men, young men and women, older women, and children but do not harm any of those who have that mark on their forehead. Start at my temple." So they began by killing the elders who were worshiping idols in front of the temple.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -391,12 +391,12 @@
 \c 10
 \p
 \v 1 Then I saw what resembled a throne made of sapphire above the thing that resembled a dome that was above the heads of the four winged creatures.
-\v 2 Yahweh said to the man wearing the linen robe, "Go between the wheels that are under the winged creatures. Pick up as many hot coals as you can, and scatter them over the city." And while I watched, the man wearing the white robe left.
+\v 2 Yahweh said to the man wearing the linen robe, "Go between the wheels that are under the winged creatures. Pick up as many hot coals as you can and scatter them over the city." And while I watched, the man wearing the linen robe left.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 3 The four winged creatures were standing on the south side of the temple when the man wearing the white robe entered. Then a cloud filled the inner courtyard of the temple.
-\v 4 And the glory of Yahweh went up from directly over the winged creatures and stood over the doorway of the temple. It filled the entire temple with a cloud and everything in the courtyard was bright because of Yahweh's glorious presence.
+\v 4 And the glory of Yahweh went up from directly over the winged creatures and stood over the doorway of the temple. It filled the entire temple with a cloud, and everything in the courtyard was bright because of Yahweh's glorious presence.
 \v 5 I also heard the sound made by the wings of the winged creatures in the courtyard outside the temple. It was very loud, like the voice of Almighty God when he speaks.
 
 \s5
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@
 \p
 \v 15 Then the winged creatures rose up. They were the same living creatures that I had seen alongside the Kebar Canal.
 \v 16 When the winged creatures moved, the wheels moved with them. When the winged creatures spread their wings to fly over the ground, the wheels did not leave them but stayed beside them.
-\v 17 When the winged creatures stopped, the wheels stopped. When the winged creatures started to fly, the wheels flew with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
+\v 17 When the winged creatures stopped, the wheels stopped. When the winged creatures started to fly, the wheels flew with them because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -436,19 +436,19 @@
 \s5
 \c 11
 \p
-\v 1 Then God's Spirit lifted me up and took me to the gate on the east side of the temple. There at the gate were twenty-five men. Among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur, and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, who were leaders of the people.
+\v 1 Then God's Spirit lifted me up and took me to the gate on the east side of the temple. There at the gate were twenty-five men. Among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, who were leaders of the people.
 
 \s5
 \v 2 Yahweh said to me, "Son of man, these are the new leaders in Jerusalem who are planning to do evil things and who are giving wicked advice to people in this city.
-\v 3 They say, 'It is not the time to build houses yet, but just as pieces of meat are carefully stored in covered pots we will be protected from the bad things that will happen to others.'
+\v 3 They say, 'It is not the time to build houses yet, but just as pieces of meat are carefully stored in covered pots, we will be protected from the bad things that will happen to others.'
 \v 4 So, son of man, prophesy about the terrible things that will happen to them."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 5 Then the Spirit of Yahweh came upon me and told me to say to the people, "This is what Yahweh says, 'You Israelite people say those things, and I know what you are thinking.
+\v 5 Then the Spirit of Yahweh came upon me and told me to say to the people, "This is what Yahweh says: 'You Israelite people say those things, and I know what you are thinking.
 \v 6 You have killed many people in this city and filled the streets with their corpses.
 \p
-\v 7 Therefore this is what Yahweh the Lord says, 'The corpses of the people whom you have killed here are like the meat and Jerusalem is the cauldron, but I will expel you people from this city!
+\v 7 Therefore this is what Yahweh the Lord says, 'The corpses of the people whom you have killed here are like the meat, and Jerusalem is the cauldron, but I will expel you people from this city!
 
 \s5
 \v 8 You are afraid of being killed by enemies' swords, so that is what I will cause to happen to you.
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@
 \v 10 They will kill you with their swords; you will be punished right here in Israel! Then people will realize that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
 
 \s5
-\v 11 This city will not be a place were you will be protected like meat in a covered pot. I will punish you wherever you are in Israel.
+\v 11 This city will not be a place where you will be protected like meat in a covered pot. I will punish you wherever you are in Israel.
 \v 12 Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have predicted that would happen, because you have not obeyed my commands and decrees; instead, you have imitated the wicked behavior of the people of the nearby nations."
 
 \s5
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 14 Then Yahweh gave me this message,
+\v 14 Then Yahweh gave me this message:
 \v 15 "Son of man, the people who are still in Jerusalem are talking about your relatives, your clan, and all the rest of the Israelites who were exiled and saying, 'They are in Babylonia, far from Yahweh. They have left their property here in Israel, so their property now belongs to us!'"
 
 \s5
@@ -477,9 +477,9 @@
 \v 18 When you return to your country, you will get rid of all the vile statues of gods and detestable idols.
 
 \s5
-\v 19 I will give you Israelistes one new heart and I will give you a new way of thinking when you return to Israel. You will not be stubborn, but will be obedient.
-\v 20 When I do that, you will carefully obey all my laws. You will be my people, and I will be your God.
-\v 21 But as for those who are devoted to worshiping their vile statues and detestable idols, I will punish them as they deserve for the evil things that they have done." This is what Yahweh declared.
+\v 19 I will give you Israelites one new heart and I will give you a new way of thinking when you return to Israel. You will not be stubborn but will be obedient.
+\v 20 When I do that, you will carefully obey all of my laws. You will be my people, and I will be your God.
+\v 21 But as for those who are devoted to worshiping their vile statues and detestable idols, I will punish them as they deserve for the evil things they have done." This is what Yahweh declared.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@
 \v 3 Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings as though you were going into exile. Then, during the daytime, while people are watching, prepare to go to another place. Even though the people are rebellious, perhaps they will understand what you are symbolizing.
 
 \s5
-\v 4 During the daytime, while they are watching, bring out the things that you want to take, and pack them. Then in the evening, while they are watching, do what those who are preparing to go into exile do.
+\v 4 During the daytime, while they are watching, bring out the things that you want to take and pack them. Then in the evening, while they are watching, do what those who are preparing to go into exile do.
 \v 5 Dig through the city wall and take your things through the hole.
 \v 6 Put them in a sack on your shoulder while they are watching, and leave when it becomes dark. Cover your face so you cannot see the path. I want you to do this because I want you to warn the Israelite people."
 
@@ -511,29 +511,29 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 8 The next morning, Yahweh gave me this message,
+\v 8 The next morning, Yahweh gave me this message:
 \v 9 "Son of man, did the rebellious people of Israel not ask you, 'What are you doing?'
 \p
 \v 10 So go back and say to them, 'What I did is about the king in Jerusalem and all the other people of Israel who are there.'
 
 \s5
 \v 11 Tell them, 'What I did is a warning to you. What I did in front of you, they are going to have to do. They will be captured and forced to go to another country.
-\v 12 Their king will put his belongings on his shoulder when it becomes dark and he will try to escape. His servants will dig a hole through the city wall, and he will take his belongings through it. He will cover his face so others will not recognize him and he will not be able to see the land.
-\v 13 But it will be as though I will spread a net for him to be captured; enemy soldiers will capture him, blind him, and take him to the city of Babylon where the Chaldean people live. But he will not be able to see it because he will be blind; and there he will die.
+\v 12 Their king will put his belongings on his shoulder when it becomes dark and he will try to escape. His servants will dig a hole through the city wall, and he will take his belongings through it. He will cover his face so others will not recognize him, and he will not be able to see the land.
+\v 13 But it will be as though I will spread a net for him to be captured; enemy soldiers will capture him, blind him, and take him to the city of Babylon where the Chaldean people live. But he will not be able to see it because he will be blind, and there he will die.
 
 \s5
-\v 14 I will scatter all those who have been around him—his advisors and his soldiers—in every direction; and I will cause his enemies to pursue them, with their swords ready to strike them.
+\v 14 I will scatter all those who have been around him—his advisors and his soldiers—in every direction, and I will cause his enemies to pursue them with their swords ready to strike them.
 \p
-\v 15 Then, when I scatter them among many nations, they will know that I, Yahweh have the power to do what I say that I will do.
-\v 16 But I will spare some of them from being killed by the sword, or starving to death, or dying of disease so they can record that they have been doing disgusting things, and they will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do."
+\v 15 Then, when I scatter them among many nations, they will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
+\v 16 But I will spare some of them from being killed by the sword, starving to death, or dying of disease so they can record that they have been doing disgusting things, and they will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 17 Then Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
-\v 18 "Son of man, tremble while you eat your food, and shudder fearfully while you drink your water.
+\v 18 "Son of man, tremble while you eat your food and shudder fearfully while you drink your water.
 
 \s5
-\v 19 Tell this to the Israelite people: 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says about those who are still living in Jerusalem and in other places in Israel. They also will be very anxious while they eat their food and drink their water, because their country will soon have everything taken away. That will happen because the people who live there continually act very violently.
+\v 19 Tell this to the Israelite people: 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says about those who are still living in Jerusalem and in other places in Israel. They also will be very anxious while they eat their food and drink their water because their country will soon have everything taken away. That will happen because the people who live there continually act very violently.
 \v 20 The towns where people live will be devastated, and the land will become barren. Then you people will know that it is I, Yahweh, who have the power to do what I say that I will do.'"
 
 \s5
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@
 \v 23 So say to them, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: I am going to prove that what they say is not correct, and then they will never say it again in Israel.' Tell them, 'It will soon be the time when everything that the prophets predict will happen.'
 
 \s5
-\v 24 No longer will prophets tell the Israelite people false visions, or tell people prophecies just to please them.
+\v 24 No longer will prophets tell the Israelite people false visions or tell people prophecies just to please them.
 \v 25 Instead, I, Yahweh, will say what I want to tell the people, and what I predict will quickly happen. You rebellious people, I will cause to happen everything that I say will happen. That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say.'"
 
 \s5
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@
 \v 1 Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
 \v 2 "Son of man, prophesy a warning against the prophets in Israel who are prophesying. Some of them are prophesying things that they themselves have imagined. Say to them, 'Listen to what Yahweh says!
 \v 3 He says, "Terrible things will happen to those wicked prophets who proclaim their own ideas and have not seen any visions from me.
-\v 4 You Israelite people, your prophets are like jackals in the desert, they are scavengers feeding off of others' loss.
+\v 4 You Israelite people, your prophets are like jackals in the desert—they are scavengers feeding off of others' loss.
 
 \s5
 \v 5 Because you were listening to them, you have not repaired breeches or strengthened your walls. That needs to be done so that the walls will be strong when I, Yahweh, send your enemies to attack you.
@@ -574,13 +574,13 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 10 They deceive my people, saying "Things will go well for us" when things will not go well. It is like they want to make people think that there is a very strong wall when it is not strong.
-\v 11 So, tell those prophets who cover the wall with whitewash that the wall will surely fall down. It will rain very hard. I will send big hailstones to fall. Very strong winds will blow against it.
+\v 11 So tell those prophets who cover the wall with whitewash that the wall will surely fall down. It will rain very hard. I will send big hailstones to fall. Very strong winds will blow against it.
 \v 12 When the wall falls down, the people will certainly say to those prophets, "The white paint certainly did not make the wall strong!"
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 13 So this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: Because I am very angry with you, I will send enemy armies to destroy Jerusalem. It will be as though I will send a very strong wind and hailstones and very heavy rains to destroy you.
-\v 14 The false prophecies of your prophets are like a wall that they have covered with whitewash, but I will break it down, and shatter it down to the ground, with the result that people can see its foundations. When the wall collapses you also will be killed, and everyone will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
+\v 14 The false prophecies of your prophets are like a wall that they have covered with whitewash, but I will break it down and shatter it down to the ground, with the result that people can see its foundations. When the wall collapses, you also will be killed, and everyone will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
 
 \s5
 \v 15 In that way I will show that I am very angry with the wall and with those who covered it with whitewash. And I will say, "The wall is gone and those who whitewashed it have been killed."
@@ -589,14 +589,14 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 17 So you, son of man, show that you are angry with the women of Jerusalem who prophesy things that they themselves have imagined, and speak true prophesy against them.
-\v 18 Tell them, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: Terrible things will happen to you women who fasten magic charms on your wrists and make veils of various sizes to put on your heads in order to deceive the people. You think that you will deceive others by telling them that you know what will happen in the future, and you will save your own lives.
+\v 18 Tell them, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: Terrible things will happen to you women who fasten magic charms on your wrists and make veils of various sizes to put on your heads in order to deceive the people. You think that you will deceive others by telling them you know what will happen in the future and that you will save your own lives.
 
 \s5
-\v 19 You dishonored me by telling lies in order to get from my people a few handfuls of barley and a few pieces of bread. My people listen to lies; and you women who are lying to them have caused people who did not deserve to die to be killed, and have spared those who should not continue to live.'
+\v 19 You dishonored me by telling lies in order to get from my people a few handfuls of barley and a few pieces of bread. My people listen to lies, and you women who are lying to them have caused people who did not deserve to die to be killed and have spared those who should not continue to live.'
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 20 Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say to those women: 'I detest your magic charms by which you deceive people like other people trap birds. I will tear those charms off your wrists, and I will cause the people whom you have deceived to no longer be deceived by you.
+\v 20 Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say to those women: 'I detest your magic charms by which you deceive people as other people trap birds. I will tear those charms off your wrists, and I will cause the people whom you have deceived to no longer be deceived by you.
 \v 21 I will also tear off your veils and rescue my people from continuing to be deceived by you, and they will no longer be under your control. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
 
 \s5
@@ -606,22 +606,22 @@
 \s5
 \c 14
 \p
-\v 1 One day some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me.
+\v 1 One day, some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me.
 \v 2 Then Yahweh gave me this message:
 \v 3 "Son of man, these men worship idols, and they are allowing idols to induce them to sin. So should I answer them if they ask me for advice?
 
 \s5
-\v 4 But say this to them: 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: When any Israelite person wants to worship idols that will induce him to sin, and goes to a prophet to get advice, I, Yahweh, will give him the same answer that they deserve to receive because they worship idols.
+\v 4 But say this to them: 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: When any Israelite person wants to worship idols that will induce him to sin, and he goes to a prophet to get advice, I, Yahweh, will give him the same answer that they deserve to receive because they worship idols.
 \v 5 I will do this so the Israelite people, who have abandoned me in order to worship their idols, will sincerely worship me again.'
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 6 Therefore, say to the Israelite people, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: Repent! Stop worshiping your idols, and stop all your other detestable behavior!'
+\v 6 Therefore, say to the Israelite people, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: Repent! Stop worshiping your idols, and stop all of your other detestable behavior!'
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 7 When any of you Israelite people or any foreigner living among you turns away from me and starts worshiping idols that induce him to sin, and then goes to a prophet to find out what I want him to do, I myself will answer him.
-\v 8 I will show that I detest him, and cause what happens to him to be a warning to others, and cause him to be someone whom people despise. I will not allow him to associate with my people. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
+\v 7 When any of you Israelite people or any foreigner living among you turns away from me and starts worshiping idols that induce him to sin and then goes to a prophet to find out what I want him to do, I myself will answer him.
+\v 8 I will show that I detest him and cause what happens to him to be a warning to others and cause him to be someone whom people despise. I will not allow him to associate with my people. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -632,23 +632,23 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 12 Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
-\v 13 "You human, if the people of some country sin against me by abandoning me, and I punish them by cutting off their food supply and by sending a famine so that people and animals die,
+\v 13 "You human, if the people of some country sin against me by abandoning me and I punish them by cutting off their food supply and by sending a famine so that people and animals die,
 \v 14 even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, they would save only themselves because of their being righteous. That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 15 Or, if I send wild animals throughout the country, and they attack and kill many of the people, so that travel in that country becomes very dangerous and no one travels through that country,
+\v 15 Or if I send wild animals throughout the country and they attack and kill many of the people so that travel in that country becomes very dangerous and no one travels through that country,
 \v 16 as surely as I am alive, even if those three men were in that country, they could not save even their own sons or daughters from being killed. Only they three would be saved, and the country would become a wasteland. That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 17 Or, if I bring enemy soldiers to kill the people and animals throughout that country with their swords,
+\v 17 Or if I bring enemy soldiers to kill the people and animals throughout that country with their swords,
 \v 18 as surely as I am alive, even if those three men were in that country, they would not be able to save even their own sons or daughters from being killed. They would save only themselves. That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 19 Or, if I send a plague into that land and cause the people and the animals to die from the plague because I am very angry with those people,
-\v 20 as surely as I am alive, even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in that country, they would not be able to save even their sons and daughters. They would save only themselves because of their being righteous. That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare.
+\v 19 Or if I send a plague into that land and cause the people and the animals to die from the plague because I am very angry with those people,
+\v 20 as surely as I am alive, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in that country, they would not be able to save even their sons and daughters. They would save only themselves because of their being righteous. That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -673,7 +673,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 7 I will reject them. It will be as though they have escaped from a fire, but there will still be a fire that will burn them up. And when I punish them, you people who remain alive will know that I, Yahweh, have done it.
-\v 8 I will cause your country to become a wasteland because your people have not been loyal to me. That is what I, Yahweh, the Lord, say."
+\v 8 I will cause your country to become a wasteland because your people have not been loyal to me. That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say."
 
 \s5
 \c 16
@@ -683,13 +683,13 @@
 \v 3 Say to them, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says to you people of Jerusalem: It is as though you are a woman whose father belonged to the Amor people and your mother belonged to the Heth people.
 
 \s5
-\v 4 It is as though on the day that you were born, your umbilical cord was not cut, and your body was not washed in water or rubbed with salt and wrapped in strips of cloth, like Israelite babies always are.
-\v 5 No one pitied you or acted kindly toward you by doing those things for you. Instead, it was as though they hated you. As soon as you were born they threw you into a field to die.
+\v 4 It is as though on the day that you were born, your umbilical cord was not cut, and your body was not washed in water or rubbed with salt and wrapped in strips of cloth as Israelite babies always are.
+\v 5 No one pitied you or acted kindly toward you by doing those things for you. Instead, it was as though they hated you. As soon as you were born, they threw you into a field to die.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 6 Then it was as though I passed by and saw you lying in your own blood and kicking. And while you lay there kicking in your own blood, I said to you, "I want you to remain alive!"
-\v 7 It was as though I caused you to grow up, like plants in the field grow; you grew up and became tall and became like the most precious jewel of all. You developed into a beautiful woman, but you were still completely naked.
+\v 7 It was as though I caused you to grow up, as plants in the field grow; you grew up and became tall and became like the most precious jewel of all. You developed into a beautiful woman, but you were still completely naked.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -703,43 +703,43 @@
 \v 12 I put a gold ring in your nose and fastened earrings to your ears and put a beautiful crown on your head.
 
 \s5
-\v 13 So it was as though you wore gold and silver ornaments. You had clothes made from fine linen and other expensive fabrics, and an embroidered dress. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You were the most beautiful woman and I made you into a queen.
-\v 14 You were very beautiful, with the result that people in other nations heard about you, because they knew that I, Yahweh the Lord, am the one who had caused you to become very beautiful.
+\v 13 So it was as though you wore gold and silver ornaments. You had clothes made from fine linen and other expensive fabrics, and you had an embroidered dress. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You were the most beautiful woman, and I made you into a queen.
+\v 14 You were very beautiful, with the result that people in other nations heard about you because they knew that I, Yahweh the Lord, am the one who had caused you to become very beautiful.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 15 But it was as though you forgot that I made you beautiful and started acting promiscuous with every man who came along, and they all enjoyed your beauty.
-\v 16 It was as though you took some of your clothes to make beautifully decorated the high places, and that is where you slept with those men. Those things should certainly never occur!
+\v 15 But it was as though you forgot that I made you beautiful and started acting promiscuously with every man who came along, and they all enjoyed your beauty.
+\v 16 It was as though you took some of your clothes to make beautifully decorated high places, and that is where you slept with those men. Those things should certainly never occur!
 
 \s5
-\v 17 You took the fine gold and silver jewelry that I gave you, and you made male idols for yourself, in order to sleep with them.
+\v 17 You took the fine gold and silver jewelry that I gave you, and you made male idols for yourself in order to sleep with them.
 \v 18 You took some of your embroidered clothes to put on those idols, and you burned oil and incense in front of them to honor them.
 \v 19 And the bread that was made from fine flour and the olive oil and honey that I gave to you to eat, you offered to be a fragrant sacrifice to those idols. I, Yahweh the Lord, declare that that is what happened.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 20 And you even took your sons and daughters who were supposed to be committed to me and sacrificed and killed them as though they were less important than your becoming a prostitute.
-\v 21 You slaughtered those who were like my children, and offered them to be sacrifices to these false gods!
-\v 22 All during the time when you were acting like a prostitute and doing other detestable things, you did not think about the time when it was as though you were very young, naked, lying in your own blood and kicking in the field.
+\v 21 You slaughtered those who were like my children and offered them to be sacrifices to these false gods!
+\v 22 All during the time when you were acting like a prostitute and doing other detestable things, you did not think about the time when it was as though you were very young, naked, lying in your own blood, and kicking in the field.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 23 So I, Yahweh the Lord, declare that terrible things will happen to you. In addition to all the other wicked things that you did,
+\v 23 So I, Yahweh the Lord, declare that terrible things will happen to you. In addition to all the other wicked things you did,
 \v 24 you built yourself a tall building in which you worship idols and you built a place to worship idols in every city square.
 
 \s5
-\v 25 At the beginning of every street you built a a tall building for the worship of idols, and showed people your beautiful body, offering it to sleep with every man who walked by, and so you were known as a prostitute and your fame for your immorality grew every day.
+\v 25 At the beginning of every street, you built a tall building for the worship of idols and showed people your beautiful body, offering it to sleep with every man who walked by, and so you were known as a prostitute, and your fame for your immorality grew every day.
 \v 26 It was as though you had slept with men from Egypt who were eager to sleep with you, men who lived near Israel. You caused me to become very angry because you became more eager to sleep with more and more of them.
 
 \s5
-\v 27 So I punished you and caused your enemies to capture some of your country. I enabled your greedy enemies from Philistia to defeat you; and even they were shocked because of your disgraceful behavior.
-\v 28 It was as though you slept with soldiers from Assyria, too, because you always wanted to sleep with more men. And after that, you still were not satisfied.
+\v 27 So I punished you and caused your enemies to capture some of your country. I enabled your greedy enemies from Philistia to defeat you, and even they were shocked because of your disgraceful behavior.
+\v 28 It was as though you also slept with soldiers from Assyria because you always wanted to sleep with more men. And after that you still were not satisfied.
 \v 29 So you also slept with soldiers from Babylonia, a country full of merchants, but even that did not satisfy you.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 30 I, Yahweh the Lord, declare that you are ruining your life! When you did all those things, you were acting like a prostitute who has no shame for all the things she does.
-\v 31 But when you built the houses on the hills to worship idols in every city square, you were not really like a prostitute because prostitutes charge money. You refused to take money for what you did!
+\v 31 But when you built the houses on the hills to worship idols in every city square, you were not really like a prostitute, because prostitutes charge money. You refused to take money for what you did!
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -749,13 +749,13 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 35 Therefore, you people of Jerusalem, you, who are like a prostitute, listen to what Yahweh the Lord is saying about you!
-\v 36 He says that what you have done is as though you have lusted for everyone around you and had slept with them and with the male idols you made, so that you even made your own children to be sacrifices to them.
-\v 37 So what I am going to do is as though I will gather those who you think have loved you and those whom you hated. I will gather them around you to attack you, and what I will do is as though I will strip your clothes off you, and they will see you when you are completely naked.
+\v 35 Therefore, you people of Jerusalem, you who are like a prostitute, listen to what Yahweh the Lord is saying about you!
+\v 36 He says that what you have done is as though you have lusted for everyone around you and slept with them and with the male idols you made, so that you even made your own children to be sacrifices to them.
+\v 37 So what I am going to do is as though I will gather those who you think have loved you and those whom you hated. I will gather them around you to attack you, and what I will do is as though I will strip your clothes off of you, and they will see you when you are completely naked.
 
 \s5
-\v 38 I will punish you like women who commit adultery and who murder people are punished. I will get revenge on you and get rid of you because I am extremely angry with you.
-\v 39 I will allow your enemies who you thought loved you break apart your high places of idol worship and pagan altars. They will strip you naked and keep your clothes and jewelry, and abandon you with nothing to cover yourself with.
+\v 38 I will punish you as women who commit adultery and who murder people are punished. I will get revenge on you and get rid of you because I am extremely angry with you.
+\v 39 I will allow your enemies who you thought loved you break apart your high places of idol worship and pagan altars. They will strip you naked, keep your clothes and jewelry, and abandon you with nothing to cover yourself with.
 
 \s5
 \v 40 They will bring a mob to attack you, and that mob will throw stones at you and cut you to pieces with their swords.
@@ -775,40 +775,40 @@
 \v 46 And it was as though your older sister was Samaria, and she and her daughters lived to the north of you, and it was as though your younger sister was Sodom, and her daughters lived to the south of you.
 
 \s5
-\v 47 You not only imitated all their detestable behavior, but you quickly became more sinful than they were.
+\v 47 You not only imitated all of their detestable behavior, but you quickly became more sinful than they were.
 \v 48 I, Yahweh the Lord, solemnly declare that as surely as I am alive, the people who lived in Sodom and other nearby cities never did the detestable things that you people in Jerusalem and other places in Judah have done.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 49 These are the sins of the people who lived in Sodom, who were like your sister people among them: they were prideful and did not think they would ever be punished. They ignored poor and hurting people around them.
+\v 49 These are the sins of the people who lived in Sodom, who were like your sister people among them: They were prideful and did not think they would ever be punished. They ignored poor and hurting people around them.
 \v 50 The people of Sodom and nearby cities were proud and did detestable things in my presence, so I got rid of them when I saw what they had been doing.
 
 \s5
-\v 51 Also, the people of Samaria did not commit half as many sins as you commit. You have done more disgusting things than they have done. You cause the people of Samaria to appear to be good, compared to you.
+\v 51 Also, the people of Samaria did not commit half as many sins as you commit. You have done more disgusting things than they have done. You cause the people of Samaria to appear to be good compared to you.
 \v 52 Your sins are worse than their sins, so they seem to be less wicked than you are. So I will punish you more than I punished them. As a result, you will be ashamed and disgraced.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 53 However, on that day I will cause the people of Sodom and Samaria and the cities near to them to prosper again. And I will cause you to prosper again, too.
-\v 54 You will be very ashamed of the wicked things that you have done, and that will cause the people of those cities to be encouraged.
+\v 53 However, on that day I will cause the people of Sodom and Samaria and the cities near to them to prosper again. And I will also cause you to prosper again.
+\v 54 You will be very ashamed of the wicked things you have done, and that will cause the people of those cities to be encouraged.
 \v 55 The people of Sodom and Samaria will prosper again, and you and the people in nearby cities will prosper also.
 
 \s5
 \v 56 You sneered at the people of Sodom when you were proud,
 \v 57 before it was revealed that you were more wicked than she was. And now the people of Edom and the people of Philistia all insult you and despise you.
-\v 58 And you are being punished for all your immoral behavior and other detestable things that you do. This is what Yahweh is saying to you!
+\v 58 And you are being punished for all of your immoral behavior and other detestable things that you do. This is what Yahweh is saying to you!
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 59 This is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: I will continue to punish you like you deserve to be punished, because by rejecting the agreement that I made with you, you have despised that solemn agreement that you promised to obey.
+\v 59 This is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: I will continue to punish you as you deserve to be punished because by rejecting the agreement that I made with you, you have despised that solemn agreement you promised to obey.
 
 \s5
-\v 60 But I will not forget the agreement that I made with you long ago and I will make an agreement with you that will endure forever.
-\v 61 Then you will think about what you have done, and you will be ashamed about those things when you welcome the people of Sodom and Samaria, cities which are like your daughters, but they will not have the same agreement that I will make with you.
+\v 60 But I will not forget the agreement I made with you long ago, and I will make an agreement with you that will endure forever.
+\v 61 Then you will think about what you have done, and you will be ashamed about those things when you welcome the people of Sodom and Samaria—cities that are like your daughters, but they will not have the same agreement that I will make with you.
 
 \s5
 \v 62 I will establish my agreement with you, and you will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
-\v 63 Then when I have forgiven you for all your sins, you will think about all the sins that you committed and you will be ashamed. You will never again boast about them, because you will be humiliated." I, the Lord Yahweh, have said so!' This is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."
+\v 63 Then when I have forgiven you for all of your sins, you will think about all the sins that you committed, and you will be ashamed. You will never again boast about them, because you will be humiliated." I, the Lord Yahweh, have said so!' This is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."
 
 \s5
 \c 17
@@ -820,13 +820,13 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 5 Then that eagle took a seedling from your country and planted it in a fertile field. He planted it like people plant a willow tree, alongside a stream that had plenty of water.
-\v 6 It grew and became a low grapevine that spread along the ground. Its branches turned up toward the eagle, but its roots grew down into the ground. So it became a good vine and produced lots of branches and leaves.
+\v 5 Then that eagle took a seedling from your country and planted it in a fertile field. He planted it as people plant a willow tree, alongside a stream that had plenty of water.
+\v 6 It grew and became a low grapevine that spread along the ground. Its branches turned up toward the eagle, but its roots grew down into the ground. So it became a good vine and produced many branches and leaves.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 7 But there was another huge eagle that had strong wings and beautiful feathers. And some of the roots of the vine grew toward that eagle, and its branches also turned toward it, hoping that the eagle would bring more water to it.
-\v 8 That happened in spite of the fact that the vine had been planted in good soil, where there was plenty of water, with the result that it had produced branches and produced grapes and had become a very healthy vine.'
+\v 8 That happened in spite of the fact that the vine had been planted in good soil where there was plenty of water, with the result that it had produced branches and grapes and had become a very healthy vine.'
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -836,24 +836,24 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 11 Then Yahweh gave this message to me:
-\v 12 "Ask these rebellious Israelite people, 'Do you know what this parable means?' Tell them that it signifies that the king of Babylon went to Jerusalem with his army and captured the king of Judah and his officials, and took them back to Babylon.
+\v 12 "Ask these rebellious Israelite people, 'Do you know what this parable means?' Tell them that it signifies that the king of Babylon went to Jerusalem with his army, captured the king of Judah and his officials, and took them back to Babylon.
 
 \s5
-\v 13 Then he took one of the king's close relatives, appointed one of them as king, and made an agreement with him, forcing him to solemnly promise to remain loyal. The king of Babylon also took to Babylon the other important citizens of Judah,
-\v 14 in order that the kingdom of Judah would not be able to become powerful again. The king of Babylon intended that the kingdom of Judah would not continue to exist if the people did not obey that agreement that he made with the king of Babylon.
+\v 13 Then he took one of the king's close relatives, appointed him to be the king, and made an agreement with him, forcing him to solemnly promise to remain loyal. The king of Babylon also took to Babylon the other important citizens of Judah
+\v 14 so that the kingdom of Judah would not be able to become powerful again. The king of Babylon intended that the kingdom of Judah would not continue to exist if the people did not obey that agreement that he made with the king of Babylon.
 
 \s5
-\v 15 The king of Judah rebelled against the king of Babylon by sending officials to Egypt to request from them horses and a large army to fight against the army of Babylonia. But the king of Judah will certainly not be sucessful. Rulers who rebel like that and refuse to obey solemn agreements will never escape.
+\v 15 The king of Judah rebelled against the king of Babylon by sending officials to Egypt to request from them horses and a large army to fight against the army of Babylonia. But the king of Judah will certainly not be successful. Rulers who rebel like that and refuse to obey solemn agreements will never escape.
 \p
 \v 16 I, Yahweh the Lord, declare that as surely as I am alive, the king of Judah will die in Babylon, in the city where the king of Babylon appointed him to be the king of Judah. He will die because he despised the solemn agreement and refused to do what he promised to do.
 
 \s5
-\v 17 The king of Egypt with all his very huge army will not be able to help the king of Judah: The soldiers from Babylonia will build ramps up against the city walls and set up devices to batter the walls. They will enter Jerusalem and kill many of its people.
+\v 17 The king of Egypt with all of his vast army will not be able to help the king of Judah: The soldiers from Babylonia will build ramps up against the city walls and set up devices to batter the walls. They will enter Jerusalem and kill many of its people.
 \v 18 The king of Judah despised the solemn agreement by disregarding the treaty. Although he had solemnly promised to be under the control of the king of Babylon, he sent officials to request help from Egypt. Therefore he will not escape being punished by the king of Babylon.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 19 Therefore this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: Just as surely as I am alive, I will cause the king of Judah to be punished for ignoring the solemn agreement that he made with the king of Babylon and then refusing to obey it, since this violates what I expect.
+\v 19 Therefore this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: Just as surely as I am alive, I will cause the king of Judah to be punished for ignoring the solemn agreement he made with the king of Babylon and then refusing to obey it, since this violates what I expect.
 \v 20 It will be as though I will spread a net to capture him, and he will be caught in it. He will be captured and taken to Babylon and punished because he rebelled against me.
 \v 21 Most of his soldiers who try to escape will be killed by their enemies' swords, and those who survive will be scattered in all directions. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do."
 
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 24 And it will be as though all the trees in the field will know that I, Yahweh, get rid of tall trees and will make little ones grow. I cause big green trees to wither, and I cause dry trees to become green.
-\p I, Yahweh have said this, and I will certainly do what I have said that I will do."
+\p I, Yahweh, have said this, and I will certainly do what I have said that I will do."
 
 \s5
 \c 18
@@ -873,7 +873,7 @@
 \v 2 "You people quote this proverb and say that it is about Israel:
 \q1 'Parents eat sour grapes,
 \q2 but it is their children who have a very sour taste in their mouths.'
-\p This means that you think that you must suffer for the sins that your ancestors committed.
+\p This means that you think you must suffer for the sins your ancestors committed.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -893,7 +893,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 7 He does not mistreat people;
-\q2 if a person borrows money from him and gives him something to guarantee that he will pay the money back, this man always gives it back to that person before the sun goes down.
+\q2 if a person borrows money from him and gives him something to guarantee he will pay the money back, this man always gives it back to that person before the sun goes down.
 \q1 He does not rob people.
 \q2 He gives food to hungry people.
 \q2 He gives clothing to people who need clothes.
@@ -921,7 +921,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 12 He mistreats poor and needy people.
 \q1 He robs people.
-\q1 If someone gives him something to guarantee that he will pay back money that he has borrowed, the unrighteous man never gives it back to him before the sun goes down.
+\q1 If someone gives him something to guarantee he will pay back money he has borrowed, the unrighteous man never gives it back to him before the sun goes down.
 \q1 He seeks help from idols.
 \q1 He does other disgusting things.
 \q1
@@ -930,7 +930,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 14 But suppose that man has a son who sees all the sins that his father commits, but he himself does not do those things.
+\v 14 But suppose that man has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, but he himself does not do those things.
 \q1
 \v 15 The son does not eat meat sacrificed to idols on the hilltops.
 \q2 He does not request help from idols.
@@ -939,35 +939,35 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 16 He does not mistreat people.
-\q2 If he lends money to someone, he does not require that person to give him something to guarantee that he will pay the money back.
+\q2 If he lends money to someone, he does not require that person to give him something to guarantee he will pay the money back.
 \q1 He does not rob anyone.
 \q2 He gives food to those who need it.
 \q2 He gives clothes to those who need clothes.
 \q1
 \v 17 He does not commit sins, unlike his father,
 \q2 and does not charge interest when he lends money.
-\q1 He faithfully obeys all my laws.
-\m I will make sure that that person does not die for his father's sins; he will certainly stay alive.
+\q1 He faithfully obeys all of my laws.
+\m I will make sure that person does not die for his father's sins; he will certainly stay alive.
 
 \s5
-\v 18 But I will ensure that his father will die for the sins that he committed, because the father cheated and robbed people, and did other things that are evil.
+\v 18 But I will ensure that his father will die for the sins he committed because the father cheated and robbed people and did other evil things.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 19 If you ask, 'Why should the man's son not suffer for the evil things that his father did?', I will answer that the son has done what is fair and right and has obeyed all my laws, so he will surely remain alive.
-\v 20 It is those who sin who will die because of their sins. I will not punish people because their parents have sinned, or because their children have sinned. I will reward people who live rightly, and I will punish the wicked people, those who live wrongly.
+\v 19 If you ask, 'Why should the man's son not suffer for the evil things his father did?', I will answer that the son has done what is fair and right and has obeyed all my laws, so he will surely remain alive.
+\v 20 It is those who sin who will die because of their sins. I will not punish people because their parents have sinned or because their children have sinned. I will reward people who live rightly, and I will punish the wicked people, those who live wrongly.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 21 But if a wicked person stops doing all the evil things that he did previously, and if he starts to obey faithfully all my laws, and if he does what is fair and right, he will surely remain alive; I will not kill him.
-\v 22 I will not punish him for the sins he committed previously. Because of the good things that he has done since that time, I will allow him to stay alive.
+\v 21 But if a wicked person stops doing all the evil things he did previously, if he starts to faithfully obey all of my laws, and if he does what is fair and right, he will surely remain alive; I will not kill him.
+\v 22 I will not punish him for the sins he committed previously. Because of the good things he has done since that time, I will allow him to stay alive.
 
 \s5
 \v 23 I, Yahweh the Lord, declare that I certainly am not happy about wicked people dying. Instead, I am happy when they stop doing wicked things and remain alive as a result.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 24 But if a righteous person stops doing right things and starts to commit sins and does the same disgusting things that wicked people do, I will certainly not allow him to remain alive. I will not think about the righteous things that he did previously. Because he did not faithfully do what pleases me, and because of all the sins that he has committed, he will certainly die.
+\v 24 But if a righteous person stops doing right things and starts to commit sins and does the same disgusting things that wicked people do, I will certainly not allow him to remain alive. I will not think about the righteous things he did previously. Because he did not faithfully do what pleases me and because of all the sins he has committed, he will certainly die.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -976,12 +976,12 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 27 But if a wicked person turns away from doing wicked things and does what is just and right, he will save himself from dying.
-\v 28 Because he has thought about all the evil things that he did and has turned away from doing them, I will certainly allow him to live. I will not kill him.
+\v 28 Because he has thought about all the evil things he did and has turned away from doing them, I will certainly allow him to live. I will not kill him.
 
 \s5
-\v 29 But you, the Israelites, say that I do not act fairly. You people of Israel, I always actly fairly. It is you who are acting wickedly.
+\v 29 But you, the Israelites, say I do not act fairly. You people of Israel, I always act fairly. It is you who are acting wickedly.
 \p
-\v 30 Therefore, you Israelite people, I, Yahweh the Lord, will judge each of you according to what you have done. Repent! Turn away from all your wicked behavior! Then I will not destroy you because of the wrong things you have done.
+\v 30 Therefore, you Israelite people, I, Yahweh the Lord, will judge each of you according to what you have done. Repent! Turn away from all of your wicked behavior! Then I will not destroy you because of the wrong things you have done.
 
 \s5
 \v 31 Stop doing wicked things; start thinking in a new way. You Israelite people, do you really want me to kill you because you have sinned?
@@ -991,7 +991,7 @@
 \c 19
 \p
 \v 1 Yahweh said to me,
-\v 2 "Ezekiel, sing a sad funeral song which will be a parable about the leaders of Israel. Say to the Israelite people,
+\v 2 "Ezekiel, sing a sad funeral song that will be a parable about the leaders of Israel. Say to the Israelite people,
 \q1 'It is as though your mother had been a brave female lion
 \q2 who raised her cubs among other lions.
 \q1
@@ -1020,7 +1020,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 8 So people of other nations planned to kill him;
+\v 8 So people of other nations planned to kill him,
 \q2 and men came from many places
 \q1 to spread out a net for him.
 \q2 They caught him in it.
@@ -1034,10 +1034,10 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 10 'It is as though your mother
-\q2 were a grapevine fertilized in blood,
+\q2 were a grapevine fertilized in blood
 \q2 and growing up beside a stream.
 \q1 There was plenty of water,
-\q2 so it had lots of branches and produced a lot of grapes.
+\q2 so it had many branches and produced many grapes.
 \q1
 \v 11 That grapevine grew and became taller than all the nearby trees;
 \q2 everyone could see that it was very strong and healthy.
@@ -1047,15 +1047,15 @@
 \q1
 \v 12 But Yahweh became very angry,
 \q2 so he pulled up the vine by its roots
-\q1 and threw it on the ground,
-\q2 where the very hot winds from the desert dried up all its fruit.
+\q1 and threw it on the ground
+\q2 where the very hot winds from the desert dried up all of its fruit.
 \q1 The strong branches wilted and were burned in a fire.
 \q2
 \v 13 Now Yahweh has planted that vine in a hot, dry desert.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 14 A fire started to burn its stem,
+\v 14 A fire started to burn its stem
 \q2 and then started to burn the branches;
 \q1 it burned all the grapes.
 \q2 Now not even one strong branch remains;
@@ -1075,54 +1075,54 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 4 If you are willing to warn them, remind them of the disgusting things that their ancestors did.
-\v 5 Then say to them, 'On the day that I chose you Israelite people to belong to me, I made a solemn oath to your ancestors while they were still in Egypt.' I said to them, 'I am Yahweh, your God.
-\v 6 I will bring you out of Egypt and lead you to a land that I have chosen for you. It is the most fertile and beautiful land in the world.
+\v 5 Then say to them, 'On the day I chose you Israelite people to belong to me, I made a solemn oath to your ancestors while they were still in Egypt.' I said to them, 'I am Yahweh, your God.
+\v 6 I will bring you out of Egypt and lead you to a land I have chosen for you. It is the most fertile and beautiful land in the world.
 
 \s5
-\v 7 Each of you must get rid of the disgusting idols that you love, and the idols which you learned to worship in Egypt, and with which you made it impossible for me to accept you. I, Yahweh your God, am saying this to you.'
+\v 7 Each of you must get rid of the disgusting idols you love and the idols you learned to worship in Egypt and with which you made it impossible for me to accept you. I, Yahweh your God, am saying this to you.'
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 8 But they rebelled against me. They would not pay attention to me. They did not get rid of the disgusting idols they loved; they did not reject the idols that they saw in Egypt. So because I was angry with them, I said that I would punish them in Egypt.
+\v 8 But they rebelled against me. They would not pay attention to me. They did not get rid of the disgusting idols they loved; they did not reject the idols they saw in Egypt. So because I was angry with them, I said that I would punish them in Egypt.
 \v 9 But for the sake of my own reputation, I decided to do something for your people so that the other peoples would not laugh at me and say I had no power. I decided that they would see me bring my people out of Egypt.
 
 \s5
 \v 10 Therefore I led your people out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.
-\v 11 I gave them all my laws and decrees, in order that they would obey them, and as a result they would live for a long time.
-\v 12 Also, I established the Sabbath days to be a reminder between me and them, so they would know that I am Yahweh, the one who sets them apart for my honor.
+\v 11 I gave them all of my laws and decrees so that they would obey them and as a result they would live for a long time.
+\v 12 Also, I established the Sabbath days to be a reminder between me and them so they would know that I am Yahweh, the one who sets them apart for my honor.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 But the Israelite people rebelled against me in the wilderness also. They did not obey my commands; they rejected them, even though they would have lived a long time if they had obeyed them, and they treated the Sabbath days like any other day. So I said that I would destroy them in the wilderness, because that would show that I was very angry with them.
+\v 13 But the Israelite people rebelled against me in the wilderness also. They did not obey my commands; they rejected them, even though they would have lived a long time if they had obeyed them, and they treated the Sabbath days like any other day. So I said I would destroy them in the wilderness because that would show I was very angry with them.
 \v 14 But again, so that the other peoples would not laugh at me, I decided to do something in order to show those peoples that I was still as powerful as when they had seen me bring my people out of Egypt.
 
 \s5
-\v 15 I solemnly swore to your people in the wilderness that I would not take them into the land that I had promised to give them, a land that was the most fertile and beautiful land in the world.
-\v 16 I made this oath, because they had rejected and disobeyed all my laws, and because they were treating the Sabbath days like any other day. And they insisted on worshiping their idols.
+\v 15 I solemnly swore to your people in the wilderness that I would not take them into the land I had promised to give them—a land that was the most fertile and beautiful land in the world.
+\v 16 I made this oath because they had rejected and disobeyed all of my laws and because they were treating the Sabbath days like any other day. And they insisted on worshiping their idols.
 \v 17 But I still pitied them, so I did not destroy them in the wilderness.
 
 \s5
-\v 18 I said to their children, the next generation, 'Do not do the things that your parents always do. Do not worship their idols and so make it impossible for me to accept you.
+\v 18 I said to their children, the next generation, 'Do not do the things your parents always do. Do not worship their idols and so make it impossible for me to accept you.
 \v 19 I am Yahweh your God. Carefully obey my laws and commands.
-\v 20 Respect my Sabbath days, in order that by doing that, it will remind you that you belong to me.
+\v 20 Respect my Sabbath days so that by doing that, it will remind you that you belong to me.'
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 21 But their children also rebelled against me. They did not take care to obey my laws, even though anyone who obeys them will live for a long time; and they also treated the Sabbath days like any other day. So again I said that I would kill them all in the wilderness, and in this way I would stop being angry.
+\v 21 But their children also rebelled against me. They did not take care to obey my laws, even though anyone who obeys them will live for a long time; and they also treated the Sabbath days like any other day. So again I said I would kill them all in the wilderness, and in this way I would stop being angry.
 \v 22 But I did not do that. I decided once more to do something so that the other peoples, those that had seen me bring your people out of Egypt, would not laugh and say that I had lost my power.
 
 \s5
-\v 23 So I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among many peoples,
-\v 24 because they had rejected and disobeyed all my laws, and because they were treating the Sabbath days like any other day—and because they were eager to worship the idols that their parents had worshiped.
+\v 23 So I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among many peoples
+\v 24 because they had rejected and disobeyed all my laws and because they were treating the Sabbath days like any other day—and because they were eager to worship the idols that their parents had worshiped.
 
 \s5
 \v 25 So I also allowed them to obey laws that were not good, laws that would not help them live a long time.
-\v 26 I allowed them to do things that made it impossible for me to accept them: I allowed them to sacrifice their firstborn children in fire. I allowed them to do that in order that they would be horrified at themselves, and in order that they would know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
+\v 26 I allowed them to do things that made it impossible for me to accept them: I allowed them to sacrifice their firstborn children in fire. I allowed them to do that so that they would be horrified at themselves and so that they would know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 27 Therefore, son of man, speak to the Israelite people. Say this to them, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says to you: This is one way that your ancestors dishonored me by turning away from me.'
-\v 28 After I brought them into the land that I had sworn to give them, every time that they saw a high hill or a big green tree, they offered sacrifices to idols there. They made offerings to them, and that caused me to become angry. They presented to those idols their fragrant incense, and they poured out wine offerings to them.
+\v 27 Therefore, son of man, speak to the Israelite people. Say this to them: 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says to you: This is one way that your ancestors dishonored me by turning away from me.'
+\v 28 After I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them, every time they saw a high hill or a big green tree, they offered sacrifices to idols there. They made offerings to them, and that caused me to become angry. They presented to those idols their fragrant incense, and they poured out wine offerings to them.
 \v 29 Then I asked them, 'What is this hilltop place where you go to worship idols?' So they are still called Bamah, which means 'hilltop.'
 
 \s5
@@ -1130,16 +1130,16 @@
 \v 30 Therefore, say this to the Israelite people: 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: Why do you imitate your ancestors in acting in ways that make me unable to accept you? You act like prostitutes, leaving their husbands for other men. In the same way, you have left me to worship disgusting idols.
 \v 31 When you sacrifice your children in the fire, you make me unable to accept you. It is the same as when you bow down to your idols. You Israelite people, should I allow you to ask me to direct you in any matter? I, Yahweh the Lord, say that as surely as I am alive, I will not answer if you ask me.'
 \p
-\v 32 You say, 'We want to be like the other peoples in the world. We want to worship idols made of wood and stone like they do.' But what you want will never happen.'
+\v 32 You say, 'We want to be like the other peoples in the world. We want to worship idols made of wood and stone as they do.' But what you want will never happen.
 
 \s5
-\v 33 I, Yahweh your Lord, say that as surely as I am alive, I will use my great power to rule over you, and to show that I am angry with you.
+\v 33 I, Yahweh your Lord, say that as surely as I am alive, I will use my great power to rule over you and to show that I am angry with you.
 \v 34 With my great power I will gather you from the places to which I scattered you.
 \v 35 I will bring you to a wilderness that is surrounded by other nations. There, while I am looking at you, I will judge you.
 
 \s5
 \v 36 I will punish you, as I punished your ancestors in the wilderness near Egypt.
-\v 37 I will make you submit to me; I will force you to obey the covenant that I made with you.
+\v 37 I will make you submit to me; I will force you to obey the covenant I made with you.
 \v 38 I will destroy the people among you who rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of Babylonia, where they are now living, they will not enter Israel. Then you will know that it is I, Yahweh, who have the power to do what I say that I will do.
 
 \s5
@@ -1147,24 +1147,24 @@
 \v 39 As for you Israelite people, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: Go and worship your idols now, each of you. But afterwards, you will surely pay attention to me and no longer dishonor me by taking gifts to your idols.
 
 \s5
-\v 40 I, Yahweh your Lord, declare that there on my sacred hill, Zion, that high hill in Israel, you will bring gifts to me, and I will accept them. I will require you to bring to me gifts and offerings there, and your sacrifices that you will set apart for me.
+\v 40 I, Yahweh your Lord, declare that there on my sacred hill, Zion, that high hill in Israel, you will bring gifts to me, and I will accept them. I will require you to bring to me gifts and offerings there and your sacrifices that you will set apart for me.
 \v 41 When I bring you out from the other nations to which you have been scattered, I will accept you as though you were fragrant incense. I will show the people of other nations that I have set myself apart as holy, that I might be honored.
 
 \s5
 \v 42 Then, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land that I swore to give to your ancestors, you will know that I, Yahweh, have done it.
-\v 43 And there in Israel you will remember how you conducted your lives previously, the actions that caused you to become unacceptable to me, and you will hate yourselves for all the evil things that you have done.
-\v 44 When I act toward you Israelite people to protect my reputation, and not because of your evil deeds and corrupt behavior, you Israelite people will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do. That is what Yahweh the Lord declares."
+\v 43 And there in Israel you will remember how you conducted your lives previously—the actions that caused you to become unacceptable to me, and you will hate yourselves for all the evil things you have done.
+\v 44 When I act toward you Israelite people to protect my reputation and not because of your evil deeds and corrupt behavior, you Israelite people will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do. That is what Yahweh the Lord declares."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 45 Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
 \v 46 "Son of man, turn toward the south. Preach about what will happen to that dry land, to the forest there.
-\v 47 Say to the forest in the southern wilderness of Israel: Listen to this message that Yahweh the Lord is saying about you: I am about to start a fire in your midst, and it will burn up all your trees, both the green trees and the withered trees. Nothing will extinguish the blazing flames. And the fire will scorch the faces of everyone who lives in that area, from the south to the north.
+\v 47 Say to the forest in the southern wilderness of Israel: Listen to this message that Yahweh the Lord is saying about you: I am about to start a fire in your midst, and it will burn up all of your trees, both the green trees and the withered trees. Nothing will extinguish the blazing flames. And the fire will scorch the faces of everyone who lives in that area, from the south to the north.
 
 \s5
 \v 48 Everyone will see that it is I, Yahweh, who have lit this fire, and no one will be able to put it out."
 \p
-\v 49 Then I said, "Yahweh, my Lord, when I tell things like this to people, they do not believe me. They say about me, 'He is only telling parables.'"
+\v 49 Then I said, "Yahweh my Lord, when I tell things like this to people, they do not believe me. They say about me, 'He is only telling parables.'"
 
 \s5
 \c 21
@@ -1180,7 +1180,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 6 Therefore, Son of man, groan! Groan in front of the Israelite people very sadly and sorrowfully.
-\v 7 And when they ask you, 'Why are you groaning?' tell them that it is because of the news that they soon will hear. Everyone will be very fearful, and their hands will tremble uncontrollably, while their knees become as weak as water. A great disaster will soon occur. This is what Yahweh the Lord is promising."
+\v 7 And when they ask you, 'Why are you groaning?' tell them that it is because of the news that they soon will hear. Everyone will be very fearful, and their hands will tremble uncontrollably while their knees become as weak as water. A great disaster will soon occur. This is what Yahweh the Lord is promising."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1191,7 +1191,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 10 It will be sharp in order that I can slaughter many people with it;
+\v 10 It will be sharp so that I can slaughter many people with it;
 \q2 I will polish it so that it will flash like lightning.
 \q1 The people of Judah will not celebrate about their king's scepter,
 \q2 because it will not resist the sword that is coming against it.
@@ -1219,23 +1219,23 @@
 \v 14 So, Son of man, prophesy;
 \q2 clap your hands to show that you are very sad about what is going to happen.
 \q1 My sword will strike my people again and again;
-\q1 it is a sword for slaughtering many people,
+\q1 it is a sword for slaughtering many people
 \q2 while I attack them from every side.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 15 In order that people will be very much afraid
-\q2 and that many people will die,
+\v 15 So that people will be very much afraid
+\q2 and so that many people will die,
 \q1 I have placed soldiers at every city gate,
 \q2 ready to slaughter people.
-\q1 My sword will flash like lightning,
+\q1 My sword will flash like lightning
 \q2 as the soldiers slaughter the people.
 \q1
 \v 16 I will tell my sword to slash to the right
-\q2 and then to the left,
+\q2 and then to the left
 \q2 and to turn in every direction until no one remains alive.
 \q1
-\v 17 Then I will clap my hands triumphantly;
+\v 17 Then I will clap my hands triumphantly,
 \q2 and then I will no longer be angry.
 \q1 That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, have said it.'"
 
@@ -1246,44 +1246,44 @@
 \v 20 If they take one of those roads, they will attack the city of Rabbah, the capital of the Ammon people. If they take the other road, they will come to Judah and Jerusalem, a city with walls around it.
 
 \s5
-\v 21 When the army of Babylon comes to where the road divides, the army will stop, while the king performs magic rituals to decide which road to go on. He will throw arrows; then he will consult his idols about which road to go on, and he will examine the liver of a sheep.
-\v 22 With his right hand he will pick up the arrow marked with the name of Jerusalem. He will then command his soldiers to go to Jerusalem. When they arrive there, they will set up rams to batter down the walls, and then the king will give the command for them to slaughter the people. They will shout the battlecry, and they will set up the rams against the city gates. They will build a dirt ramp against the walls around the city, and set walls against the city.
+\v 21 When the army of Babylon comes to where the road divides, the army will stop while the king performs magic rituals to decide which road to go on. He will throw arrows, then he will consult his idols about which road to go on, and he will examine the liver of a sheep.
+\v 22 With his right hand he will pick up the arrow marked with the name of Jerusalem. He will then command his soldiers to go to Jerusalem. When they arrive there, they will set up rams to batter down the walls, and then the king will give the command for them to slaughter the people. They will shout the battle cry, and they will set up the rams against the city gates. They will build a dirt ramp against the walls around the city and set walls against the city.
 \v 23 The people in Jerusalem who had promised to be loyal to the king of Babylonia will think that those magic rituals must be wrong. They will think that his army should not be attacking them. But he will remind them of the disloyalty of which they are guilty, and he will say that they have violated their agreement with him.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 24 Therefore, tell the Israelite people that this is what Yahweh the Lord says: 'You people have allowed everyone to see that you are openly rebelling against the king of Babylonia, and by doing that you have shown that everything that you do is sinful. Therefore he will capture you and take you to Babylonia.'
+\v 24 Therefore, tell the Israelite people that this is what Yahweh the Lord says: 'You people have allowed everyone to see that you are openly rebelling against the king of Babylonia, and by doing that you have shown that everything you do is sinful. Therefore he will capture you and take you to Babylonia.'
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 25 Also, say to the king of Judah, 'You very wicked king of Israel, it is your time to die. It is the time for Yahweh to punish you.'
 \v 26 And this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say to you about your king in Jerusalem, 'Take off the king's turban and his crown, because now things will be different than they were before. I will give power to those who had none, and I will disgrace those who had power.
-\v 27 I will cause the Babylonians to destroy everything. No one will be king of Judah again, not until the man comes who deserves to be king. Then I will make him become king.'
+\v 27 I will cause the Babylonians to destroy everything. No one will be king of Judah again—not until the man comes who deserves to be king. Then I will make him become king.'
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 28 And, Son of man, prophesy and say that this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say about the Ammon people, and about how I will disgrace them:
+\v 28 And, son of man, prophesy and say that this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say about the Ammon people and about how I will disgrace them:
 \q1 'My soldiers have swords
 \q2 and they have pulled out those swords to slaughter many people.
-\q1 They have polished them in order to kill people,
+\q1 They have polished them in order to kill people
 \q2 and to flash like lightning.
 \q1
 \v 29 Your Ammonite prophets have given you false visions about what will happen to you,
 \q2 and they have held useless ceremonies that give you false messages.
 \q1 So swords will strike the necks of those wicked people.
-\q2 The day when I punish them has come,
+\q2 The day when I punish them has come
 \q2 because they have not been loyal to me.'
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 30 But later the soldiers of Babylon will have to put their swords back into their sheaths,
+\v 30 But later, the soldiers of Babylon will have to put their swords back into their sheaths
 \q2 because the time for them to slaughter their enemies will end.
 \q2 I will judge these Babylonians in the country where they were born.
 \q1
 \v 31 I will pour out my punishment on them.
 \q1 Because I am very angry with them,
 \q2 my breath on them will scorch them like a fire.
-\q1 I will allow brutal men to capture them,
+\q1 I will allow brutal men to capture them—
 \q2 men who are experts at killing people.
 
 \s5
@@ -1297,12 +1297,12 @@
 \c 22
 \p
 \v 1 Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
-\v 2 "Son of man, are you ready to condemn the people of Jerusalem? It is a city full of murderers. Remind them of all the detestable things that they have done.
-\v 3 Then say, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: By murdering people and by defiling yourselves, by making idols, you people of this city have brought on yourselves the time when I will destroy you.
+\v 2 "Son of man, are you ready to condemn the people of Jerusalem? It is a city full of murderers. Remind them of all the detestable things they have done.
+\v 3 Then say, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: By murdering people and by defiling yourselves by making idols, you people of this city have brought on yourselves the time when I will destroy you.
 
 \s5
-\v 4 You have become guilty by murdering innocent people. You have made it impossible for me to accept you, by making idols for yourselves. You are bringing your time to an end. Therefore I will cause the other peoples to laugh at you and mock you.
-\v 5 People in countries that are near you and people who live far from you will make fun of you, because your city is full of confusion, and because you have made it impossible for me, your own God, to accept you.
+\v 4 You have become guilty by murdering innocent people. By making idols for yourselves, you have made it impossible for me to accept you. You are bringing your time to an end. Therefore I will cause the other peoples to laugh at you and mock you.
+\v 5 People in countries that are near you and people who live far from you will make fun of you because your city is full of confusion and because you have made it impossible for me, your own God, to accept you.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1312,13 +1312,13 @@
 \v 9 Among you are men who tell lies in order to cause others to be executed. There are those who go to the hilltops and eat food offered to idols, and they openly perform evil acts.
 
 \s5
-\v 10 There are men who sleep with their father's wife, and men who sleep with women during their monthly menstrual periods.
+\v 10 There are men who sleep with their father's wife and men who sleep with women during their monthly menstrual periods.
 \v 11 There are men who sleep with someone else's wife. Some of your men sleep with their daughters-in-law or with their own sisters or half-sisters.
 \v 12 There are among you men who accept bribes in order to cause someone to be executed. You charge interest when you lend people money. You become rich by forcing people to give you money. And you have forgotten me, Yahweh.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 So I will shake my fist at your unfair profits and at the murderers who live among you.
+\v 13 So I will shake my fist at your dishonest profits and at the murderers who live among you.
 \v 14 When I finish punishing you, you will no longer be courageous. I, Yahweh, have said what I will do to you, and I will do it.
 \v 15 I will scatter you among many peoples, and I will make you stop your sinful behavior.
 \v 16 When the people of other nations see that you have been humiliated, you will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.'"
@@ -1326,7 +1326,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 17 Yahweh then said to me,
-\v 18 "Son of man, your Israelite people have become useless to me. They are like dross to me. They are like the useless copper, tin, iron, and lead that remains after silver is melted in a very hot furnace
+\v 18 "Son of man, your Israelite people have become useless to me. They are like dross to me. They are like the useless copper, tin, iron, and lead that remains after silver is melted in a very hot furnace.
 \v 19 Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: Because you have all become like dross, I will gather you in Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
@@ -1338,11 +1338,11 @@
 \p
 \v 23 Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
 \v 24 "Son of man, say to the Israelite people, 'You are disgusting to Yahweh, completely unacceptable to him. So Yahweh is angry with you. There will be no rain in your country.'
-\v 25 Their leaders are like lions that tear apart the animals that they have killed. The leaders destroy their people. They steal treasures and other valuable things from people, and they murder many men and make their wives into widows.
+\v 25 Their leaders are like lions that tear apart the animals they have killed. The leaders destroy their people. They steal treasures and other valuable things from people, and they murder many men and make their wives into widows.
 
 \s5
-\v 26 Their priests disobey my laws and dishonor my sacred things by saying that there is no difference between things that are sacred and those that are not sacred, and by ignoring my laws about resting on the Sabbath days. As a result, they no longer honor me.
-\v 27 Their officials are like wolves that tear apart the animals that they have killed. They murder people in order to get their money.
+\v 26 Their priests disobey my laws and dishonor my sacred things by saying that there is no difference between things that are sacred and those that are not sacred and by ignoring my laws about resting on the Sabbath days. As a result, they no longer honor me.
+\v 27 Their officials are like wolves that tear apart the animals they have killed. They murder people in order to get their money.
 \v 28 Their prophets try to cover up those sins by saying they have received visions from God. They say, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says,' when I have said nothing to them.
 
 \s5
@@ -1351,7 +1351,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 30 I looked among them to find a man who would pray for the people and cause them to repent so that I would not need to destroy them. But I did not find anyone.
-\v 31 So because I am very angry with them, I will severely punish them for all the wicked things that they have done. That will surely happen because I, Yahweh the Lord, have said it."
+\v 31 So because I am very angry with them, I will severely punish them for all the wicked things they have done. That will surely happen because I, Yahweh the Lord, have said it."
 
 \s5
 \c 23
@@ -1371,7 +1371,7 @@
 \v 8 When she was a young woman in Egypt, she started being a prostitute, and she allowed young men to caress her breasts and have sex with her. When she became older, she did not quit acting like a prostitute.
 \p
 \v 9 So I allowed the Assyrian soldiers, whom she wanted to sleep with, to capture her.
-\v 10 They stripped all her clothes off her. They took away her sons and daughters. And then they killed her with a sword. Other women started talking about how she was disgraced, and about how she deserved to suffer.
+\v 10 They stripped all of her clothes off her. They took away her sons and daughters. And then they killed her with a sword. Other women started talking about how she was disgraced and about how she deserved to suffer.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1394,15 +1394,15 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 20 There she wanted to sleep with those who loved her, whose private parts were very long, like those of donkeys, and whose reproductive emissions were huge, like those of horses.
-\v 21 So she desired to be immoral like she was when she was young, when men in Egypt caressed her bosom and fondled her young breasts.
+\v 21 So she desired to be immoral as she was when she was young, when men in Egypt caressed her bosom and fondled her young breasts.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 22 Oholibah represents you people of Jerusalem. Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord say: Those soldiers who loved you but from whom you turned away because you became disgusted with them—I will make them angry with you. I will make them come and attack you from every side—
-\v 23 soldiers from Babylon and all the other places in Babylonia, and their allies from the regions of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the army of Assyria. Yes, all of them are handsome young men, army officers and commanders, officers who have great fame, all riding on horses.
+\v 23 soldiers from Babylon and all the other places in Babylonia, their allies from the regions of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the army of Assyria. Yes, all of them are handsome young men, army officers and commanders, officers who have great fame, all riding on horses.
 
 \s5
-\v 24 Their huge army will attack you with weapons, riding in chariots and pulling wagons that will carry the army supplies. They will surround you, carrying large and small shields, and wearing helmets. I will allow them to capture you and punish you in the way that they always punish their enemies.
+\v 24 Their huge army will attack you with weapons, riding in chariots and pulling wagons that will carry the army supplies. They will surround you, carrying large and small shields and wearing helmets. I will allow them to capture you and punish you in the way that they always punish their enemies.
 \v 25 Because I am very angry with you, I will cause them to act furiously toward you. They will cut off your noses and your ears. Then, those who are still alive, they will kill with their swords. They will take away your sons and daughters, and it will be like a fire that burns up your descendants.
 
 \s5
@@ -1411,11 +1411,11 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 28 This is what I, Yahweh the Lord say: Those whom you hate, those with whom you became disgusted and from whom you turned away—I am about to allow them to capture you.
-\v 29 They will be cruel; they will take away everything that you own. They will leave you completely naked, and everyone will see that you truly are a prostitute.
+\v 28 This is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: Those whom you hate, those with whom you became disgusted and from whom you turned away—I am about to allow them to capture you.
+\v 29 They will be cruel; they will take away everything you own. They will leave you completely naked, and everyone will see that you truly are a prostitute.
 
 \s5
-\v 30 It is because of what you have done that you will be punished in that way; you have been an immoral prostitute; you have slept with men of other nations, and you have made it impossible for me to accept you, because you have worshiped their idols.
+\v 30 It is because of what you have done that you will be punished in that way; you have been an immoral prostitute; you have slept with men of other nations, and you have made it impossible for me to accept you because you have worshiped their idols.
 \v 31 You have behaved like the people of Samaria, who are like your older sister. So I will cause you to be punished as they were punished.
 
 \s5
@@ -1426,7 +1426,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 33 When you become very drunk, you will become very sad,
+\v 33 When you become very drunk, you will become very sad
 \q2 because drinking what is in that cup will cause you to be ruined; everyone will leave you.
 \q2 This is what happened to the people of Samaria, who are like your sister.
 \q1
@@ -1445,7 +1445,7 @@
 \v 37 It is as though they have committed adultery and have murdered people. They have been unfaithful to me by worshiping idols. They have even sacrificed their own children, who belonged to me, in fire.
 
 \s5
-\v 38 They have done other disgraceful things: they have caused my temple to be an unacceptable place for worship, and they treat the Sabbath days like any other day.
+\v 38 They have done other disgraceful things: They have caused my temple to be an unacceptable place for worship, and they treat the Sabbath days like any other day.
 \v 39 On the same day that they sacrificed their children to their idols, they entered my temple, which caused it to be an unacceptable place for worshiping me. They did these things in my own house!
 
 \s5
@@ -1458,9 +1458,9 @@
 \v 42 Soon there was a noisy crowd around them. Among the crowd there were drunkards who had come from the desert of Arabia. They put bracelets on the arms of the two sisters, and they put beautiful crowns on their heads.
 
 \s5
-\v 43 Then I said about the woman who had become exhausted by sleeping with many men, 'Now those men will act toward her as though she were a prostitute, because that is all that she is.'
+\v 43 Then I said about the woman who had become exhausted by sleeping with many men, 'Now those men will act toward her as though she were a prostitute because that is all she is.'
 \v 44 So they slept with those two women, Oholah and Oholibah, as men sleep with prostitutes.
-\v 45 But righteous men will condemn them to be punished, as women who commit adultery and who murder others are punished, because those women commit adultery and they murder others.
+\v 45 But righteous men will condemn them to be punished, as women who commit adultery and who murder others are punished, because those women commit adultery, and they murder others.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1487,13 +1487,13 @@
 \q2 put in the leg and shoulder, which are the best pieces.
 \q1 Then fill the rest of the pot with the best bones.
 \q1
-\v 5 Pile wood on the fire,
+\v 5 Pile wood on the fire
 \q2 and cook the bones and the meat in the boiling water.'
 
 \s5
 \m
 \v 6 Do that because this is what Yahweh the Lord says:
-\q1 'Terrible things will happen to Jerusalem; it is city that is full of murderers,
+\q1 'Terrible things will happen to Jerusalem; it is a city that is full of murderers—
 \q2 a city that is like a corroded copper pot,
 \q2 and the corrosion cannot be removed.
 \q1 Take the pieces of meat out of the pot,
@@ -1503,11 +1503,11 @@
 \q1
 \v 7 The blood of the people who were murdered in Jerusalem is still there;
 \q1 they were murdered on the bare rocks,
-\q2 not on the soil, where their blood could be covered.
+\q2 not on the soil where their blood could be covered.
 \q1
-\v 8 But I am the one who caused the blood of those who were murdered to be smeared on the bare rock,
+\v 8 But I am the one who caused the blood of those who were murdered to be smeared on the bare rock
 \q2 where their blood could not be covered;
-\q2 I did that in order that I could see it and then be angry and get revenge.'
+\q2 I did that so that I could see it and then be angry and get revenge.'
 
 \s5
 \m
@@ -1524,7 +1524,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 11 Then set the empty pot on the coals of the fire
-\q2 until the pot becomes very hot and the copper glows,
+\q2 until the pot becomes very hot and the copper glows
 \q1 so that the corrosion will disappear.
 \q1
 \v 12 It is as though I tried to get rid of that corrosion,
@@ -1541,9 +1541,9 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 15 One day Yahweh gave me this message:
-\v 16 "Son of man, I am going to suddenly take from you your wife by means of a disease, your wife, whom you love very much. But when she dies, do not show that you are sad or lament or cry.
-\v 17 Groan quietly; do not cry openly for her. Keep your turban wrapped around your head, and instead of being barefoot, keep your sandals on your feet. Do not cover the lower part of your face to show that you are sad. And do not eat the kind of food that people who are mourning usually eat."
+\v 15 One day, Yahweh gave me this message:
+\v 16 "Son of man, I am going to suddenly take from you your wife by means of a disease—your wife whom you love very much. But when she dies, do not show that you are sad or lament or cry.
+\v 17 Groan quietly; do not cry openly for her. Keep your turban wrapped around your head, and instead of being barefoot, keep your sandals on your feet. Do not cover the lower part of your face to show you are sad. And do not eat the kind of food that people who are mourning usually eat."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1554,12 +1554,12 @@
 \v 19 Then the people asked me, "What do the things that you are doing signify to us?"
 \p
 \v 20 I answered them, "This is what Yahweh told me:
-\v 21 'Tell the Israelite people that I am about to destroy the temple, the building that you are very proud of, the building that you delight to look at. Your children whom you left in Jerusalem when you were forced to come to Babylon—your enemies will kill them.
+\v 21 'Tell the Israelite people that I am about to destroy the temple—the building you are very proud of, the building you delight to look at. Your children whom you left in Jerusalem when you were forced to come to Babylon—your enemies will kill them.
 
 \s5
-\v 22 When that happens, you will do as I have done: You will not cover the lower part of your faces, or eat the kinds of food that people who are mourning usually eat.
+\v 22 When that happens, you will do as I have done: You will not cover the lower part of your faces or eat the kinds of food that people who are mourning usually eat.
 \v 23 You will keep your turbans wrapped around your heads and keep your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or cry, but your bodies will become very thin and slowly die; I will not forgive your sins at all. And you will groan for each other.
-\v 24 Ezekiel will be a warning to you, and you must do what he has done. When that happens, you will know that I, Yahweh the Lord have the power to do what I say that I will do.'"
+\v 24 Ezekiel will be a warning to you, and you must do what he has done. When that happens, you will know that I, Yahweh the Lord, have the power to do what I say that I will do.'"
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1606,8 +1606,8 @@
 \s5
 \c 26
 \p
-\v 1 It was almost eleven years after the Babylonians had taken the Israelites to their land, on the first day of the month, Yahweh gave me another message. He said to me,
-\v 2 "Son of man, the people of the city of Tyre shouted joyfully and they said about Jerusalem, 'Jerusalem, the city from which traders went to many nations, is now destroyed. Now people from all over the world will come to us to buy and sell things. We will proper because Jerusalem has now been ruined!'
+\v 1 Almost eleven years after the Babylonians had taken the Israelites to their land, on the first day of the month, Yahweh gave me another message. He said to me,
+\v 2 "Son of man, the people of the city of Tyre shouted joyfully and said about Jerusalem, 'Jerusalem, the city from which traders went to many nations, is now destroyed. Now people from all over the world will come to us to buy and sell things. We will prosper because Jerusalem has now been ruined!'
 
 \s5
 \v 3 Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: 'I am now your enemy, you people of Tyre. I will cause the armies of many nations to come and attack your city, as the waves of the sea beat against the shores.
@@ -1623,9 +1623,9 @@
 \v 8 In the battles in the small villages on the coast, their soldiers will kill many people with their swords. Then they will build up walls outside the city of Tyre. They will build a dirt ramp up to the top of the wall, and they will all hold up shields to protect themselves from arrows being shot from the ground.
 
 \s5
-\v 9 The king will direct the soldiers who operate the rams to batter the wall, and those who will use iron bars to tear down the towers in the wall.
+\v 9 The king will direct the soldiers who operate the rams to batter the wall and those who will use iron bars to tear down the towers in the wall.
 \v 10 The king will have a huge number of horses, and the stamping of their hooves will raise dust to cover the whole city. It will be as though the walls tremble because of the noise made by the horses, the supply wagons, and the chariots when they enter the city where the enemy has broken down the walls.
-\v 11 The horses will trample all of the streets of the city with their hooves. The soldiers will kill the people with their swords; they will cause the monuments that celebrated their strength to collapse.
+\v 11 The horses will trample all the streets of the city with their hooves. The soldiers will kill the people with their swords; they will cause the monuments that celebrated their strength to collapse.
 
 \s5
 \v 12 They will take away all the people's valuable possessions and steal the things that the merchants sell. They will tear down the walls of the houses and destroy their fine houses. Then they will throw into the sea the stones from the walls of those houses and the timber and the rubble.
@@ -1650,7 +1650,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 19 This is also what the Lord Yahweh says: 'When I cause everyone to leave the city of Tyre, like people have left other cities in which no one lives any longer, and when I cause the huge waves of the sea to cover the city,
+\v 19 This is also what the Lord Yahweh says: 'When I cause everyone to leave the city of Tyre—as people have left other cities in which no one lives any longer, and when I cause the huge waves of the sea to cover the city,
 \v 20 then I will bring the people of that city down to be with everyone else who is dead, those who died long ago. I will cause them to live in the place below the earth that is like old ruins, with those who have gone down to that pit previously, and they will never return to the earth, to where people are alive.
 \v 21 I will cause them to die in a horrible way, and that will be the end of them. People will search for that city, but it will no longer exist." This is what the Lord Yahweh declares will happen.
 
@@ -1679,18 +1679,20 @@
 \q1
 \v 7 You made the sails from fine embroidered linen from Egypt;
 \q2 those sails were like flags that people could see far away.
+\q1 For shade they hung pieces of blue and purple cloth
+\q2 brought from people living on the coastlands of Elishah.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 8 Men from the cities of Sidon and Arvad pulled your oars;
 \q2 the men who steered the ship were experienced sailors from Tyre.
 \q1
-\v 9 Experienced craftsmen from Gebal were on board. They caulked the seams of your ships.
+\v 9 Experienced craftsmen from Byblos were on board. They caulked the seams of your ships.
 \q2 Sailors from many countries came in their ships to buy and sell goods with you.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 10 Men who came from the far away lands of Persia, Lud, and Put were soldiers in your army.
+\v 10 Men who came from the faraway lands of Persia, Lud, and Put were soldiers in your army.
 \q1 They hung their shields and helmets on the walls of your city;
 \q2 this caused many people to admire your city.
 \q1
@@ -1701,7 +1703,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 12 Because of the many things that you had to trade, men from Tarshish sent merchants who brought silver, iron, tin, and lead to trade for things that you had.
+\v 12 Because of the many things you had to trade, men from Tarshish sent merchants who brought silver, iron, tin, and lead to trade for things that you had.
 \p
 \v 13 Merchants from the regions of Greece, Tubal, and Meshech brought slaves and things made from bronze to trade for things that you had.
 
@@ -1715,7 +1717,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 16 Because you had very many things to trade, people from the land of Aram brought to you valuable turquoise stones, purple cloth, embroidered cloth, fine linen cloth, and jewelry made from coral and rubies to you.
+\v 16 Because you had very many things to trade, people from the land of Aram brought to you valuable turquoise stones, purple cloth, embroidered cloth, fine linen cloth, and jewelry made from coral and rubies.
 \p
 \v 17 Men from Judah and Israel brought wheat from the city of Minnith in Ammon, and cakes, honey, olive oil, and ointment to trade for your things.
 \p
@@ -1733,10 +1735,10 @@
 \p
 \v 22 Merchants from Sheba and Raamah in Arabia brought many kinds of very good spices and jewels and gold to exchange for things that you had.
 \p
-\v 23 Men came from Haran, Kanneh, Eden, Sheba, Ashur and Kilmad in Mesopotamia with their goods.
+\v 23 Men came from Haran, Kanneh, Eden, Sheba, Ashur,and Kilmad in Mesopotamia with their goods.
 
 \s5
-\v 24 They brought beautiful things to trade with you: Blue cloth, embroidered cloth, and rugs of many colors that were rolled up and tied with ropes.
+\v 24 They brought beautiful things to trade with you: blue cloth, embroidered cloth, and rugs of many colors that were rolled up and tied with ropes.
 \q1
 \v 25 Cargo ships from Tarshish carried all those things that you sold;
 \q2 the warehouses on your island were full of all those things and brought you great honor.
@@ -1750,7 +1752,7 @@
 \q2 all the valuable cargo and many of the sailors and ship pilots,
 \q1 the ship workers and merchants and soldiers.
 \q1 On the day that the ships were wrecked,
-\q2 all their crews sank to the bottom of the sea.
+\q2 all of their crews sank to the bottom of the sea.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -1772,7 +1774,7 @@
 \q1 They weep for you very bitterly
 \q2 and mourn for you.
 \q1
-\v 32 While they wail and mourn because of what has happened to you
+\v 32 While they wail and mourn because of what has happened to you,
 \q2 they sing this sad funeral song:
 \q1 'There was certainly never a city like Tyre,
 \q2 which now is silent,
@@ -1786,7 +1788,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 34 But now your city is like a ship wrecked in the sea;
-\q2 and everything in it is broken, and it is now at the bottom of the sea.
+\q2 everything in it is broken, and it is now at the bottom of the sea.
 \q1 All of your cargo and your sailors have sunk to the bottom of the sea.
 \q1
 \v 35 All the people who live along the seacoast are appalled
@@ -1802,10 +1804,10 @@
 \s5
 \c 28
 \p
-\v 1 Then Yahweh gave me another message. He said:
+\v 1 Then Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
 \v 2 "Son of man, give to the king of Tyre this message from me, Yahweh the Lord:
-\q1 'You have very proudly claimed that you are a god,
-\q2 and that you are untouchable, since you sit on a throne in a city on an island in the sea!
+\q1 'You have very proudly claimed that you are a god
+\q2 and that you are untouchable since you sit on a throne in a city on an island in the sea!
 \q1 You boast that you are a god,
 \q2 but you are in reality only a man, not a god.
 \q1
@@ -1825,11 +1827,11 @@
 \v 6 Therefore, Yahweh the Lord says that
 \q1 because you think that you are as wise as a god,
 \q2
-\v 7 he will bring a foreign army to attack your country,
+\v 7 he will bring a foreign army to attack your country—
 \q2 an army that causes other nations to be terrified.
-\q1 They will pull out their swords to strike you,
+\q1 They will pull out their swords to strike you—
 \q2 you who think that you have marvelous wisdom,
-\q1 and they will ruin all your beautiful things and make them ugly.
+\q1 and they will ruin all of your beautiful things and make them ugly.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -1842,7 +1844,7 @@
 \q1 because they will know that you are not a god;
 \q2 you are only a man.
 \q1
-\v 10 You will die like other people die, those who are unacceptable to God,
+\v 10 You will die as other people die—those who are unacceptable to God,
 \q2 those whom foreigners kill. That will surely happen because Yahweh has said it.'"
 
 \s5
@@ -1852,11 +1854,11 @@
 \q1 'You were completely perfect,
 \q2 extremely wise and handsome.
 \q1
-\v 13 You had a wonderful life, because you were in my beautiful garden in Eden.
+\v 13 You had a wonderful life because you were in my beautiful garden in Eden.
 \q2 Your clothes were decorated with many kinds of very valuable stones—
 \q1 ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and beryl stones.
 \q2 Those stones were set in gold mountings
-\q2 which I prepared for you on the day that I created you.
+\q2 that I prepared for you on the day I created you.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -1864,8 +1866,8 @@
 \q1 I placed you on my holy mountain,
 \q2 and you walked among fiery stones.
 \q1
-\v 15 You were completely good in all that you did
-\q2 from the day that you were created,
+\v 15 You were completely good in all you did
+\q2 from the day you were created
 \q2 until you started to do wicked things.
 
 \s5
@@ -1881,7 +1883,7 @@
 \q2 because you were very handsome.
 \q1 Because you loved beautiful things,
 \q2 you did things that wise people do not do.
-\q1 So I threw you to the ground,
+\q1 So I threw you to the ground
 \q2 and allowed other kings who saw you to laugh at you.
 
 \s5
@@ -1908,7 +1910,7 @@
 \q2 By what I do to you,
 \q1 I will show you how great I am,
 \q2 and you will know that it is Yahweh who punishes you and judges you with justice.
-\q2 You will know that I am different from you, and that I will be honored by what I do to you!
+\q2 You will know that I am different from you and that I will be honored by what I do to you!
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -1929,38 +1931,38 @@
 \c 29
 \p
 \v 1 Almost ten years after the Babylonians had taken us Israelites to their land, on the twelfth day of the tenth month of that year, Yahweh gave me another message. He said to me,
-\v 2 "Son of man, turn toward Egypt and proclaim the terrible things that will happen to the king of Egypt and all his people.
+\v 2 "Son of man, turn toward Egypt and proclaim the terrible things that will happen to the king of Egypt and all of his people.
 \v 3 Give the king this message from me, for I am Yahweh the Lord:
-\q1 'Know this, Pharaoh, king of Egypt that I, Yahweh, am your enemy.
+\q1 'Know this, Pharaoh king of Egypt, that I, Yahweh, am your enemy.
 \q2 You are like a great monster that lies in the streams of the Nile River.
-\q1 You are so bold to say that the Nile River is yours,
+\q1 You are so bold to say that the Nile River is yours
 \q2 and that you made it for yourself.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 4 But it will be as though I will put hooks in your jaws
-\q1 and drag you out onto the land,
+\q1 and drag you out onto the land
 \q2 with fish sticking to your scales.
 \q1
 \v 5 I will leave you and all those fish to die in the desert;
 \q2 you will fall to the ground,
-\q1 and no one will pick up your corpse to bury you,
+\q1 and no one will pick up your corpse to bury you
 \q2 because I declare that your body will be food for the wild animals and birds.
 
 \s5
 \m
 \v 6 When that happens, all the people of Egypt will know that it is I, Yahweh, who have the power to do what I say that I will do.
 \p The Israelite people have trusted that you would help them. But you have been like a reed pole in their hands.
-\v 7 And when they leaned on that pole, it broke and tore open their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you were like a pole that broke in their hand, and as a result you caused their legs to be wrenched and that made it impossible for them to stand.'
+\v 7 And when they leaned on that pole, it broke and tore open their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you were like a pole that broke in their hand, and as a result you caused their legs to be wrenched, and that made it impossible for them to stand.'
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 8 Therefore Yahweh the Lord says, 'I will bring Egypt's enemies to attack them with their swords; they will kill Egypt's people and animals.
-\v 9 Egypt will become an empty desert. Then the people of Egypt will know that it is I, Yahweh, who has the power to do what he says he will do, and that he will punish the people of Egypt for saying that the Nile River is theirs because they made it.
+\v 9 Egypt will become an empty desert. Then the people of Egypt will know that it is I, Yahweh, who have the power to do what I say I will do and that I will punish the people of Egypt for saying that the Nile River is theirs because they made it.
 \v 10 I am against you and your streams, and I will ruin Egypt and make it into an empty desert, from the city of Migdol in the north to Syene in the south, as far south as the border of Cush.
 
 \s5
-\v 11 For forty years no one will walk through that area, and no one will live there.
+\v 11 For forty years no one will walk through that area and no one will live there.
 \v 12 Egypt will be barren, and it will be surrounded by other abandoned nations. The cities of Egypt will be empty and without people for forty years, and the surrounding lands will be the same. I will scatter the people of Egypt to countries far away.'
 
 \s5
@@ -1974,12 +1976,12 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 17 Almost twenty-seven years after we Israelites prisoners had been taken to Babylonia, on the first day of the new year, Yahweh gave me this message:
-\v 18 "Son of man, the army of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon fought very hard against Tyre, with the result that their heads were rubbed bare under their helmets, and their shoulders became raw. But Nebuchadnezzar and his army did not get any valuable things from Tyre to reward them for their hard work in that campaign.
+\v 17 Almost twenty-seven years after we Israelite prisoners had been taken to Babylonia, on the first day of the new year, Yahweh gave me this message:
+\v 18 "Son of man, the army of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon fought very hard against Tyre, with the result that their heads were rubbed bare under their helmets and their shoulders became raw. But Nebuchadnezzar and his army did not get any valuable things from Tyre to reward them for their hard work in that campaign.
 
 \s5
-\v 19 Therefore, Yahweh the Lord says that he will enable King Nebuchadnezzar's army to conquer Egypt. They will carry away from there all the valuable things, in order that the king can give them to his soldiers.
-\v 20 Yahweh says that he will enable them to conquer Egypt as payment for what they did to Tyre, because Nebuchadnezzar and his army were working for him, doing what he wanted them to do, which was to destroy Tyre."
+\v 19 Therefore, Yahweh the Lord says that he will enable King Nebuchadnezzar's army to conquer Egypt. They will carry away from there all the valuable things so that the king can give them to his soldiers.
+\v 20 Yahweh says that he will enable them to conquer Egypt as payment for what they did to Tyre because Nebuchadnezzar and his army were working for him, doing what he wanted them to do, which was to destroy Tyre."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -1995,7 +1997,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 3 That day is near,
 \q2 the day when I, Yahweh, will punish people;
-\q1 it will be like a day of full of storm clouds and disaster for many nations.
+\q1 it will be like a day full of storm clouds and disaster for many nations.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -2005,7 +2007,7 @@
 \q2 they will take away everything of value,
 \q2 and they will even tear the buildings down to their foundations.
 \p
-\v 5 Soldiers of Cush, Libya, Lydia, and all the foreigners in the land of Egypt, together with the Jews living in Egypt—they will all die because of war.'
+\v 5 Soldiers of Cush, Put, Lydia, all the foreigners in the land of Egypt, and Libya, together with the Jews living in Egypt—they will all die because of war.'
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -2019,8 +2021,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 8 Then, when I cause everything in Egypt to be burn down,
-\q2 and when I cause their enemies to defeat all their allies,
+\v 8 Then, when I cause everything in Egypt to burn down
+\q2 and when I cause their enemies to defeat all of their allies,
 \q2 people will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
 \p
 \v 9 At that time, I will send messengers to go swiftly up the Nile River in boats to terrify the people of Cush, who still think they are safe. They will be horrified when they hear that Egypt has been destroyed. This will soon happen!
@@ -2042,14 +2044,14 @@
 \q2 and I will sell the nation of Egypt to evil men.
 \q1 By the power of foreigners
 \q2 I will ruin the land and everything that is in it.
-\m That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, have said it will happen.
+\m That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, have said that it will happen.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 13 This is also what I, Yahweh the Lord, say:
 \q1 I will cause the enemy to destroy the idols
 \q2 in the city of Memphis.
-\q1 No longer will there be a king in Egypt,
+\q1 There will no longer be a king in Egypt,
 \q2 and I will terrify everyone in the land of Egypt.
 \q1
 \v 14 I will cause all people to leave the region of Pathros in southern Egypt.
@@ -2059,7 +2061,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 15 I will punish the soldiers in the fortress of Pelusium in northern Egypt,
-\q2 and I will destroy the people in Thebes.
+\q2 and I will destroy the great number of people in Thebes.
 \q1
 \v 16 I will burn Egypt with fire;
 \q2 the people in Pelusium will suffer severe pain.
@@ -2074,7 +2076,7 @@
 \v 18 It will be a dark day of destruction at the city of Tahpanhes in northeast Egypt
 \q2 when I cause the power of Egypt to end;
 \q2 that country will no longer be strong.
-\q1 It will be as though a dark cloud will cover Egypt,
+\q1 It will be as though a dark cloud will cover Egypt
 \q2 because the people of its villages will go to Babylon as prisoners.
 \q1
 \v 19 That is how I will punish Egypt,
@@ -2083,15 +2085,15 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 20 Almost eleven years after the Babylonians took us Israelites to their country, Yahweh gave me another message on the seventh day of the first month of that year. He said,
-\v 21 "Son of man, I have enabled the army of Nebuchadnezzar to defeat the army of the king of Egypt. It is as though I have broken one of the arms of the king of Egypt, and it has not been bandaged in order that it could be healed, and it has not been put in splints in order that after it heals the arm will be strong enough to hold a sword.
+\v 21 "Son of man, I have enabled the army of Nebuchadnezzar to defeat the army of the king of Egypt. It is as though I have broken one of the arms of the king of Egypt, and it has not been bandaged so that it could be healed, and it has not been put in splints so that after it heals the arm will be strong enough to hold a sword.
 
 \s5
 \v 22 Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: I am the enemy of the king of Egypt. I will completely destroy Egypt's power; it is as though now I will break both of the king's arms, the good one and the broken one, and cause the sword to fall from his hand.
 \v 23 I will scatter the people of Egypt among the nations.
-\v 24 It is as though I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put a sword in his hand, and as though I will break the arms of the king of Egypt, and he will groan in front of the king of Babylon like a soldier who is wounded and about to die.
+\v 24 It is as though I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put a sword in his hand and as though I will break the arms of the king of Egypt, and he will groan in front of the king of Babylon like a soldier who is wounded and about to die.
 
 \s5
-\v 25 I will cause the king of Babylon to become stronger and stronger, and the king of Egypt to become completely weak. When that happens, when I make the Babylonian army strong, they will use that power to attack Egypt.
+\v 25 I will cause the king of Babylon to become stronger and stronger and the king of Egypt to become completely weak. When that happens, when I make the Babylonian army strong, they will use that power to attack Egypt.
 \v 26 I will scatter the people of Egypt among the nations. And when that happens, people will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
 
 \s5
@@ -2107,7 +2109,7 @@
 \q2 Well, Assyria was like a tall cedar tree in Lebanon;
 \q1 it had big beautiful branches
 \q2 that provided shade for other trees in the forest.
-\q1 It was very tall;
+\q1 It was very tall,
 \q2 and the branches of the tallest trees made a treetop that was a roof over the forest.
 \q1
 \v 4 Water came to it from deep springs,
@@ -2151,26 +2153,26 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 13 Birds of the sky settled on the fallen tree, and wild animals lived among its branches.
-\v 14 As a result, no other tree, even if the tree has plenty of water, will ever grow to such great height, or lift its top above the branches higher than other trees. They will all certainly die and decay; they will go to the place of the dead; they will go to the grave.'"
+\v 14 As a result, no other tree, even if the tree has plenty of water, will ever grow to such great height or lift its top above the branches higher than other trees. They will all certainly die and decay; they will go to the place of the dead; they will go to the grave.'"
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 15 This is what Yahweh the Lord says: "When that great tree was cut down, it was as though the springs that watered it mourned for it, because I caused the plentiful water from the springs to dry up. It was as if I had caused the mountains in Lebanon to mourn for it, and all the trees there to weep.
+\v 15 This is what Yahweh the Lord says: "When that great tree was cut down, it was as though the springs that watered it mourned for it because I caused the plentiful water from the springs to dry up. It was as if I had caused the mountains in Lebanon to mourn for it and all the trees there to weep.
 
 \s5
-\v 16 I caused the people of other nations to tremble when they heard that tree fall to the ground—when they heard that Assyria had been destroyed. All the other peoples had also been like beautiful, well-watered trees in Lebanon, but they were comforted when the king represented by that cedar tree arrived among them in the place where they were as dead people.
+\v 16 I caused the people of other nations to tremble when they heard that tree fall to the ground—when they heard that Assyria had been destroyed. All the other peoples had also been like beautiful, well-watered trees in Lebanon, but they were comforted when the king represented by that cedar tree arrived among them in the place where they were like dead people.
 
 \s5
 \v 17 The people represented by the trees that grew in the shade of that huge tree, the allies of the great nation that the cedar tree represents, had also died and gone down to where the dead people are.
 \p
-\v 18 This parable is a warning to you people of Egypt. You think that there is no other nation that is as great and glorious as yours is. But your nation will also be destroyed, along with those other nations. Your people will be there among the other people who are not fit to worship me, people who have been killed by their enemies' swords. That is what will happen to the king of Egypt and all his many people." This is what the Lord Yahweh has declared will happen.
+\v 18 This parable is a warning to you people of Egypt. You think that there is no other nation that is as great and glorious as yours is. But your nation will also be destroyed, along with those other nations. Your people will be there among the other people who are not fit to worship me, people who have been killed by their enemies' swords. That is what will happen to the king of Egypt and all of his many people." This is what the Lord Yahweh has declared will happen.
 
 \s5
 \c 32
 \p
 \v 1 Almost twelve years after the Babylonians had taken us Israelites to their land, Yahweh gave me another message, on the first day of the twelfth month of that year. He told me,
 \v 2 "Son of man, sing a sad song about Pharaoh the king of Egypt. Sing this to him:
-\q1 'People think that you are like a lion among the nations;
+\q1 'People think that you are like a lion among the nations,
 \q1 but you are like a sea monster in the river
 \q2 thrashing around in the water,
 \q2 churning up the water with your feet
@@ -2179,10 +2181,10 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 3 But I, the Lord Yahweh, say to you
-\q1 that I will send many people to throw my net over you,
+\q1 that I will send many people to throw my net over you
 \q2 and that they will haul you up onto the land.
 \q1
-\v 4 They will throw you into a field, where I will leave you to your fate.
+\v 4 They will throw you into a field where I will leave you to your fate.
 \q1 I will allow the birds to sit on you,
 \q2 and all the wild animals will eat the flesh of your corpse until their stomachs are full.
 
@@ -2208,26 +2210,26 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 9 And I will terrify the people of many nations when they hear how I destroy you,
+\v 9 And I will terrify the people of many nations when they hear how I destroy you—
 \q2 there where I will send you,
 \q2 in countries that you have never known about.
 \q1
 \v 10 I will cause many people to be shocked because of what has happened to you;
-\q2 their kings will be horrified and shudder because I destroyed you,
+\q2 their kings will be horrified and shudder because I destroyed you
 \q2 when I swung my sword in front of them to kill you.
 \q1 At the time that you die,
 \q2 all of them will tremble,
-\q2 fearing that I will kill them, too.
+\q2 fearing that I will kill them also.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 11 I, the Lord Yahweh tell you, Egypt,
+\v 11 I, the Lord Yahweh, tell you, Egypt,
 \q1 that the swords of the army of the king of Babylon will strike you.
 \q1
 \v 12 I will cause the mighty soldiers of Babylonia
 \q2 to kill your best soldiers—
 \q2 the soldiers of Babylonia, who are more ruthless than those of any other nation.
-\q1 They will cause the people of Egypt to quit being proud,
+\q1 They will cause the people of Egypt to quit being proud
 \q2 because they will kill very many of your people.
 
 \s5
@@ -2249,14 +2251,14 @@
 \p
 \v 16 There will be a sad song that people will sing about Egypt.
 \p Women of many nations will sing it;
-\q2 they will chant it about Egypt and all its many people."
+\q2 they will chant it about Egypt and all of its many people."
 \q2 This will surely happen because Yahweh has said that it would happen.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 17 On the fifteenth day of that same month, Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
 \p
-\v 18 "Son of man, wail about the many people of Egypt, because I will send them to the place under the earth, where they and people of other mighty nations will be. I will send them there, along with others, down to the place where the dead are.
+\v 18 "Son of man, wail about the many people of Egypt, because I will send them to the place under the earth where they and people of other mighty nations will be. I will send them there, along with others, down to the place where dead people are.
 
 \s5
 \v 19 Say to them, 'You people of Egypt, you think that you are more beautiful than the people of other nations. But you also will descend to the place where the godless dead people are.
@@ -2266,11 +2268,11 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 22 The dead of the people of Assyria and their army will also be there. They will be surrounded by the dead of others whom their enemies killed.
-\v 23 Their graves will be there in the deep pit, and the dead soldiers of their army will lie around their graves. The dead of all those who had terrified so many others will also be there, for their enemies will have killed them, too.
+\v 23 Their graves will be there in the deep pit, and the dead soldiers of their army will lie around their graves. The dead of all those who had terrified so many others will also be there, for their enemies will have killed them also.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 24 Many, many people from the country of Elam will be there, too, and Elam's servants, because their enemies will have killed them. These were soldiers who had terrified people in many places. At that time they will lie there in that deep pit below the earth, and they, along with the others who have gone there, will be disgraced.
+\v 24 Many, many people from the country of Elam will also be there, along with Elam's servants, because their enemies will have killed them. These were soldiers who had terrified people in many places. At that time they will lie there in that deep pit below the earth, and they, along with the others who have gone there, will be disgraced.
 \p
 \v 25 The people of Elam in their huge numbers will lie there among others who were slaughtered, surrounded by the graves of a huge crowd of other people. While they were alive, they caused people of other nations to be terrified; but they were godless, and now, because their enemies will have killed them, they will lie with others in that deep pit, disgraced.
 
@@ -2291,16 +2293,16 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 31 The king of Egypt and all his army will see them, and they will be comforted about the death of their many people, because they know that there were other huge groups of people whom their enemies killed.
-\v 32 While that king was living, I allowed him to terrify others in many countries, but he and his huge army will be there among other godless people whom their enemies have killed." This will certainly surely happen because the Lord Yahweh has said that it would happen.
+\v 31 The king of Egypt and all of his army will see them, and they will be comforted about the death of their many people because they know that there were other huge groups of people whom their enemies killed.
+\v 32 While that king was living, I allowed him to terrify others in many countries, but he and his huge army will be there among other godless people whom their enemies have killed." This will surely happen because the Lord Yahweh has said that it would happen.
 
 \s5
 \c 33
 \p
 \v 1 Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
 \v 2 "Son of man, speak to your fellow Israelites and say this to them: 'Suppose that I bring an enemy army to attack a country, and the people of that country choose one of their own people to be a watchman.
-\v 3 And suppose that he sees the enemy army come into view, and that he blows a trumpet to warn everyone.
-\v 4 If anyone hears the trumpet but pays no attention, and if that person then dies because of the enemy, that person is responsible for his own death.
+\v 3 And suppose that he sees the enemy army come into view and that he blows a trumpet to warn everyone.
+\v 4 If anyone hears the trumpet but pays no attention and if that person then dies because of the enemy, that person is responsible for his own death.
 
 \s5
 \v 5 If he had paid attention, he would have saved his own life. But as it is, he will die, and it will be his own fault.
@@ -2311,7 +2313,7 @@
 \p
 \v 7 Son of man, this parable has a meaning for you. I have appointed you to be a watchman for the Israelites. So always listen to what I say, and warn the people for me.
 \v 8 When I say to some wicked person, 'You wicked person, you will surely die because of your sins,' you must tell him what I said. If you do not speak to that person to warn him to turn away from his sins, that wicked person will die because of his sins, but I will make you responsible for his death.
-\v 9 But if you warn that wicked person that he should turn away from his sins, but if he does not do so, then he will die because of his sins, but you will have saved your own life.
+\v 9 But if you warn that wicked person that he should turn away from his sins and he does not do so, then he will die because of his sins, but you will have saved your own life.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -2320,17 +2322,17 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 12 Therefore, Son of man, say to your fellow Israelites that if good people start to disobey me, the fact that they were previously righteous will not keep me from punishing them. Similarly, if wicked people turn away from their wicked behavior, they will not die because of those sins. And if good people start to sin, I will not allow the fact that they had been good to keep me from punishing them now.
-\v 13 If I tell those who do what is right that they will surely remain alive because of all the good they do, but then if they turn away and become proud of all their good deeds, then I will ignore all the good things that they had done before. I will make sure that they will die because of the evil things that they have done.
+\v 12 Therefore, son of man, say to your fellow Israelites that if good people start to disobey me, the fact that they were previously righteous will not keep me from punishing them. Similarly, if wicked people turn away from their wicked behavior, they will not die because of those sins. And if good people start to sin, I will not allow the fact that they had been good to keep me from punishing them now.
+\v 13 If I tell those who do what is right that they will surely remain alive because of all the good they do, but if they then turn away and become proud of all their good deeds, then I will ignore all the good things that they had done before. I will make sure that they will die because of the evil things that they have done.
 
 \s5
 \v 14 Continue to tell the people these things: If I say to some wicked person, 'You will surely die because of your sins,' perhaps that person will stop doing evil and start doing what is just and right.
-\v 15 For example, he might return what he took from another person to guarantee that that person would pay back what he owes, or he might return things that he has stolen, or he might obey the laws that will enable those who obey them to remain alive. If this happens, he will surely remain alive; he will not die because of the sins that he committed previously.
-\v 16 I will ignore the sins that he previously committed; he will surely remain alive.
+\v 15 For example, he might return what he took from another person to guarantee that person would pay back what he owes, or he might return things he has stolen, or he might obey the laws that will enable those who obey them to remain alive. If this happens, he will surely remain alive; he will not die because of the sins he committed previously.
+\v 16 I will ignore the sins he previously committed; he will surely remain alive.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 17 Tell the people this: That they say that what I do is not fair, but that it is really what they do that is not fair. Then tell them these things, also:
+\v 17 Tell the people this: They say that what I do is not fair, but it is really what they do that is not fair. Then tell them these things, also:
 \v 18 If a good person stops doing what is good and starts to do what is evil, it is fair that he should die because of his sins.
 \v 19 And if a wicked person turns away from his wicked behavior and does what is right and fair, it is fair for him to remain alive because of doing that.
 \v 20 Remind the people that they are still saying that what I do is not fair. They can talk all they want, but I will punish each of them for what they do. Tell them this."
@@ -2347,34 +2349,34 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 25 So send a message to them. Say, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: "You eat meat that still has the animal's blood in it. You still worship idols. And you still murder others. So should this land belong to you?
-\v 26 You rely on using your swords to obtain things that you want. You do many detestable things. Each of you sleeps with other men's wives. So should you really possess the land of Israel?"'
+\v 26 You rely on using your swords to obtain things you want. You do many detestable things. Each of you sleeps with other men's wives. So should you really possess the land of Israel?"'
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 27 Send this message to them and tell them that this is what I, the Lord Yahweh, say to them: 'As surely as I am alive, those who are left in the ruins in Jerusalem—their enemies will also kill them. And those who are living in the countryside—wild animals will kill them. Those who are living in forts and caves will die from disease.
 \v 28 I will cause your country to become a desolate wasteland. You will no longer be proud of being a strong country. The mountains of Israel will become very desolate, with the result that no one will walk across them.'
-\v 29 Then, when I have caused their country to become a desolate wasteland because of all the disgusting things that you have done, they will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do."
+\v 29 Then, when I have caused your country to become a desolate wasteland because of all the disgusting things that you have done, they will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 30 As for you, Son of man, your fellow Israelites here in Babylon stand beside the city wall or at the doors of their houses and are talking with each other. They are saying, 'Come and listen to the message that has come from Yahweh.'
-\v 31 My people come to you as they often have done, and they sit in front of you to listen to what you say. But they do not do what you tell them that they must do. With their mouths they say that they love me, but in their inner beings they are eager to acquire things by doing what is unjust.
+\v 31 My people come to you as they often have done, and they sit in front of you to listen to what you say. But they do not do what you tell them they must do. With their mouths they say that they love me, but in their inner beings they are eager to acquire things by doing what is unjust.
 
 \s5
 \v 32 To them, you are only a man who sings them beautiful songs and plays a musical instrument well. They hear what you say, but they do not do what you tell them to do.
 \p
-\v 33 The terrible things that I have said will happen to them will surely happen. And then they will know that a prophet has been among them, and that you are that prophet."
+\v 33 The terrible things that I have said will happen to them will surely happen. And then they will know that a prophet has been among them and that you are that prophet."
 
 \s5
 \c 34
 \p
 \v 1 Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
-\v 2 "Son of man, speak my message against the leaders of Israel. They should be taking care of my people, like shepherds take care of their flocks. Say to them that this is what I, the Lord Yahweh, have to tell them: 'You shepherds of Israel, terrible things will happen to you because you take care only of yourselves. You should certainly take care of my sheep.
+\v 2 "Son of man, speak my message against the leaders of Israel. They should be taking care of my people, like shepherds take care of their flocks. Say to them that this is what I, the Lord Yahweh, have to tell them: 'You shepherds of Israel, terrible things will happen to you because you only take care of yourselves. You should certainly take care of my sheep.
 \v 3 But you are like shepherds who eat the fat sheep, who slaughter the best animals for their wool. You are not real shepherds at all.
 
 \s5
 \v 4 You have not taken care of the sick sheep; you have paid no attention to those who are wounded. You have not looked for the sheep who have wandered off. You rule over them with force and violence.
-\v 5 Because you did not take care of them, my people have wandered away like sheep. And while they are scattered, wild animals attack and kill them, and then eat their flesh.
+\v 5 Because you did not take care of them, my people have wandered away like sheep. And while they are scattered, wild animals attack and kill them and then eat their flesh.
 \v 6 My people wander like sheep all over the high hills and mountains. They are scattered all over the earth, and no one is searching for them.
 
 \s5
@@ -2389,7 +2391,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 11 I, the Lord Yahweh, tell you leaders that I myself will search for my sheep and take care of them.
-\v 12 As a shepherd takes care of his sheep, I will rescue my people from all the places to which you scattered them, when disasters struck them and they were afraid.
+\v 12 As a shepherd takes care of his sheep, I will rescue my people from all the places to which you scattered them when disasters struck them and they were afraid.
 \v 13 I will bring them back from those countries and gather them together again in their own land. I will lead my sheep to good pastureland on the hills of Israel, in the ravines, and in the villages of Israel.
 
 \s5
@@ -2405,8 +2407,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 20 Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say to you: I myself will judge between those of you who are like the fat sheep and the rest of my people, those who are like the thin sheep.
-\v 21 You who are like strong sheep, with your shoulders and buttocks you have shoved the others away. You butted them with your horns, until you chased them all away from the good pastureland.
+\v 20 Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say to you: I myself will judge between those of you who are like the fat sheep and the rest of my people—those who are like the thin sheep.
+\v 21 You who are like strong sheep, with your shoulders and buttocks you have shoved the others away. You butted them with your horns until you chased them all away from the good pastureland.
 
 \s5
 \v 22 But I will rescue my people, and you will no longer steal from them. I will judge between one person and another.
@@ -2415,7 +2417,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 25 I will make a covenant with the people of Israel. I will promise to give them peace. I will promise to get rid of all the wild animals in Israel, in order that my people may live safely, even in the wilderness and in the forests.
+\v 25 I will make a covenant with the people of Israel. I will promise to give them peace. I will promise to get rid of all the wild animals in Israel so that my people may live safely, even in the wilderness and in the forests.
 \v 26 I will bless them, and I will bless all the region close to Mount Zion, where they will worship me in my temple. I will bless them by sending them rain showers at the right season; they will be showers to bless them.
 \v 27 The fruit trees will produce fruit, and the ground will produce crops. And my people will live safely in their land. When I rescue them from people who made them slaves, they will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
 
@@ -2437,12 +2439,12 @@
 \s5
 \v 4 I will destroy your cities, and everyone will leave them. When that happens, you will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
 \p
-\v 5 You have always been enemies of the Israelite people. You rejoiced when they experienced a great disaster, when their enemies attacked them, when I was punishing them most severely for the sins that they had committed.
+\v 5 You have always been enemies of the Israelite people. You rejoiced when they experienced a great disaster when their enemies attacked them when I was punishing them most severely for the sins that they had committed.
 \v 6 Therefore, I, Yahweh the Lord, declare that as surely as I am alive, I will allow your enemies to slaughter you. They will attack you again and again. You enjoyed watching other people die, so I will slaughter you.
 
 \s5
 \v 7 I will therefore make everyone leave Mount Seir, and I will destroy anyone who enters it or leaves it.
-\v 8 I will cause your mountains to be filled with the corpses of those who have been killed. The corpses of those whom your enemies have killed will lie on your hills, in your valleys, and in all your ravines.
+\v 8 I will cause your mountains to be filled with the dead bodies of those who have been killed. The dead bodies of those whom your enemies have killed will lie on your hills, in your valleys, and in all of your ravines.
 \v 9 I will cause your land to be forever without people. No one will live in your towns again. When that happens, you will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
 
 \s5
@@ -2451,7 +2453,7 @@
 \v 11 Therefore, I, Yahweh the Lord, declare that as surely as I am alive, I will punish you for being angry with my people, for envying them, and for hating them. And when I punish you, I will make sure that the Israelites know that it is I who have punished you.
 
 \s5
-\v 12 Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have heard all the disgusting things that you have said about the land of Israel; you said that the land was ruined, and that you could capture it for yourselves.
+\v 12 Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have heard all the disgusting things that you have said about the land of Israel; you said that the land was ruined and that you could capture it for yourselves.
 \v 13 You insulted me; I heard everything that you said about me.
 
 \s5
@@ -2462,18 +2464,18 @@
 \c 36
 \p
 \v 1 Yahweh said to Ezekiel, "Son of man, give a message to the hill country and mountains in Israel just as if they were people. Tell them to listen to my message for them.
-\v 2 This is it: The enemies of Israel, those peoples who live nearby, are now very happy, because they are saying that Jerusalem has been destroyed, so the ancient mountains of Israel will now belong to them.
-\v 3 So you, Ezekiel, must tell the mountains of Israel what I, the Lord Yahweh, am saying to them: 'Armies of other nations attacked you from every direction, and everyone has left you. Those foreign armies are now in your land. They have spoken very maliciously about your people, the Israelites, and have told all kinds of lies about them.
+\v 2 This is it: The enemies of Israel, those peoples who live nearby, are now very happy because they are saying that Jerusalem has been destroyed, so the ancient mountains of Israel will now belong to them.
+\v 3 So you, Ezekiel, must tell the mountains of Israel what I, the Lord Yahweh, am saying to them: 'Armies of other nations attacked you from every direction, and everyone has left you. Those foreign armies are now in your land. They have spoken very maliciously about your people the Israelites and have told all kinds of lies about them.
 
 \s5
-\v 4-6 Therefore, you mountains of Israel, listen to this message from me. I, Yahweh the Lord, have something to say to you, the hills and mountains, and to you, the ravines and valleys, and to you, the towns and cities which the enemy burned down, where no one is living any longer, from where the enemy has taken everything valuable, and whose people the peoples all around are mocking. "This is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare: I am very angry with the people of Edom and the other peoples; they have insulted your Israelite people and happily taken all their land as pastures. So Ezekiel must speak for me to you, the land of Israel, mountains and hills, valleys and ravines: I, Yahweh the Lord, am very angry because the enemy has insulted you.
+\v 4-6 Therefore, you mountains of Israel, listen to this message from me. I, Yahweh the Lord, have something to say to you, the hills and mountains, and to you, the ravines and valleys, and to you, the towns and cities that the enemy burned down where no one is living any longer, from where the enemy has taken everything valuable, and whose people the peoples all around are mocking. "This is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare: I am very angry with the people of Edom and the other peoples; they have insulted your Israelite people and happily taken all of their land as pastures. So Ezekiel must speak for me to you, the land of Israel, mountains and hills, valleys and ravines: I, Yahweh the Lord, am very angry because the enemy has insulted you.
 
 \s5
-\v 7 Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: I solemnly declare I will shame the people of the nations that are around you.
+\v 7 Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: I solemnly declare that I will shame the people of the nations around you.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 8 But I say to you mountains of Israel that huge crops of fruit will grow on your trees for my Israelite people, because they will soon return home from Babylonia.
+\v 8 But I say to you mountains of Israel that huge crops of fruit will grow on your trees for my Israelite people because they will soon return home from Babylonia.
 \v 9 I will work to help you, and I will be kind to you. I will enable farmers to plow the ground and plant seed in you.
 
 \s5
@@ -2483,19 +2485,19 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 I, Yahweh the Lord, am telling you mountains this: It is true that people have said they could not grow many crops on you, and so they died from hunger.
+\v 13 I, Yahweh the Lord, am telling you mountains this: It is true that people have said they could not grow many crops on you, so they died from hunger.
 \v 14 But that will no longer happen.
 \v 15 No longer will the other peoples ridicule you mountains. No longer will they laugh at you; no longer will you mountains make your nation suffer defeat. I, the Lord Yahweh, am telling you this myself.'"
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 16 Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
-\v 17 "Son of man, when the Israelite people were living in their own land, they defiled it by the things that they did. They made it unacceptable to me. I considered that their behavior was as disgusting as the rags that women use during their monthly menstrual periods.
-\v 18 So I severely punished them, because they had murdered many people and because they had worshiped idols there. They made their entire land unacceptable to me.
+\v 17 "Son of man, when the Israelite people were living in their own land, they defiled it by the things they did. They made it unacceptable to me. I considered that their behavior was as disgusting as the rags women use during their monthly menstrual periods.
+\v 18 So I severely punished them because they had murdered many people and because they had worshiped idols there. They made their entire land unacceptable to me.
 
 \s5
 \v 19 So I made their enemies scatter them into other lands. I punished them as they deserved to be punished because they had done so many evil things.
-\v 20 Wherever they went among those lands, they caused other people to mock me, when they should have honored me. Those people have been saying, 'The Israelites belong to Yahweh, but he was not strong enough to protect them. They had to leave the land that he had given to them.'
+\v 20 Wherever they went among those lands, they caused other people to mock me when they should have honored me. Those people have been saying, 'The Israelites belong to Yahweh, but he was not strong enough to protect them. They had to leave the land he had given to them.'
 \v 21 The people of Israel had disgraced me among the peoples to which they had to go, but I deserve that those peoples worship me instead.
 
 \s5
@@ -2510,7 +2512,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 26 I will give you a completely new way of thinking. I will enable you to stop being stubborn, and I will enable you to obey me from your inner beings.
-\v 27 I will put my Spirit within you and enable you to carefully obey all my laws.
+\v 27 I will put my Spirit within you and enable you to carefully obey all of my laws.
 \v 28 You will again live in the land that I gave to your ancestors. You will be my people, and I will be your God.
 
 \s5
@@ -2521,12 +2523,12 @@
 \s5
 \v 32 But I, the Lord Yahweh, tell you this: It is not for your sake that I will do those things. You Israelite people ought to be ashamed of your behavior.
 \p
-\v 33 I, the Lord Yahweh, also tell you this: At the time that I cleanse you from all the sins that you have committed, I will enable you to live in your cities again and to build houses where there are now only ruins.
-\v 34 People who walk through your country will see that you are once again cultivating your land, and that your people are living in it again.
+\v 33 I, the Lord Yahweh, also tell you this: At the time that I cleanse you from all the sins you have committed, I will enable you to live in your cities again and to build houses where there are now only ruins.
+\v 34 People who walk through your country will see that you are once again cultivating your land and that your people are living in it again.
 
 \s5
 \v 35 Then they will say, "This land that was ruined has become very fertile, like the garden of Eden. The cities that were piles of ruins, empty and destroyed, now have houses around them, and people are living in those cities."
-\v 36 When that happens, the people who are still left in the lands that are around you will know that it is I, Yahweh, who have enabled you to rebuild what was destroyed, and to again plant crops in the fields that had nothing growing in them. I, Yahweh, have said that it will happen, and I will cause it to happen.
+\v 36 When that happens, the people who are still left in the lands around you will know that it is I, Yahweh, who have enabled you to rebuild what was destroyed and to again plant crops in the fields that had nothing growing in them. I, Yahweh, have said that it will happen, and I will cause it to happen.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -2538,7 +2540,7 @@
 \p
 \v 1 One day Yahweh gave me another vision. In the vision I felt the power of God on me, and by his Spirit he took me to the middle of a valley. It was full of bones of people who had been killed.
 \v 2 He led me to walk back and forth among those bones. I saw that there were very many bones there, bones that were very dry.
-\v 3 He asked me, "Son of man, do you think that these bones can become living people again?"
+\v 3 He asked me, "Son of man, do you think these bones can become living people again?"
 \p I replied, "Yahweh my Lord, only you know if that can happen."
 
 \s5
@@ -2554,17 +2556,17 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 9 Then he said to me, "Son of man, speak a message for me to the wind. Say to the wind, 'Wind, Yahweh says to you, blow from all four directions. Breathe into these people who have been killed, in order that they can come alive again!'"
+\v 9 Then he said to me, "Son of man, speak a message for me to the wind. Say to the wind, 'Wind, Yahweh says to you, blow from all four directions. Breathe into these people who have been killed so that they can come alive again!'"
 \v 10 So I said what he commanded me to say, and then breath entered them, and they began to breathe. They became alive and stood up, like a huge army.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 11 Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones represent all the Israelite people. The people say, 'It is as though our bones are dried up; we can hope for nothing good any longer; our nation is destroyed.'
-\v 12 So speak my message to them and say, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says: My people, it will be as though I will open your graves and cause your corpses to become alive again. I will bring you back to Israel.
+\v 12 So speak my message to them and say, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says: My people, it will be as though I will open your graves and cause your dead bodies to become alive again. I will bring you back to Israel.
 
 \s5
 \v 13 Then when that happens, you my people will know that I, Yahweh, have done this.
-\v 14 I will put my spirit in you, and it will be as though you will become alive again, and I will enable you to live in your own land again. Then you will know that it is I, Yahweh, who said that it would happen and who has caused it to happen. That is what I, Yahweh, declare.'"
+\v 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and it will be as though you will become alive again, and I will enable you to live in your own land again. Then you will know that it is I, Yahweh, who said that it would happen and who has caused it to happen. That is what I, Yahweh, declare.'"
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -2574,24 +2576,24 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 18 When your fellow Israelites ask you, 'What does this action mean?',
-\v 19 tell them, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says: One of the pieces of wood in Ezekiel's hand represents Israel and all the tribes of Israel. I am joining it to the piece of wood that represents Judah, to form one stick in his hand.'
-\v 20 Then, Son of man, hold up the pieces of wood that you have written on, in order that the people can see them.
+\v 18 When your fellow Israelites ask you, 'What does this action mean?'
+\v 19 tell them, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says: One of the pieces of wood in Ezekiel's hand represents Israel and all the tribes of Israel. I am joining it to the piece of wood that represents Judah to form one stick in his hand.'
+\v 20 Then, son of man, hold up the pieces of wood that you have written on so that the people can see them.
 
 \s5
 \v 21 Say to the people, 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: I will take you Israelite people out of the countries to which you have been forced to go. I will gather you from all those lands, back to your own land.
-\v 22 And I will cause you to again be one nation in your land, on the mountains of Israel. And there will be one king to rule over all of you. Never again will you be two nations or divided into two kingdoms.
+\v 22 And I will cause you to again be one nation in your land on the mountains of Israel. And there will be one king to rule over all of you. Never again will you be two nations or divided into two kingdoms.
 \v 23 No longer will you defile yourselves by worshiping idols and disgusting statues of your gods, because I will enable you to stop sinning and to stop rejecting me. You will be my people, and I will be your God.'
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 24 The king who rules over them will always come from the family of King David. David was the one who served me well. There will be one shepherd to watch over them and to take care of all of them. They will carefully obey all my laws.
+\v 24 The king who rules over them will always come from the family of King David. David was the one who served me well. There will be one shepherd to watch over them and to take care of all of them. They will carefully obey all of my laws.
 \v 25 They will live in the land that I gave to Jacob, who also served me well; they will live in the land where your ancestors lived. They and their children and their grandchildren will live there forever, and the one who will be like King David will be their king forever.
 
 \s5
 \v 26 I will make a covenant with them to give them peace; it will be a covenant that will last forever. I will give them that land again and cause their population to increase. And I will put my temple among them forever.
 \v 27 My home, where I will live, will be among them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.
-\v 28 Then, when my temple is there again among them, the people of nations will know that I, Yahweh, set apart Israel for my honor."
+\v 28 Then, when my temple is there again among them, the people of other nations will know that I, Yahweh, set apart Israel for my honor."
 
 \s5
 \c 38
@@ -2601,28 +2603,28 @@
 \v 3 Say this: 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says: Gog, you who rule Meshech and Tubal, I am your enemy.
 
 \s5
-\v 4 It wlll be as though I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws and bring you to Israel—you and all of your army, including your horses and the men carrying weapons who ride those horses, and many other soldiers carrying large shields and small shields, all of them carrying swords.
+\v 4 It will be as though I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws and bring you to Israel—you and all of your army, including your horses and the men carrying weapons who ride those horses and many other soldiers carrying large shields and small shields, all of them carrying swords.
 \v 5 Your soldiers also include armies from Persia, Ethiopia, and Put, all of them with shields and helmets—
 \v 6 also all the soldiers from Gomer and an army from Beth Togarmah—both of these lands that are far north of Israel. Armies of many nations will come with you.'
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 7 Tell Gog this: 'Get ready, and be prepared to be the commander of all those soldiers.
-\v 8 At some future time, Yahweh will command you to lead those armies to attack Israel, a country whose buildings have been rebuilt after they were destroyed in wars. Their people will be have been brought back from many nations to live again on the hills of Israel, where no one had been living for long time. Yahweh bring the Israelites back from other lands, and they will be living peacefully.
+\v 8 At some future time, Yahweh will command you to lead those armies to attack Israel, a country whose buildings have been rebuilt after they were destroyed in wars. Their people will have been brought back from many nations to live again on the hills of Israel, where no one had been living for long time. Yahweh will have brought the Israelites back from other lands, and they will be living peacefully.
 \v 9 You and all those armies from many nations will go up to Israel, advancing like a great storm. Your army will be like a huge cloud that covers the land.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 10 But this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: On that day, you will plan to do something very evil.
 \v 11 You will say this to yourself: "My army will invade a country where the villages do not have walls around them. We will attack people who are peaceful and think that no one will harm them. Their towns and villages do not have walls with gates and bars.
-\v 12 So it will be easy for us to attack these people. They are people who come back together from many countries where they had lived for many years, people who now live safely in their land with all their livestock and other possessions. They are living in the country that is in the middle of the most important countries in the world. Our soldiers will take away all their valuable possessions."
+\v 12 So it will be easy for us to attack these people. They are people who come back together from many countries where they had lived for many years, people who now live safely in their land with all of their livestock and other possessions. They are living in the country that is in the middle of the most important countries in the world. Our soldiers will take away all of their valuable possessions."
 
 \s5
-\v 13 Then people of Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish will come and say to you, "Are you gathering all your soldiers in order to attack Israel and take away all their silver and gold? Do you plan to take away their livestock and all their other valuable possessions?"'
+\v 13 Then people of Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish will come and say to you, "Are you gathering all of your soldiers in order to attack Israel and take away all of their silver and gold? Do you plan to take away their livestock and all of their other valuable possessions?"'
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 14 Therefore, Son of man, take my message about Gog and say to him, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says: At that time, when my people of Israel are living safely, you will certainly think about them.
+\v 14 Therefore, son of man, take my message about Gog and say to him, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says: At that time, when my people of Israel are living safely, you will certainly think about them.
 \v 15 You will come from your place far north of Israel, with the armies of many other nations, all riding horses, a huge army.
 \v 16 You will march toward my Israelite people, and your soldiers will cover the land like a huge cloud. Gog, I will bring your army to attack the country that belongs to me, but what I will do to you will show the people of other nations that I am holy.
 
@@ -2632,8 +2634,8 @@
 \v 18 So this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say will happen: When your army attacks Israel, I will be very angry with you.
 
 \s5
-\v 19 I will be furious, and to show that I am angry, there will be a great earthquake in Israel, where your armies will be.
-\v 20 The fish in the sea, the birds, the wild animals, and the animals that crawl on the ground, and all the people on the earth will tremble because of what I will do. Mountains will fall down, cliffs will crumble, and walls everywhere will fall to the ground.
+\v 19 I will be furious, and to show that I am angry, there will be a great earthquake in Israel where your armies will be.
+\v 20 The fish in the sea, the birds, the wild animals, the animals that crawl on the ground, and all the people on the earth will tremble because of what I will do. Mountains will fall down, cliffs will crumble, and walls everywhere will fall to the ground.
 
 \s5
 \v 21 Gog, on all the mountains in the country that belongs to me I will cause your soldiers to fight against each other.
@@ -2648,9 +2650,9 @@
 \v 3 When you are there, I will snatch your bows from your left hands and cause your arrows to fall from your right hands.
 
 \s5
-\v 4 You and all the soldiers that are with you will die on the mountains of Israel. I will give your corpses to be food for the birds that eat dead flesh, and to the wild animals.
+\v 4 You and all the soldiers that are with you will die on the mountains of Israel. I will give your dead bodies to be food for the birds that eat dead flesh and to the wild animals.
 \v 5 You will die in the open fields. This will certainly happen because I, Yahweh the Lord, have said that it will happen.
-\v 6 I will cause many fires to burn in Magog and to all those who live safely in the areas along their coasts, and they will know that it is I, Yahweh, who have the power to do what I say that I will do.
+\v 6 I will cause many fires to burn in Magog and among all those who live safely in the areas along their coasts, and they will know that it is I, Yahweh, who have the power to do what I say that I will do.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -2659,23 +2661,23 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 9 At that time, the people who live in the cities of Israel will go out and gather the weapons from the dead soldiers, and will use them to make fires to cook their food. They will burn the small and large shields, the bows and arrows, the war clubs, and spears. There will be enough weapons to use as firewood for seven years.
-\v 10 They will not need to gather firewood in the fields or cut wood from trees in the forests, because those weapons will be all the firewood that they will need. And they will take valuable things from those who took valuable things from them, and steal things from people who stole things from them. That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare will happen.
+\v 9 At that time, the people who live in the cities of Israel will go out and gather the weapons from the dead soldiers and will use them to make fires to cook their food. They will burn the small and large shields, bows and arrows, war clubs, and spears. There will be enough weapons to use as firewood for seven years.
+\v 10 They will not need to gather firewood in the fields or cut wood from trees in the forests, because those weapons will be all the firewood that they will need. And they will take valuable things from those who took valuable things from them and steal things from people who stole things from them. That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare will happen.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 11 At that time I will create a graveyard for you, Gog, and your soldiers, in the valley east of the Dead Sea. That graveyard will block the road that travelers usually walk on, because you, Gog and all the soldiers of your huge army will be buried there. So it will be named the Valley of Hamon Gog.
+\v 11 At that time I will create a graveyard for you, Gog, and your soldiers in the valley east of the Dead Sea. That graveyard will block the road that travelers usually walk on because you, Gog, and all the soldiers of your huge army will be buried there. So it will be named the Valley of Hamon Gog.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 12 For seven months the people of Israel will be burying your corpses. It will be necessary to bury all of them, in order that the land will not be defiled because of any unburied corpses.
+\v 12 For seven months the people of Israel will be burying your dead bodies. It will be necessary to bury all of them so that the land will not be defiled because of any unburied dead bodies.
 \v 13 All the people of Israel will do the work of burying them. The day when I win that victory they will honor me, and they will remember that day forever.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 14 After those seven months are ended, the Israelite people will designate men to go throughout the land to bury any remaining corpses, in order that the land might not remain defiled.
+\v 14 After those seven months are ended, the Israelite people will designate men to go throughout the land to bury any remaining dead bodies so that the land might not remain defiled.
 \v 15 When they go through the land, whenever one of them sees a human bone, he will set up a marker beside it. When the gravediggers see the markers, they will pick up the bones and bury them in the Valley of Hamon Gog.
-\v 16 There will be a city there named Hamonah. And by doing this work of burying the corpses, they will cleanse the land.'"
+\v 16 There will be a city there named Hamonah. And by doing this work of burying the dead bodies, they will cleanse the land.'"
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -2692,13 +2694,13 @@
 \v 22 At that time, the Israelite people will learn that I, Yahweh their God, have the power to do what I say that I will do.
 
 \s5
-\v 23 And the people of the other lands will know that the Israelites had been forced to go to other countries because they sinned by not being faithful to me. I turned away from of them, and I allowed their enemies to capture them and kill many of them.
+\v 23 And the people of the other lands will know that the Israelites had been forced to go to other countries because they sinned by not being faithful to me. I turned away from them, and I allowed their enemies to capture them and kill many of them.
 \v 24 I punished them as they deserved because of their disgusting behavior and sins, and I turned away from them.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 25 Therefore, this is now what I, the Lord Yahweh say: I will now bring back from exile the descendants of Jacob; I will have mercy on all the Israelite people, and I will also make sure that they honor me.
-\v 26 When the Israelite people are back in their own country, they will live safely in their land, with no one to cause them to be afraid. They will forget about the disgraceful and unfaithful things that they did previously.
+\v 25 Therefore, this is now what I, the Lord Yahweh, say: I will now bring back from exile the descendants of Jacob; I will have mercy on all the Israelite people, and I will also make sure that they honor me.
+\v 26 When the Israelite people are back in their own country, they will live safely in their land with no one to cause them to be afraid. They will forget about the disgraceful and unfaithful things that they did previously.
 \v 27 When I have brought them back from their enemies' countries and gathered them together in Israel, the people of many nations will know how holy I am because of what I did for my people.
 
 \s5
@@ -2713,42 +2715,42 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 3 When he took me there, I saw a man who looked as if he had been made of bronze. He was standing inside the city gate, and he was holding a linen cord and a measuring stick in his hand.
-\v 4 He said to me, "Son of man, look carefully at everything that I am going to show you, and pay attention to everything that I say and everything that I wll show you, because that is why God brought you here. And then later you must tell the Israelite people everything that you have seen here."
+\v 4 He said to me, "Son of man, look carefully at everything that I am going to show you and pay attention to everything that I say and everything that I will show you, because that is why God brought you here. And then later you must tell the Israelite people everything that you have seen here."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 5 In the vision I saw that there was a wall that completely surrounded the temple area. The measuring stick in the man's hand was three and one-tenth meters long. He measured the wall and it was three and one-tenth meters thick and three and one-tenth meters high.
+\v 5 In the vision I saw a wall that completely surrounded the temple area. The measuring stick in the man's hand was three and two-tenths meters long. He measured the wall and it was three and two-tenths meters thick and three and two-tenths meters high.
 \p
-\v 6 Then he went to the gate in the temple wall on the temple's east side. He climbed the steps and measured the gateway that faced outward; it was three and one-tenth meters deep.
-\v 7 Next, there were alcoves for the temple guards, each being three and one-tenth meters long and deep. The distance of the wall between each alcove was two and three-quarters meters. The gateway that faced inward, which led to the temple portico, was also three and one-tenth meters deep.
+\v 6 Then he went to the gate in the temple wall on the temple's east side. He climbed the steps and measured the gateway that faced outward; it was three and two-tenths meters deep.
+\v 7 Next, there were alcoves for the temple guards, each being three and two-tenths meters long and deep. The distance of the wall between each alcove was two and seven-tenths meters. The gateway that faced inward, which led to the temple portico, was also three and two-tenths meters deep.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 8 Then he measured the portico that was after the gate; it was three and one-tenth meters long.
-\v 9 He also measured the depth, which was three and one-tenth of a meter. The doorposts on either side were one meter thick. This was the portico attached to the temple gate on the gate's inner side, facing the temple.
-\v 10 Inside the east gate there were three alcoves for guards on each side of the gate. They all had the same length and depth. And the distance of wall between them was the same.
+\v 8 Then he measured the portico that was after the gate; it was three and two-tenths meters long.
+\v 9 He also measured the depth, which was three and two-tenths of a meter. The doorposts on either side were one meter thick. This was the portico attached to the temple gate on the gate's inner side, facing the temple.
+\v 10 Inside the east gate there were three alcoves for guards on each side of the gate. They all had the same length and depth, and the distance of wall between them was the same.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 11 Then he measured the opening of the gate; it was five and two-fifths meters wide, and the entrance from the gate was seven meters long.
-\v 12 Running along in front of the alcoves was a low wall one-half meter high. Each of the alcoves was three and one-tenth meters long on all sides.
-\v 13 Then the man measured the gateway's width from the roof of the alcove on one side, to the roof of the alcove on the other side. The distance was 13 and one-half, from one alcove's entrance to that of the other.
+\v 11 Then he measured the opening of the gate; it was five and four-tenths meters wide, and the entrance from the gate was seven meters long.
+\v 12 Running along in front of the alcoves was a low wall one-half meter high. Each of the alcoves was three and two-tenths meters long on all sides.
+\v 13 Then the man measured the gateway's width from the roof of the alcove on one side, to the roof of the alcove on the other side. The distance was thirteen meters from one alcove's entrance to that of the other.
 
 \s5
 \v 14 Then the man measured along the wall that separated the alcoves from each other; it was thirty-two meters long. He measured them as far as the gate's portico.
 \v 15 The distance from the entrance of the gate to the far end of its portico was twenty-seven meters.
-\v 16 There were narrow windows in the walls of all the alcoves, and also in the inner walls between the alcoves. The portico also had these same windows on its inner side. The wall that ran between the alcoves was decorated with carvings of palm trees.
+\v 16 There were narrow windows in the walls of all the alcoves and also in the inner walls between the alcoves. The portico also had these same windows on its inner side. The wall that ran between the alcoves was decorated with carvings of palm trees.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 17 Then the man brought me to the temple's outer courtyard. There I saw some rooms, and a stone pavement in the courtyard. There were thirty rooms facing the courtyard.
 \v 18 The stone pavement was all around the courtyard, and it extended out from the walls into the courtyard for the same distance as the gate entrances. That was the lower pavement.
-\v 19 Then the man measured the distance across the outer courtyard of the temple, between the outer gate and inner courtyard; it was fifty-four meters on the east side, and the same distance on the north side of the courtyard.
+\v 19 Then the man measured the distance across the outer courtyard of the temple, between the outer gate and inner courtyard; it was fifty-four meters on the east side and the same distance on the north side of the courtyard.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 20 Then he measured how long and how wide was the gateway on the north side, which was an entrance into the outer courtyard of the temple complex.
-\v 21 There were three alcoves for guards on each side of that gateway. From the gateway to the end of its portico was twenty-seven meters, and they were thirteen and one-half meters wide.
+\v 20 Then he measured how long and how wide the gateway was on the north side, which was an entrance into the outer courtyard of the temple complex.
+\v 21 There were three alcoves for guards on each side of that gateway. From the gateway to the end of its portico was twenty-seven meters, and they were thirteen meters wide.
 
 \s5
 \v 22 It had the same windows, portico, guard alcoves, and palm tree decorations as the east gate had. Like the east gate, there were seven steps leading up to it and its portico.
@@ -2757,7 +2759,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 24 Then he brought me through the south gateway into the inner courtyard, and he measured the entrance. It measured the same as the other gateways. Its alcoves, its walls between the alcoves, and its entry room measured the same as the ones on the other sides.
-\v 25 The gateway and its portico had narrow windows along the walls, as on the other sides. The gateway and its portico measured twenty-five meters long and thirteen and one-half wide.
+\v 25 The gateway and its portico had narrow windows along the walls, as on the other sides. The gateway and its portico measured twenty-seven meters long and thirteen meters wide.
 
 \s5
 \v 26 There were seven steps leading up to that gate and its portico. It also had carvings of palm trees on the walls that were between the rooms.
@@ -2766,33 +2768,33 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 28 Then the man brought me through the south entrance into the inner courtyard, and he measured the south entrance. It measured the same as the other gates.
-\v 29 He measured its alcoves, its walls, and its portico with the same measuring standards he had been using. The gate and its portico had windows all around. The gate and its portico measured twenty-seven meters long and thirteen and one-half wide.
-\v 30 The porticos of the inner gates, which led to the inner courtyard, were about thirteen and one-half meters long and two and three-quarters meters wide.
+\v 29 He measured its alcoves, its walls, and its portico with the same measuring standards he had been using. The gate and its portico had windows all around. The gate and its portico measured twenty-seven meters long and thirteen meters wide.
+\v 30 The porticos of the inner gates, which led to the inner courtyard, were about thirteen meters long and two and seven-tenths meters wide.
 \v 31 The portico's entrance faced the outer courtyard. Carvings of palm trees decorated the walls, and there were eight steps leading up to it.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 32 Then the man led me to the east side of the inner courtyard, and he measured the gate. It had the same measurements as the other gates.
-\v 33 Its alcoves, walls, and portico measured the same as the others. The gate and its portico had windows all around. The gate and its portico measured twenty-seven meters long and thirteen and one-half wide.
+\v 33 Its alcoves, walls, and portico measured the same as the others. The gate and its portico had windows all around. The gate and its portico measured twenty-seven meters long and thirteen meters wide.
 \v 34 Its portico faced the outer courtyard. It also had carvings of palm trees decorating the walls, and it had eight steps leading up to it.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 35 Then he led me to the entrance on the north side and measured it. It measured the same as the other entrances.
-\v 36 And its alcoves and walls between them and the entry room all had small windows in the walls. It all measured the same as the other gates. The gate and its portico measured twenty-seven meters long and thirteen and one-half meters wide.
+\v 36 And its alcoves and walls between them and the entry room all had small windows in the walls. It all measured the same as the other gates. The gate and its portico measured twenty-seven meters long and thirteen meters wide.
 \v 37 Its portico faced the outer courtyard. It also had carvings of palm trees decorating the walls, and it had eight steps leading up to it.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 38 In each of the inner entrances there was a room with a door. They were rooms where the carcasses of the animals that were to be completely burned on the altar were washed.
-\v 39 In each portico were four tables, two on each side. On those tables would be slaughtered the animals that were to be completely burned, also the animals for offerings of sins that people had committed, and offerings that acknowledged their guilt for having sinned against other people.
+\v 38 In each of the inner entrances, there was a room with a door. They were rooms where the carcasses of the animals that were to be completely burned on the altar were washed.
+\v 39 In each portico were four tables, two on each side. On those tables would be slaughtered the animals that were to be completely burned; also the animals for offerings of sins that people had committed and offerings that acknowledged their guilt for having sinned against other people.
 
 \s5
 \v 40 Just outside the inner courtyard, to the left of the steps leading up to its north gate, there were two tables, and to the right of the steps were two more tables.
 \v 41 There were four tables on the outer side of each inner courtyard gate, and there were also four tables on the inner side. The animals to be sacrificed were slaughtered on these tables.
 
 \s5
-\v 42 There were also four tables of cut stone for the preparation of the offerings that were to be completely burned, four-fifths of a meter long on each side and one-half meter high. The priests would put on those stone tables the tools for slaughtering all the animals.
+\v 42 There were also four tables of cut stone for the preparation of the offerings that were to be completely burned, eight-tenths of a meter long on each side and one-half meter high. The priests would put on those stone tables the tools for slaughtering all the animals.
 \v 43 The meat for the offerings would be placed on those stone tables. There were hooks on which the meat was hung, each with two prongs, each eight centimeters long, fastened to the walls of the porticos.
 
 \s5
@@ -2807,38 +2809,38 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 48 Then he brought me to the portico of the sanctuary and measured the doorposts and their walls on each side of the entrance; they were about two and three-quarters meters thick. The doorway was seven meters wide, and the sides on each side of it were one and three-fifths meters wide.
+\v 48 Then he brought me to the portico of the sanctuary and measured the doorposts and their walls on each side of the entrance; they were two and seven-tenths meters thick. The doorway was seven and one-half meters wide, and the sides on each side of it were one and six-tenths meters wide.
 \v 49 The portico was eleven meters wide, and its depth was six meters on each side. There were steps leading up to it, and there were columns on each side of the portico.
 
 \s5
 \c 41
 \p
-\v 1 Then in the vision the man brought me to into the holy place in the temple and measured the doorposts on either side of the entrance; they were each three and one-tenth meters wide.
-\v 2 The entrance was five and two-fifths meters wide, and the walls of each side of it were two and three-quarters meters long. He also measured the holy place. It was twenty-two meters long and eleven meters wide.
+\v 1 Then in the vision the man brought me to into the holy place in the temple and measured the doorposts on either side of the entrance; they were each three and two-tenths meters wide.
+\v 2 The entrance was five and four-tenths meters wide, and the walls of each side of it were two and seven-tenths meters long. He also measured the holy place. It was twenty-one meters long and eleven meters wide.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 3 Then he entered the inner room of the temple, the very holy place, and measured the walls to either side of the entrance; each was one meter wide. The doorway was three and one-tenth meters wide, and each of the walls on each side of the entrance was three and four-fifths meters long.
+\v 3 Then he entered the inner room of the temple, the very holy place, and measured the walls to either side of the entrance; each was one meter wide. The doorway was three and two-tenths meters wide, and each of the walls on each side of the entrance was three and eight-tenths meters long.
 \v 4 Then he measured the inner room; it was eleven meters long and eleven meters wide. Then he said to me, "This is the very holy place."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 5 Then he measured the wall of the temple; it was three and one-tenth meters thick. There was a row of rooms along the outside wall of the temple. Each of those rooms was two meters wide.
+\v 5 Then he measured the wall of the temple; it was three and two-tenths meters thick. There was a row of rooms along the outside wall of the temple. Each of those rooms was two meters wide.
 \v 6 There were three stories of rooms, with thirty rooms on each story. There were ledges all around the wall of the temple that were supports for the side rooms above. There were no extra supports built into the sanctuary wall.
-\v 7 Each of the side rooms was wider than the one below it. The most narrow rooms were built first, at the bottom. Then a wider set of rooms was built over it, and the widest set was at the top. A set of stairs was built from the lowest level through the middle level to the highest level.
+\v 7 Each of the side rooms was wider than the one below it. The narrowest rooms were built first, at the bottom. Then a wider set of rooms was built over it, and the widest set was at the top. A set of stairs was built from the lowest level through the middle level to the highest level.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 8 I saw that there was a terrace around the temple. The terrace was the foundation for those side rooms; it was three and one-tenth meters high.
-\v 9 The outer wall of those side rooms was two and three-quarters meters thick. All around the sanctuary there was an open area between those side rooms.
+\v 8 I saw that there was a terrace around the temple. The terrace was the foundation for those side rooms; it was three and two-tenths meters high.
+\v 9 The outer wall of those side rooms was two and seven-tenths meters thick. All around the sanctuary there was an open area between those side rooms.
 
 \s5
 \v 10 The open areas were near the priests' rooms that were surrounding the courtyard; there was a distance of eleven meters between the two sets of side rooms all around the sanctuary.
-\v 11 There were two doors from those side rooms into another open area; one faced north and one faced south. This open area was two and three-quarters meters wide.
+\v 11 There were two doors from those side rooms into another open area; one faced north and one faced south. This open area was two and seven-tenths meters wide.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 12 There was a large building on the west side of the temple area. It was thirty-eight meters wide, and it had a wall two and three-quarters meters thick and forty-nine meters long.
+\v 12 There was a large building on the west side of the temple area. It was thirty-eight meters wide, and it had a wall two and seven-tenths meters thick and forty-eight meters long.
 \p
 \v 13 Then the man measured the temple. It was fifty-four meters long, and the temple courtyard, where the large building was, was fifty-four meters wide. The building and its wall measured the same.
 \v 14 The courtyard on the east side of the temple, across the front of the temple, was also fifty-four meters wide.
@@ -2847,7 +2849,7 @@
 \p
 \v 15 Then he measured the building on the west side. Including its walls, it was also fifty-four meters long.
 \p The outer walls of the holy place, of the very holy place, and the portico,
-\v 16 the inner walls above and below the narrow windows, and the galleries on all the storys—all these things were covered with thin panels of wood.
+\v 16 the inner walls above and below the narrow windows, and the galleries on all the stories—all these things were covered with thin panels of wood.
 \v 17 All the walls inside the temple were decorated with carvings of winged creatures and palm trees; between each figure of a winged creature was a carving of a palm tree.
 
 \s5
@@ -2857,7 +2859,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 21 At the entrance to the main room of the temple there were square doorposts, all the same in appearance.
-\v 22 In front of the very holy place there was a wooden altar. It was one and three-fifths meters high and one meter wide on all four sides. Its corners and base and sides were all made of wood. The man said to me, "This is the table that is in the presence of Yahweh."
+\v 22 In front of the very holy place was a wooden altar. It was one and six-tenths meters high and one meter wide on all four sides. Its corners and base and sides were all made of wood. The man said to me, "This is the table that is in the presence of Yahweh."
 \v 23 The holy place and the very holy place had folding doors.
 \v 24 Each door consisted of two parts that swung on hinges.
 
@@ -2873,8 +2875,8 @@
 \v 3 In that building there was one group of rooms that faced the inner courtyard. The distance between those rooms and the sanctuary, the main temple building, was eleven meters. These rooms were built on three stories. Each set of rooms had a walkway over the set of rooms below it. There were rooms that overlooked the open area of the outer courtyard.
 
 \s5
-\v 4 To one side of the rooms was a walkway that was five and two-fifths meters wide and fifty-four meters long. All the doors of the rooms were on their north side.
-\v 5 Each set of rooms was narrower than the set of rooms below them, because each upper sets had a walkway in front .
+\v 4 To one side of the rooms was a walkway that was five and four-tenths meters wide and fifty-four meters long. All the doors of the rooms were on their north side.
+\v 5 Each set of rooms was narrower than the set of rooms below them because each upper set had a walkway in front.
 \v 6 The rooms on the upper levels had no pillars to support them as there were in the courtyard, because those rooms were supported by the walls of the rooms below.
 
 \s5
@@ -2885,13 +2887,13 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 10 On the eastern side, along the outer wall of the outer courtyard, next to the temple courtyard, there was also a set of rooms.
-\v 11 There was a walkway in front of them. These rooms were like the rooms on the north side. They had the same length and width, and also the same kind of entrances.
+\v 11 There was a walkway in front of them. These rooms were like the rooms on the north side. They had the same length and width and also the same kind of entrances.
 \v 12 There were also doorways into rooms on the south side that were similar to what was on the north side. There was an inside passage with an outer door; the passage had doors into all the rooms. At the east end of the passage was an outside door leading into it.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 Then the man said to me, "The rooms on the northern and southern sides that overlook the temple sanctuary are only for Yahweh's special purposes. Here the priests who offer sacrifices to Yahweh will eat their portions of those offerings. Because these rooms are special, they will be used to store the offerings for Yahweh: The flour for the flour offerings, for the offerings for the sins that people have committed, and for the offerings that people make for their sins.
-\v 14 When the priests leave the temple, they will not be allowed to immediately enter the outer courtyard. First they must remove the clothes that they had been wearing inside the holy place, because those clothes are special, reserved for their work. They must put on other clothes before they enter the parts of the temple area where the other people gather."
+\v 13 Then the man said to me, "The rooms on the northern and southern sides that overlook the temple sanctuary are only for Yahweh's special purposes. Here the priests who offer sacrifices to Yahweh will eat their portions of those offerings. Because these rooms are special, they will be used to store the offerings for Yahweh: the flour for the flour offerings, the offerings for the sins that people have committed, and the offerings that people make so that they will no longer be guilty.
+\v 14 When the priests leave the temple, they will not be allowed to immediately enter the outer courtyard. First they must remove the clothes that they had been wearing inside the holy place because those clothes are special, reserved for their work. They must put on other clothes before they enter the parts of the temple area where the other people gather."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -2901,7 +2903,7 @@
 \v 16-19 He measured the four sides of the area. There was a wall around the area that was 270 meters long on each side.
 
 \s5
-\v 20 He measured the wall that separated what was sacred from the areas that were not sacred on four sides. The wall was five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide.
+\v 20 He measured the wall that separated what was sacred from the areas that were not sacred on four sides. The wall was 270 meters long and 270 meters wide.
 
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 \c 43
@@ -2912,21 +2914,21 @@
 \s5
 \v 3 What I saw in this vision was like what I had seen in my earlier visions, first by the Kebar Canal and later when God came to destroy Jerusalem. I prostrated myself on the ground.
 \v 4 The glory of Yahweh entered the temple through the east entrance,
-\v 5 and then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner courtyard, while the glory of Yahweh filled the temple.
+\v 5 and then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner courtyard while the glory of Yahweh filled the temple.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 6 Then, while the man was standing beside me, I heard someone speak to me from inside the temple.
-\v 7 He said, "Son of man, this is my temple, the place where I sit on my throne and where I rest my feet. This is where I will live with the Israelite people forever. The Israelite people and their kings will never again disgrace me by worshiping other gods at their hilltop places of idol worship, or by building lifeless idols of their past kings.
-\v 8 Your people placed their altars near mine, and the doorposts of their temples were next to the doorposts of my temple. There was only a wall between them. And they disgraced me by the detestable things that they did. So I was angry and destroyed them.
+\v 7 He said, "Son of man, this is my temple, the place where I sit on my throne and where I rest my feet. This is where I will live with the Israelite people forever. The Israelite people and their kings will never again disgrace me by worshiping other gods at their hilltop places of idol worship or by building lifeless idols of their past kings.
+\v 8 Your people placed their altars near mine, and the doorposts of their temples were next to the doorposts of my temple. There was only a wall between them. And they disgraced me by the detestable things they did. So I was angry and destroyed them.
 
 \s5
 \v 9 Now they must stop this disgusting worship of idols and these rituals to honor kings' idols. If they stop doing those things, I will live among them forever.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 10 Son of man, describe to the Israelite people what this temple that I have shown you in a vision is like, in order that they will be ashamed of the sins.
-\v 11 If they are ashamed of all the evil things that they have done, tell them all about the temple that I showed you: Its design, the exits and entrances, and everything else about it. And tell them all my laws and regulations about worshiping me there. Write all these things down while they watch you, in order that they will be able to faithfully obey them.
+\v 10 Son of man, describe to the Israelite people what this temple that I have shown you in a vision is like so that they will be ashamed of their sins.
+\v 11 If they are ashamed of all the evil things that they have done, tell them all about the temple that I showed you—its design, the exits and entrances, and everything else about it. And tell them all of my laws and regulations about worshiping me there. Write all these things down while they watch you so that they will be able to faithfully obey them.
 
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 \p
@@ -2939,8 +2941,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 15 The hearth at the top of the altar is another two meters high, and there is a hornlike projection that juts up from each of the four corners.
-\v 16 That place at the top of the altar is square, six and one-half meters long on each side.
-\v 17 The upper ledge that borders the hearth is also a square, seven and three-fifths meters long on each side, and has a rim all around that is twenty-seven centimeters wide. There is a gutter measuring one-half meter at the bottom of the altar. There are steps leading up to the east side of the altar."
+\v 16 That place at the top of the altar is square, six and four-tenths meters long on each side.
+\v 17 The upper ledge that borders the hearth is also a square, seven and one-half meters long on each side, and has a rim all around that is twenty-seven centimeters wide. There is a gutter measuring one-half meter at the bottom of the altar. There are steps leading up to the east side of the altar."
 
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 \p
@@ -2948,20 +2950,20 @@
 \v 19 You must present to the priests a young bull to be an offering for the sins of the priests, the descendants of Levi, from the clan of Zadok, who come near to the altar to serve me.
 
 \s5
-\v 20 You must take some of the blood from the bull and smear it on the four projections of the altar and on the four corners of the upper ledge, and all around the rim, so I will accept the altar, and to make the altar belong only to me.
+\v 20 You must take some of the blood from the bull and smear it on the four projections of the altar and on the four corners of the upper ledge and all around the rim so that I will accept the altar and to make the altar belong only to me.
 \v 21 You must burn that bull outside the temple in the part of the temple area designated for that purpose.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 22 The next day you must offer a male goat that has no defects, to be an offering, so I will accept the altar. Then you must purify the altar again, as you did with the bull that was sacrificed.
+\v 22 The next day, you must offer a male goat that has no defects to be an offering so that I will accept the altar. Then you must purify the altar again, as you did with the bull that was sacrificed.
 \v 23 When you have finished doing all that, you must offer a young bull and a ram, both of them without any defects.
 \v 24 You must offer them to me, Yahweh. The priests must sprinkle salt on them and burn them completely on the altar as a sacrifice to me.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 25 Then, each day for seven days you must bring to the priest a male goat to be sacrificed for an offering, so I will accept the altar. You must also sacrifice a young bull and a ram, each without any defect, that the priests will provide.
-\v 26 For seven days the priests will consecrate the altar, so I will accept the altar. By doing that they will set it apart for my honor.
-\v 27 At the end of those seven days, starting on the following day, the priests will continue to put on the altar offerings to be completely burned and offerings to promise friendship with me. Then I will accept you. That it what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare."
+\v 25 Then each day for seven days, you must bring to the priest a male goat to be sacrificed for an offering so that I will accept the altar. You must also sacrifice a young bull and a ram, each without any defect, that the priests will provide.
+\v 26 For seven days, the priests will consecrate the altar so that I will accept the altar. By doing that, they will set it apart for my honor.
+\v 27 At the end of those seven days, starting on the following day, the priests will continue to put on the altar offerings to be completely burned and offerings to promise friendship with me. Then I will accept you. That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare."
 
 \s5
 \c 44
@@ -2982,17 +2984,17 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 8 Instead of doing what I commanded you to do in regard to my holy things, you appointed foreigners to be in charge of my temple.
-\v 9 But this is what I, Yahweh, have said: No foreigners, no men who are not circumcised, no godless people are permitted to enter my temple, not even foreigners who live among you Israelites permanently.
+\v 9 But this is what I, Yahweh, have said: No foreigners—men who are not circumcised, godless people—are permitted to enter my temple, not even foreigners who live among you Israelites permanently.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 10 Many of the descendants of Levi deserted me along with most of the Israelite people, and started to worship idols. I will punish them for their sin.
-\v 11 I will permit them to work in my temple and to be in charge of the temple gates. They will be able to slaughter the animals that will be completely burned on the altar, and to burn other sacrifices for the people, and they will be able to help the people.
+\v 10 Many of the descendants of Levi deserted me along with most of the Israelite people and started to worship idols. I will punish them for their sin.
+\v 11 I will permit them to work in my temple and to be in charge of the temple gates. They will be able to slaughter the animals that will be completely burned on the altar and to burn other sacrifices for the people, and they will be able to help the people.
 \v 12 But because they helped the people to worship idols and caused many of the people of Israel to sin by worshiping idols, I swear that I will punish them for their sin.
 
 \s5
 \v 13 They must not come near me to serve as priests. They must not come near any sacred things or the holy offerings. They will be ashamed of the things that they did, of which they are guilty.
-\v 14 But I will still put them in charge of the work in the temple, and allow them to do all the work that needs to be done there.
+\v 14 But I will still put them in charge of the work in the temple and allow them to do all the work that needs to be done there.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -3005,24 +3007,24 @@
 \v 18 They must wear white linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists. They must not wear anything that would cause them to perspire.
 
 \s5
-\v 19 Before they go out into the courtyard where other people are, they must take off the clothes that they have been wearing and leave them in the sacred rooms, and put on other clothes, in order that the people are not consecrated by touching the sacred clothes.
+\v 19 Before they go out into the courtyard where other people are, they must take off the clothes that they have been wearing and leave them in the sacred rooms and put on other clothes so that the people are not consecrated by touching the sacred clothes.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 20 The priests must not shave their heads or let their hair become long; but they must keep their hair trimmed.
+\v 20 The priests must not shave their heads or let their hair become long; they must keep their hair trimmed.
 \v 21 Priests must not drink wine before they enter the inner courtyard.
 \v 22 Also, priests must not marry widows of men who were not priests or women who have been divorced. They are permitted to marry only virgins or widows of other priests.
 
 \s5
-\v 23 They must teach the people the difference between things that are holy and things that are not, and teach them how to know what things are acceptable to me and what things are not.
+\v 23 They must teach the people the difference between things that are holy and things that are not and teach them how to know what things are acceptable to me and what things are not.
 \p
-\v 24 If there is a dispute between people, the priests are the ones who must serve as judges and decide matters according to my laws. They must obey all my laws and decrees concerning the sacred festivals, and they must treat my Sabbath days as special for me.
+\v 24 If there is a dispute between people, the priests are the ones who must serve as judges and decide matters according to my laws. They must obey all of my laws and decrees concerning the sacred festivals, and they must treat my Sabbath days as special for me.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 25 Priests are permitted to go near the corpse of a father or mother or son or daughter or brother or unmarried sister. But they must not defile themselves by going near a corpse of anyone else.
-\v 26 If a priest touches the corpse of a close relative, he must perform the rituals to become acceptable to serve me again. After he performs those rituals, he must wait seven days.
-\v 27 Then, on the day that he enters the inner courtyard again to serve me in the temple, he must give an offering to remove his guilt for having sinned. That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare.
+\v 25 Priests are permitted to go near the dead body of a father or mother or son or daughter or brother or unmarried sister. But they must not defile themselves by going near a dead body of anyone else.
+\v 26 If a priest touches the dead body of a close relative, he must perform the rituals to become acceptable to serve me again. After he performs those rituals, he must wait seven days.
+\v 27 Then, on the day he enters the inner courtyard again to serve me in the temple, he must give an offering to remove his guilt for having sinned. That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -3030,41 +3032,41 @@
 \v 29 They will eat the offerings made from flour, offerings to remove people's guilt for having sinned, and offerings made when people fail to give to me the things that they are required to give. Everything else in Israel that is dedicated to me will belong to the priests.
 
 \s5
-\v 30 The best fruits of the first part of each harvest and all the other special gifts will belong to the priests. You must give them the first part of your ground flour, in order that I will bless the people who live in your house.
+\v 30 The best fruits of the first part of each harvest and all the other special gifts will belong to the priests. You must give them the first part of your ground flour so that I will bless the people who live in your house.
 \v 31 Priests must not eat the flesh of any bird or animal that is found dead or that has been killed by wild animals.
 
 \s5
 \c 45
 \p
-\v 1 When the land of Israel is divided among the twelve tribes, you must present to Yahweh one part of the land to be a sacred district. It will be thirteen and one-half kilometers long and five and two-fifths kilometers wide. This entire area will be reserved for Yahweh.
-\v 2 Part of that area, a square about 270 meters long on each side will be left empty all around the temple area. An additional strip of ground, about twenty-seven meters wide, will be left empty all around the temple area.
+\v 1 When the land of Israel is divided among the twelve tribes, you must present to Yahweh one part of the land to be a sacred district. It will be thirteen kilometers long and five and four-tenths kilometers wide. This entire area will be reserved for Yahweh.
+\v 2 Part of that area, a square about 270 meters long on each side, will be left empty all around the temple area. An additional strip of ground, about twenty-seven meters wide, will be left empty all around the temple area.
 
 \s5
-\v 3 Inside the sacred district, measure a section thirteen and one-half kilometers long and five and two-fifths kilometers wide. It will be where the sanctuary is, and that is the most holy place.
-\v 4 It will be the sacred portion of the land for the priests who work in the temple, those who come near to Yahweh to serve him. It will be a place very special for Yahweh, for the priests' houses, as well as for the temple.
-\v 5 An area thirteen and one-half kilometers long and five and two-fifths kilometers wide will be for the descendants of Levi who work in the temple. That area will belong to them, and they can build towns there to live in.
+\v 3 Inside the sacred district, measure a section thirteen kilometers long and five and four-tenths kilometers wide. It will be where the sanctuary is, and that is the most holy place.
+\v 4 It will be the sacred portion of the land for the priests who work in the temple, those who come near to Yahweh to serve him. It will be a place very special for Yahweh, for the priests' houses as well as for the temple.
+\v 5 An area thirteen kilometers long and five and two-fifths kilometers wide will be for the descendants of Levi who work in the temple. That area will belong to them, and they can build towns there to live in.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 6 Alongside this sacred area will be a section of land that is thirteen and one-half kilometers long and two and three-quarters kilometers wide. It will be for a city where anyone in Israel may live.
+\v 6 Alongside this sacred area will be a section of land that is thirteen kilometers long and two and seven-tenths kilometers wide. It will be for a city where anyone in Israel may live.
 \p
-\v 7 The ruler of Israel will have the land that is on each side of the area formed by the temple district and the city. It will extend to the west from the western end of those areas, and to the east from the eastern end of those areas. The far eastern and far western borders of the king's land will measure the same as the parallel borders of those other tracts.
+\v 7 The ruler of Israel will have the land that is on each side of the area formed by the temple district and the city. It will extend to the west from the western end of those areas and to the east from the eastern end of those areas. The far eastern and far western borders of the king's land will measure the same as the parallel borders of those other tracts.
 
 \s5
 \v 8 This portion of land will belong to the ruler. So the rulers will no longer have any excuse for oppressing my people and stealing their land. They will assign the remaining parts of the land in Israel to each tribe, to be divided up among the people.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 9 This is what Yahweh the Lord says: You rulers of Israel must stop acting violently and oppressing the people! You must do what is fair and right. Stop taking land from the people; stop forcing them off their land!
+\v 9 This is what Yahweh the Lord says: You rulers of Israel must stop acting violently and oppressing the people! You must do what is fair and right. Stop taking land from the people; stop forcing them off of their land!
 \v 10 Also, you must use accurate scales and accurate containers for measuring things.
-\v 11 The baskets for measuring dry things and the containers for measuring liquids must be the same size; each must hold 22 liters—the dry measure was called an ephah and the liquid measure was called a bath.
+\v 11 The baskets for measuring dry things and the containers for measuring liquids must be the same size; each must hold twenty-two liters—the dry measure was called an ephah and the liquid measure was called a bath.
 \v 12 When you weigh things, you must use weights that everyone accepts as being correct. The shekel is to be divided into twenty gerahs, and a mina will be worth sixty shekels.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 13 You must present to the ruler one measure of wheat or barley for every sixty measures that you harvest.
 \v 14 You must give him two and one-fifth liters of olive oil for every 220 liters that you produce.
-\v 15 Also, Yahweh declares that you must take one sheep or goat from every two hundred in your flocks in the lush pastures of Israel. You must offer a sheep or a goat for various offerings: Burnt offerings and offerings to promise friendship with Yahweh, offerings to atone for the people's sins. "This is the Lord Yahweh's command."
+\v 15 Also, Yahweh declares that you must take one sheep or goat from every two hundred in your flocks in the lush pastures of Israel. You must offer the wheat or barley and the oil for the flour offerings, and you must offer the sheep or goats for the burnt offerings and the offerings to make peace with Yahweh. These are to atone for the people's sins. This is the Lord Yahweh's command.
 
 \s5
 \v 16 All the people in the land must join in bringing these offerings to the ruler of Israel.
@@ -3072,9 +3074,9 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 18 This is also what the Lord Yahweh declares: "On the first day of the first month of each year you must take one young bull that has no defects and sacrifice it to purify the temple.
+\v 18 This is also what the Lord Yahweh declares: "On the first day of the first month of each year, you must take one young bull that has no defects and sacrifice it to purify the temple.
 \v 19 The priest must take some of the blood of the offering to atone for the people's sins, and he must smear it on the temple doorposts, on the four corners of the upper ledge surrounding the altar, and on the gateposts of the inner courtyard.
-\v 20 You must do the same thing on the seventh day of the month for any people who sin accidentally or without knowing that they sinned. By doing that you will purify the temple.
+\v 20 You must do the same thing on the seventh day of the month for any people who sin accidentally or without knowing that they sinned. By doing that, you will purify the temple.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -3082,7 +3084,7 @@
 \v 22 On the first day, the ruler must provide a bull as an offering for himself and for the other people of the country.
 
 \s5
-\v 23 And every day during those seven days he must provide seven bulls and seven rams that have no defects, to be an offering to make it possible for Yahweh to accept the people.
+\v 23 And every day during those seven days, he must provide seven bulls and seven rams that have no defects to be an offering to make it possible for Yahweh to accept the people.
 \v 24 He must also provide twenty-two liters of flour as an offering with each bull, and the same amount of flour with each ram, and also four liters of olive oil with each offering of flour.
 
 \s5
@@ -3093,31 +3095,31 @@
 \c 46
 \p
 \v 1 This is also what Yahweh the Lord declares: 'The east gateway of the inner courtyard must be shut during the six days you work each week, but on the Sabbath days and on the days when there is a new moon, the gateway must be open.
-\v 2 The ruler must enter the courtyard through the entry room of the gateway, and stand alongside the gateposts of the inner courtyard. Then the priests must sacrifice the animal that will be completely burned on the altar, and also his offering to promise friendship with me. The ruler must worship me at the entrance of the inner gateway, and then he must leave. But the gate will not be shut until that evening.
+\v 2 The ruler must enter the courtyard through the entry room of the gateway and stand alongside the gateposts of the inner courtyard. Then the priests must sacrifice the animal that will be completely burned on the altar and also his offering to promise friendship with me. The ruler must worship me at the entrance of the inner gateway, and then he must leave. But the gate will not be shut until that evening.
 
 \s5
 \v 3 On the Sabbath days and on the days when there is a new moon, the people also must worship me at the entrance of this gate.
 \v 4 The offering that the ruler brings to be completely burned on the Sabbath day must be six male lambs and one ram, all with no defects.
-\v 5 The offering that he gives with the ram is twenty-two liters of flour, and the flour that he offers with the lambs should be as much as he pleases, along with one liter of olive oil for every twenty-two liters of flour .
+\v 5 The offering that he gives with the ram is twenty-two liters of flour, and the flour that he offers with the lambs should be as much as he pleases, along with one liter of olive oil for every twenty-two liters of flour.
 
 \s5
-\v 6 Then each day that there is a new moon, he must offer a young bull, six lambs and a ram, all with no defects.
+\v 6 Then each day that there is a new moon, he must offer a young bull, six lambs, and a ram, all with no defects.
 \v 7 He must also provide twenty-two liters of flour with the bull, the same amount of flour with the ram, and as much flour as he wants with the lambs, along with one liter of olive oil with every twenty-two liters of flour.
 \v 8 When the ruler enters the temple area, he must enter through gate and its entry room, and he must go out by the same way.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 9 When the people come to worship me at the festivals that I, Yahweh, have commanded, those who enter the temple area through the north gateway must go out through the south gateway. And those who enter through the south gateway must go out through the north gateway. People must not go out through the gateway through which they entered; they must go out through the opposite gateway.
-\v 10 The ruler must go in when the other people go in, and go out when the people go out.
+\v 10 The ruler must go in when the other people go in and go out when they go out.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 11 During the festivals that you hold for me, the king must present twenty-two liters of flour along with a bull or a ram, and as much flour as he wants to with the lambs, along with one liter of olive oil with every twenty-two liters of flour.
-\v 12 When the ruler gives an offering that is not required, either one to be completely burned or an offering to celebrate fellowship with me, the gate on the east side must be opened for him. He must then present his offerings like he does on the Sabbath days. Then he will go out, and after he goes out, they must shut the gateway.
+\v 11 During the festivals that you hold for me, the king must present twenty-two liters of flour along with a bull or a ram and as much flour as he wants to with the lambs, along with one liter of olive oil with every twenty-two liters of flour.
+\v 12 When the ruler gives an offering that is not required, either one to be completely burned or an offering to celebrate fellowship with me, the gate on the east side must be opened for him. He must then present his offerings as he does on the Sabbath days. Then he will go out, and after he goes out, they must shut the gateway.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 In the morning of every day, someone must provide a one year old lamb with no defects to be an offering to me, one that the priests will completely burn.
+\v 13 In the morning of every day, someone must provide a one-year-old lamb with no defects to be an offering to me, one that the priests will completely burn.
 \v 14 Someone must also provide each morning an offering of flour. It must be three and one-half liters of flour mixed with one liter of olive oil. You must never stop presenting these offerings of flour and olive oil to me, Yahweh, each day.
 \v 15 The lamb and the offering of flour and olive oil must be presented to me every morning, to be completely burned on the altar.
 
@@ -3125,7 +3127,7 @@
 \p
 \v 16 This is what Yahweh the Lord declares: If the ruler gives some of his land to one of his sons, to belong to him permanently, it will then eventually belong to his son's descendants.
 \v 17 However, if he gives some of his land to one of his servants, the servant is allowed to keep that land until the year of the celebration of Jubilee. Then the ruler must take possession of it again. But if the ruler gives land to his sons, that land will belong to them permanently.
-\v 18 The ruler must not take any land that the people own and force them to live somewhere else. The land that he gives to his sons must be from his own property, not from anyone else's property, in order that none of my people will be separated from his own property.'"
+\v 18 The ruler must not take any land that the people own and force them to live somewhere else. The land that he gives to his sons must be from his own property, not from anyone else's property, so that none of my people will be separated from his own property.'"
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -3135,7 +3137,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 21 Then the man brought me to the outer courtyard and led me around to its four corners. In each corner I saw an enclosed area;
-\v 22 each was twenty-two meters long and sixteen meters wide.
+\v 22 each was twenty-one meters long and sixteen meters wide.
 \v 23 Around the inside of each of these enclosed areas was a stone ledge, with places to make fires all around under the ledge.
 \v 24 The man said to me, "These are the kitchens where the descendants of Levi who work in the temple will cook the sacrifices that the people bring."
 
@@ -3149,21 +3151,21 @@
 \p
 \v 3 As the man continued walking toward the east, I saw that he had a measuring line in his hand. He measured off 540 meters and then led me through water that covered my ankles.
 \v 4 Then he measured off another 540 meters and led me through water that was up to my knees. Then he measured off another 540 meters and led me through water that was up to my waist.
-\v 5 Then he measured off another 540 meters and led me through water that was now a river that I could not cross, because the water was so deep; to continue farther would have required me to swim.
+\v 5 Then he measured off another 540 meters and led me through water that was now a river that I could not cross because the water was so deep; to continue farther would have required me to swim.
 
 \s5
 \v 6 Then he asked me, "Son of man, think about this carefully." Then he led me onto the bank of the river
 \p
 \v 7 and back along it toward in the direction from where we had come. There I saw many trees growing on each side of the river.
-\v 8 He said to me, "This water flows east and goes down into the Dead Sea. And when the water enters the Dead Sea, it stays fresh and restores the water of the Sea and makes it fresh again.
+\v 8 He said to me, "This water flows east and goes down into the Dead Sea. And when the water enters the Dead Sea, it stays fresh and restores the water of the sea and makes it fresh again.
 
 \s5
-\v 9 Swarms of fish will live in the water wherever the river flows. There will be many fish in the Dead Sea, because the water that flows into it will cause the salt water to become fresh water. Wherever the river flows, everything alongside it will flourish.
+\v 9 Swarms of fish will live in the water wherever the river flows. There will be many fish in the Dead Sea because the water that flows into it will cause the salt water to become fresh water. Wherever the river flows, everything alongside it will flourish.
 \v 10 Fishermen will stand along the riverbank to catch fish. From En Gedi on the western side to En Eglaim there will be places to spread fishing nets. There will be many kinds of fish, as there are in the Great Sea.
 
 \s5
 \v 11 But the swamps and marshes along the shore will not become fresh; they will be left to make salt.
-\v 12 Many kinds of fruit trees will grow on both sides of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and they will always have fruit. They will bear new fruit every month, because the water that comes from the temple flows continually to the trees. Their fruit will be good to eat and their leaves will be good for healing."
+\v 12 Many kinds of fruit trees will grow on both sides of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and they will always have fruit. They will bear new fruit every month because the water that comes from the temple flows continually to the trees. Their fruit will be good to eat and their leaves will be good for healing."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -3173,9 +3175,9 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 15 These will be the boundaries of the land:
-\q On the north side, it will extend from the Mediterranean Sea east along the road to Hethlon, and then on to Zedad,
+\q On the north side, it will extend from the Mediterranean Sea east along the road to Hethlon and then on to Zedad,
 \q
-\v 16 to Berothah, and then on to Sibraim, which is on the border between Damascus and Hamath. The boundary will run as far as Hazer Hattikon, which is on the border of the region of Hauran.
+\v 16 to Berothah and then on to Sibraim, which is on the border between Damascus and Hamath. The boundary will run as far as Hazer Hattikon, which is on the border of the region of Hauran.
 \v 17 So the boundary will extend from the Mediterranean Sea to Hazar Enan on the border between Hamath to the north and Damascus to the south. That will be the northern boundary.
 \q
 
@@ -3216,30 +3218,30 @@
 \p
 \v 8 South of Judah's land will be an area that the entire nation will give to me; you will set it apart for special use. The temple will be in the center of this area. It will be as long as any of the portions of land assigned a tribe of Israel.
 \p
-\v 9 This special area will be thirteen and one-half kilometers long and five and two-fifths kilometers wide. This is what you will give to Yahweh.
+\v 9 This special area will be thirteen kilometers long and five and four-tenths kilometers wide. This is what you will give to Yahweh.
 
 \s5
-\v 10 Within this special area, these will what you will assign to the priests: you will assign them an area of land measuring thirteen and one-half kilometers on the northern and southern side; and five and two-fifths kilometers on the western and eastern sides. The temple of Yahweh will be in the middle of this special area.
+\v 10 Within this special area, these will be what you will assign to the priests: You will assign them an area of land measuring thirteen kilometers on the northern and southern side and five and four-tenths kilometers on the western and eastern sides. The temple of Yahweh will be in the middle of this special area.
 \v 11 The temple area will be for the priests, those set apart for my honor, who are descendants of Zadok. They are ones who served me faithfully and did not turn away from Yahweh as the descendants of Levi did.
 \v 12 When the land is distributed, you will offer that special area to me, for it to be the priests' special portion; it is land that you will treat as very special to me. Next to the priests' territory will be where the other descendants of Levi will live.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 The land that you will assign to the descendants of Levi will be the same size as the land that the priests will receive. So together, these two portions of land will be thirteen and one-half kilometers long and about eleven kilometers wide.
+\v 13 The land that you will assign to the descendants of Levi will be the same size as the land that the priests will receive. So together, these two portions of land will be thirteen kilometers long and eleven kilometers wide.
 \v 14 None of this special land, this best land, may ever be sold or traded or used by other people, because it belongs to Yahweh. It is set apart for him.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 15 Another strip of land thirteen and one-half kilometers long and about two and three-quarters kilometers wide will be allotted for other people iving in the special area to use. There they may build homes and have pasturelands, and there will be a city in the middle of this area.
-\v 16 The city will be square, two and two-fifths kilometers long on each side.
+\v 15 Another strip of land thirteen kilometers long and about two and seven-tenths kilometers wide will be allotted for other people living in the special area to use. There they may build homes and have pasturelands, and there will be a city in the middle of this area.
+\v 16 The city will be square, two and four-tenths kilometers long on each side.
 
 \s5
-\v 17 There will be an open area around the city, within the special area, that will be about 135 meters deep in each direction.
-\v 18 Outside the city there will be a farming area that will extend five and two-fifths kilometers on the east side and five and two-fifths kilometers on the west side. Men who work there will produce food for the people who work in the city.
+\v 17 There will be an open area around the city, within the special area, that will be 130 meters deep in each direction.
+\v 18 Outside the city there will be a farming area that will extend five and four-tenths kilometers on the east side and five and four-tenths kilometers on the west side. Men who work there will produce food for the people who work in the city.
 
 \s5
 \v 19 Those who come from the various tribes to work in the city may also work in this farmland.
-\v 20 This entire special area, including the land given for Yahweh's use and the city, will be a square that is thirteen and one-half kilometers long on each side.
+\v 20 This entire special area, including the land given for Yahweh's use and the city, will be a square that is thirteen kilometers long on each side.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -3261,23 +3263,23 @@
 \p
 \v 27 South of Zebulun's land will be the land for the tribe of Gad.
 \p
-\v 28 The southern boundary of Gad's land will extend south from En Gedi to the springs at Meribah Kadesh, and then to the west along the brook of Egypt to the Great Sea.
+\v 28 The southern boundary of Gad's land will extend south from En Gedi to the springs at Meribah Kadesh and then to the west along the brook of Egypt to the Great Sea.
 \p
 \v 29 This is a description of the land that you must assign to the tribes of Israel, for it to belong to them permanently.' That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 30 Here are the city gates: On the north side, which is two and two-fifths kilometers long,
+\v 30 Here are the city gates: On the north side, which is two and four-tenths kilometers long,
 \v 31 there will be three gates. Each gate will have the name of one of the tribes of Israel. The first one will be named for Reuben, the next for Judah, the next for Levi.
 \p
-\v 32 On the east side, also two and two-fifths kilometers long, will be gates named for Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan.
+\v 32 On the east side, also two and four-tenths kilometers long, will be gates named for Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 33 On the south side, also two-fifths of a kilometer long, will be gates named for Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun.
+\v 33 On the south side, also two and four-tenths kilometers long, will be gates named for Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun.
 \p
-\v 34 On the west side, also two-fifths of a kilometer long, will be gates named for Gad, Asher, and Naphtali.
+\v 34 On the west side, also two and four-tenths kilometers long, will be gates named for Gad, Asher, and Naphtali.
 \p
-\v 35 The distance around the city would be nine and three-quarters kilometers.
+\v 35 The distance around the city will be nine and seven-tenths kilometers.
 \p From that time on, the name of the city will be "Yahweh is there."
 

28-HOS.usfm

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1 Yahweh gave Hosea these messages during the years that Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah, and when Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
+\v 1 Yahweh gave Hosea these messages during the years that Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah and when Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
 \p
 \v 2 When Yahweh spoke for the first time through the prophet Hosea, he said, "Go and marry a prostitute. She will have children because she has given herself to other men. When you marry a prostitute, this will show how my people have been so shamefully unfaithful to me. It will show them how they have left me, their God."
 
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 10 One day in the future, the people of Israel will be as numerous as the grains of sand by the sea. No one will be able to count them. I have said to Israel, 'You are not my people,'—but one day I will say to them, 'You are the people whom I will protect and love.'
-\v 11 On that day I, Yahweh, will gather all the people of Judah and bring them together with all the people of Israel. They will choose from among themselves a single leader, and they will go out of that land in which they were held as exiles. On that day they will say, 'Great is the day of Jezreel!' (Jezreel means, 'God plants his people in his land.')
+\v 10 One day in the future, the people of Israel will be as numerous as the grains of sand by the sea. No one will be able to count them. I have said to Israel, 'You are not my people'—but one day I will say to them, 'You are the people whom I will protect and love.'
+\v 11 On that day I, Yahweh, will gather all the people of Judah and bring them together with all the people of Israel. They will choose from among themselves a single leader, and they will go out of that land in which they were held as exiles. On that day they will say, 'Great is the day of Jezreel!' (Jezreel means 'God plants his people in his land.')
 
 \s5
 \c 2
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 \q2 Israel must stop worshiping idols. She must stop acting like a woman who leaves her husband and goes to other men.
 \q1
 \v 3 If she does not stop,
-\q1 I will take her clothes off her and make her naked like she was when she was born.
+\q1 I will take her clothes off of her and make her naked like she was when she was born.
 \q2 I will make her like the barren wilderness—dry and lifeless;
 I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 6 So I will block Israel's road with thornbushes,
-\q1 and I will build a wall around her,
+\q1 and I will build a wall around her
 \q2 so that she cannot find the path to take.
 \q1
 \v 7 Israel will run after her idols
@@ -78,13 +78,13 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 8 The people will say this, because they did not know that it was I, Yahweh, who had given them their grain, new wine, and olive oil.
-\q2 It was I who had given them much silver and gold so they would become wealthy.
+\v 8 The people will say this because they did not know that it was I, Yahweh, who had given them their grain, new wine, and olive oil.
+\q2 It was I who had given them much silver and gold so that they would become wealthy.
 \q1 But then they made all that gold and silver into objects to use in worshiping the idol Baal.
 \q1
 \v 9 Therefore I will take away from Israel all the grain I gave them.
 \q2 When the wheat is ready for harvest, I will keep them from getting it.
-\q1 The new wine that I gave them, I will take it away.
+\q1 The new wine that I gave them—I will take it away.
 \q2 I will take away from them all the wool and linen I gave them to make clothes for themselves,
 \q1 the clothes that covered their nakedness.
 
@@ -104,12 +104,12 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 \q1
 \v 12 I will destroy all of Israel's grapevines and fig trees.
 \q2 This is because Israel is like a woman who says, 'These were the things that my lovers gave me in payment.'
-\q1 I, Yahweh, will turn those places into a forest, a thicket in which no vines can grow,
+\q1 I, Yahweh, will turn those places into a forest, a thicket in which no vines can grow
 \q2 and where wild animals will devour any fruit that grows there.'
 \q1
 \v 13 I will punish this woman named Israel for all the times that she burned incense to worship the Baal idols.
-\q1 She decorated herself with rings and jewelry, as a prostitute would adorn herself for her lovers.
-\q2 She used to follow her lovers—like Israel has gone after the Baals—those false gods that she worshiped.
+\q1 She decorated herself with rings and jewelry as a prostitute would adorn herself for her lovers.
+\q2 She used to follow her lovers as Israel has gone after the Baals—those false gods that she worshiped.
 \q2 And she forgot about me." This is what Yahweh says.
 
 \s5
@@ -133,21 +133,21 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 18 At that time I will make a covenant for them:
-\q2 it will be with all the wild animals and birds,
+\q2 It will be with all the wild animals and birds
 \q2 and even with the little animals that crawl along the ground.
 \q2 They will never harm my people again.
-\q1 I will promise to remove all the weapons that are used for fighting battles,
-\q2 the bows and arrows, and the swords, and every war, I will take them all away and destroy all of them.
+\q1 I will promise to remove from their nation all the weapons that are used for fighting battles—
+\q2 the bows and arrows and the swords—as well as every war; I will take them all away and destroy all of them.
 \q1 And I will let all of my people rest in peace;
 \q2 they will be not be afraid anymore.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 19 You will be like my wife forever, Israel.
-\q2 I will promise myself to you, by doing what is right, and by loving what is just.
+\q2 I will promise myself to you, by doing what is right and by loving what is just.
 \q2 I promise to love you and to show you kindness even when you do not deserve it.
 \q1
-\v 20 I will keep my promise to you, Israel. I will never lie to you;
+\v 20 I will keep my promise to you, Israel. I will never lie to you,
 \q2 and you will come to know me—my name is Yahweh.
 
 \s5
@@ -157,28 +157,28 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 \q1 "I will give a command to the sky,
 \q2 and the sky will pour out rain onto the ground.
 \q1
-\v 22 And the ground will provide grain, new wine and olive trees, and they will grow for the people of Israel.
+\v 22 And the ground will provide grain, new wine, and olive trees, and they will grow for the people of Israel.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 23 At that time, I will take care of the Israelite people
 \q2 as a farmer plants his own land and takes care of his crops.
-\q1 I will show my love to those people whom I called 'Not my People'.
-\q2 And those whom I called 'Not my People',
-\q1 I will now call by a new name: 'You are my People'.
+\q1 I will show my love to those people whom I called 'Not my People.'
+\q2 And those whom I called 'Not my People,'
+\q1 I will now call by a new name: 'You are my People.'
 \q2 They will say to me, 'You are our God.'"
 
 \s5
 \c 3
 \p
-\v 1 Then Yahweh said to me, "Go and love a woman, even though she is loved by another man, and she is also unfaithful to her husband. You will be like me, because I love the people of Israel, even though they worship other gods and eat raisin cakes in their honor."
+\v 1 Then Yahweh said to me, "Go and love a woman, even though she is loved by another man, and she is also unfaithful to her husband. You will be like me because I love the people of Israel even though they worship other gods and eat raisin cakes in their honor."
 \p
-\v 2 Even though she was a slave, owned by another person, I bought her for 170 grams of silver, and 330 liters of barley grain.
+\v 2 Even though she was a slave, owned by another person, I bought her for 170 grams of silver and 330 liters of barley grain.
 \v 3 Then I said to her, "You will live with me from now on. You will no longer be a prostitute who sleeps with various men. You will not belong to any other man, only to me, and I will be faithful to you and live with you for the rest of my life."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 4 When I do these things, this is to show that the people of Israel will live for a long time and not have any king ruling over them. They will have no prince, no sacrifices or pillars set up for worship, ephods or idols in their houses.
+\v 4 When I do these things, this is to show that the people of Israel will live for a long time and not have any king ruling over them. They will have no prince, sacrifices, or pillars set up for worship and no ephods or idols in their houses.
 \v 5 After some time, the people of Israel will return to Yahweh; they will hope that he will receive them back. They will hope to have a descendant of David for their king again. In the later time, they will come to Yahweh to honor him and tremble before him because of his goodness to them.
 
 \s5
@@ -198,9 +198,9 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 \q1
 \v 3 Because of what the people are doing, the land is now a wilderness.
 \q2 Every creature that lives here is dying,
-\q1 from the animals that live in the fields,
+\q1 from the animals that live in the fields
 \q2 to the birds that fly in the sky;
-\q1 even the fish in the sea, they are also dying.
+\q1 even the fish in the sea are also dying.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 11 You love to do forbidden sexual acts,
+\v 11 You love to do forbidden sexual acts
 \q2 and to drink wine and new wine.
 \q2 All these things have made it impossible for you to know right from wrong.
 \q1
@@ -256,12 +256,12 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 \q1 Following your example, your daughters decided to become prostitutes,
 \q2 and your daughters-in-law committed adultery.
 \q1
-\v 14 But I will not punish the women for turning to prostitution,
+\v 14 But I will not punish the women for turning to prostitution
 \q1 or your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery.
 \q2 It is the men who are doing the very same thing!
 \q1 The men sleep with prostitutes,
 \q2 and they offer sacrifices in the houses of idols where there are prostitutes.
-\q2 It is true: "A people who have not lived as they were taught to live, will come to destruction."
+\q2 It is true: "A people who have not lived as they were taught to live will come to destruction."
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 \q1
 \v 17 Ephraim has gone to join idols.
 \q2 Leave those people alone!
-\v 18 When they have finished drinking all their alcoholic drinks
+\v 18 When they have finished drinking all of their alcoholic drinks,
 \q2 then they will commit even more sexual sins.
 \q2 Their rulers love to do these shameful things.
 \v 19 Someone will attack them; he will be like a whirlwind that lifts them up and carries them away to another place.
@@ -300,22 +300,22 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 \q1 You people in Ephraim, you have acted like prostitutes.
 \q2 Yes, you people in Israel are polluted.
 \q1
-\v 4 Ephraim and Israel are not able to ask me to forgive them, because of what they have done.
+\v 4 Ephraim and Israel are not able to ask me to forgive them because of what they have done.
 \q1 They have chosen to be unfaithful and immoral,
 \q2 and they do not know me, Yahweh."
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 5 Israel is proud; because of this others know how guilty she is.
+\v 5 Israel is proud; because of this, others know how guilty she is.
 \q2 The sins that the people of Israel have committed are making them faithless to Yahweh.
-\q2 Judah is becoming faithless, too.
+\q2 Judah is also becoming faithless.
 \q1
 \v 6 They are hoping to persuade Yahweh to have mercy on them.
 \q2 They are coming to sacrifice sheep and cattle to him from their flocks and herds.
-\q1 But they will find that Yahweh will have no mercy on them
+\q1 But they will find that Yahweh will have no mercy on them,
 \q2 because he has stopped helping them; he is leaving them alone.
 \q1
-\v 7 They did not keep their promises to Yahweh.
+\v 7 They did not keep their promises to Yahweh,
 \q2 and they have had children by foreign women.
 \q1 So at the time of the new moon festivals,
 \q2 they will perish, together with their cultivated fields."
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 \q2 they steal land that does not belong to them.
 \q1 I will punish them in a way that will make them perish.
 \q1
-\v 11 Ephraim will suffer greatly; the people will perish when I punish them,
+\v 11 Ephraim will suffer greatly; the people will perish when I punish them
 \q2 because they were determined to worship idols.
 
 \s5
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 \q1 He has hurt us and made us fall down,
 \q2 but he will treat our wounds and bind them up so they will heal.
 \q1
-\v 2 After the second day he will restore our strength;
+\v 2 After the second day he will restore our strength,
 \q2 and on the third day he will raise us up,
 \q2 so we will live close to him.
 \q1
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 \q2 than when you give me offerings that the priests burn on the altar.
 \q1
 \v 7 But like Adam, the first man,
-\q2 the covenant that they made with me and that I, Yahweh, made with them—they broke it.
+\q2 they broke covenant that they made with me and that I, Yahweh, made with them.
 \q2 When they did that, they were not faithful to me.
 
 \s5
@@ -447,12 +447,12 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 3 The wicked things they do bring delight to their king,
+\v 3 The wicked things that they do bring delight to their king,
 \q2 and the king's officials are happy when they tell lies.
 \q1
 \v 4 They are all sexually immoral;
 \q2 they burn with lust like a baker's oven that is burning hot;
-\q1 once he lights the fire, he does not need to put any more wood on it,
+\q1 once he lights the fire, he does not need to put any more wood on it
 \q1 until he is ready to bake the bread.
 \q1
 \v 5 At the king's festivals, his officials do outrageous things because they are drunk with wine,
@@ -464,18 +464,18 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 \q2 They are quietly angry all night,
 \q1 and they are openly angry in the morning.
 \q1
-\v 7 All those officials become so angry at the king,
-\q2 that they kill all their rulers.
-\q1 In the end, all their kings were killed;
-\q2 not one of them called on me, Yahweh, to help."
+\v 7 All those officials become so angry at the king
+\q2 that they kill all of their rulers.
+\q1 In the end, all of their kings were killed;
+\q2 not one of them called on me, Yahweh, to help.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 8 "Israel joins with other peoples,
+\v 8 Israel joins with other peoples,
 \q2 but all the people are like a flat cake that is only cooked on one side; they are weak.
 \q1
 \v 9 People who come from far away have taken away Israel's strength.
-\q2 The nation is gorwing very weak, like an old man whose hair is turning gray.
+\q2 The nation is growing very weak, like an old man whose hair is turning gray.
 \q1 But the nation does not know it is weak.
 
 \s5
@@ -485,17 +485,17 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 \q1 They will not try to persuade me to have mercy on them, no matter what happens to them.
 \q1
 \v 11 Israel is like a foolish bird, a dove that anyone can easily deceive.
-\q2 He calls out first to Egypt, and then like a bird, he flies up to Assyria.
+\q2 He calls out first to Egypt, and then, like a bird, he flies up to Assyria.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 12 But when they are on their way there,
-\q2 I will spread my net over them,
+\q2 I will spread my net over them;
 \q2 I will bring them down as a hunter brings down birds from the air into a net.
 \q1 I will punish them all together.
 \q1
 \v 13 How terrible it will be
-\q2 for my people, because they have abandoned me!
+\q2 for my people because they have abandoned me!
 \q1 They will perish
 \q2 because they have rebelled against me.
 \q1 I wanted to rescue them,
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ I will make her like a woman dying from thirst in the desert.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 16 They go this way and that, but never to me, God Most High.
+\v 16 They go this way and that but never to me, God Most High.
 \q2 They are like a bow that cannot shoot.
 \q1 Their officers will be killed by their enemies' swords;
 they will die because they have insulted me.
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \c 8
 \q1
 \v 1 Yahweh says, "Get a trumpet and blow it.
-\q2 There are enemies swooping down over my people,
+\q2 There are enemies swooping down over my people
 \q1 as an eagle swoops down over a victim.
 \q2 This is because my people have left my covenant with them
 \q1 and have violated the law I gave them.
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \q2 The people of Israel have forgotten me, the God who made them a nation. Instead of honoring me, they have built huge homes to live in.
 \q1 And instead of worshiping Yahweh, the people of Judah have built walls around their cities for protection.
 \q2 So this is what I, Yahweh, will do:
-\q1 I will send a fire that will destroy all their palaces and all their fortified cities."
+\q1 I will send a fire that will destroy all of their palaces and all of their fortified cities."
 
 \s5
 \c 9
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \q1
 \v 4 No longer will they pour out wine to offer it to Yahweh;
 \q2 their sacrifices will not please him at all.
-\q2 Their sacrifices will be as unacceptable to God as the food that people eat at funerals;
+\q2 Their sacrifices will be as unacceptable to God as the food that people eat at funerals,
 \q1 and everyone who eats that food becomes unacceptable to God.
 \q1 That food will be all they eat;
 \q2 they will not be able to bring it into Yahweh's house to offer it to him.
@@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \v 6 Look! If you escape and the Assyrians do not kill you,
 \q2 the army of Egypt will capture you.
 \q2 You will die there, and the people in the city of Memphis will bury you.
-\q1 All your wealth in silver will be covered up
+\q1 All of your wealth in silver will be covered up
 \q1 and lost when the desert plants grow into your homes and take them over.
 
 \s5
@@ -682,8 +682,8 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \q2 that is where I started to hate them.
 \q1 And because of all the sinful deeds they have done,
 \q2 I will drive them out of the place they live.
-\q1 I will not love them any more;
-\q2 all their officials fight against me.
+\q1 I will not love them anymore;
+\q2 all of their officials fight against me.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -704,9 +704,9 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \q1 But the more their fruit increased, the richer they became.
 \q2 With that money they made more stone columns in honor of their idols.
 \q1
-\v 2 They are deceitful and cannot be trusted;
+\v 2 They are deceitful and cannot be trusted,
 \q2 but the time has come that they must pay for their sins.
-\q1 Yahweh will break their altars into pieces—
+\q1 Yahweh will break into pieces their altars—
 \q2 the places where they gave sacrifices to their idols,
 \q2 and he promises to destroy those pillars beside which they worshiped their false gods.
 
@@ -748,13 +748,13 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 9 People of Israel, since the days of Gibeah you have been sinning;
-\q2 it is as if you have been living there ever since then, because you think as they did.
+\q2 it is as if you have been living there ever since then because you think as they did.
 \q1 Enemies will attack you evildoers at Gibeah.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 10 Yahweh says, "When I decide to act, I will punish them.
-\q2 peoples will gather to fight against them;
+\q2 Peoples will gather to fight against them;
 \q1 those peoples will capture them and put them in chains
 \q2 because of their many sins.
 \q1
@@ -762,7 +762,7 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \q2 that loves to thresh grain, separating out the grain from the chaff,
 \q1 and I did not put a heavy yoke on her tender neck.
 \q2 But now I will put Ephraim under that yoke,
-\q1 and Judah must plow.
+\q1 and Judah must plow,
 \q2 and Jacob must break up the ground with the harrow.
 
 \s5
@@ -770,7 +770,7 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \v 12 Plow, now, and do what is right,
 \q2 and you will reap the fruit of faithful love.
 \q1 Do the hard work of breaking up the unplowed ground,
-\q2 for now is the time for you to ask Yahweh to have mercy on you,
+\q2 for now is the time for you to ask Yahweh to have mercy on you
 \q1 so that he may come and rescue you because he does what is right.
 \q1
 \v 13 You have sinned wickedly, and now you will have to bear the consequences.
@@ -781,7 +781,7 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 14 The sound of war will be among your people;
-\q2 all your fortified cities will be destroyed.
+\q2 all of your fortified cities will be destroyed.
 \q1 It will be as when Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in battle,
 \q2 when mothers were killed while they were holding their children.
 \q1
@@ -807,14 +807,14 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \q2 I was like a father, holding them by their little arms.
 \q1 But they did not understand that I was the one who was taking care of them.
 \q1
-\v 4 With kindness I guided them, with the tender cords of human kindness I led them.
+\v 4 With kindness I guided them; with the tender cords of human kindness I led them.
 \q2 I loved them so much that I guided them and led by my own hand.
 \q1 They worked very hard, like a yoke of oxen pulling a plow, but I made their yoke light and loosened its weight on their jaws, so they did not suffer pain.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 5 But Israel will certainly return to Egypt,
-\q2 and Assyria will certainly rule over them,
+\q2 and Assyria will certainly rule over them
 \q1 because they refused to turn back to me and worship me as their God.
 \q1
 \v 6 Their enemies will attack Israel's cities with swords;
@@ -835,7 +835,7 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \q2 I earnestly long to have mercy on you.
 \q1
 \v 9 I have decided not to punish you severely.
-\q1 I do not want to destroy you, the people of my Israel, whom I love.
+\q1 I do not want to destroy you, the people of my Israel whom I love.
 \q2 Human beings would easily decide to do that,
 \q2 but I am God, not human.
 \q1 I am the Holy One who lives among you;
@@ -867,7 +867,7 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \q2 they do only things that will destroy them.
 \q2 They tell more and more lies; they do more and more acts of violence.
 \q1 They make a treaty with Assyria,
-\q2 and they send olive oil to Egypt,
+\q2 and they send olive oil to Egypt
 \q1 to persuade those nations to protect them.
 \q1
 \v 2 Yahweh is also accusing the people of Judah of breaking his covenant.
@@ -900,20 +900,20 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \q1
 \v 8 The people of Israel boast,
 \q2 "We are very rich,
-\q1 and we have found ways to make ourselves even more wealthy than we are now.
-\q2 In all our buying and selling, no one can see anything wrong in what we do."
+\q1 and we have found ways to make ourselves even wealthier than we are now.
+\q2 In all of our buying and selling, no one can see anything wrong in what we do."
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 9 But Yahweh says, "I am Yahweh, whom you should worship;
 \q2 I am the one who brought your ancestors out of Egypt.
-\q1 I will force you away from your homes and make you live in tents again,
+\q1 I will force you away from your homes and make you live in tents again
 \q2 just as when you live in tents for a few days every year
 \q1 when you celebrate the Festival of Shelters.
 \q1
-\v 10 Many times I spoke to the prophets and gave them messages, for them to give to you;
+\v 10 Many times I spoke to the prophets and gave them messages for them to give to you;
 \q2 and I gave them many visions for you,
-\q2 and I gave them parables, for them to speak to you."
+\q2 and I gave them parables for them to speak to you."
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -932,7 +932,7 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \q2 and he took care of them by the prophet who led them.
 \q1
 \v 14 The people of Israel have caused Yahweh to become very angry;
-\q2 their Lord says that they are guilty of the death of many, and that their guilt remains on them.
+\q2 their Lord says that they are guilty of the death of many and that their guilt remains on them.
 \q2 He will pay them back because they have insulted him with their shameful deeds.
 
 \s5
@@ -955,7 +955,7 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \q1
 \v 3 So the people of Israel will disappear
 \q2 as quickly as the clouds that form in the morning,
-\q1 as quickly as the dew, when the sun dries it up.
+\q1 as quickly as the dew when the sun dries it up.
 \q2 They will disappear as easily as the chaff that the wind blows away from the threshing place.
 \q2 They will disappear as easily as the smoke that goes out of the chimney.
 
@@ -981,7 +981,7 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \q1
 \v 8 I will come against you like a female bear when someone steals her cubs,
 \q2 and I will rip open your chests.
-\q1 Like a lion that attacks—
+\q1 I will completely destroy you like a lion that attacks—
 \q2 as a wild animal would tear you apart.
 
 \s5
@@ -998,17 +998,17 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 12 I have kept track of all the wicked deeds that you people of Israel have committed; I have recorded all your guilt.
+\v 12 I have kept track of all the wicked deeds that you people of Israel have committed; I have recorded all of your guilt.
 \q1
 \v 13 You are like a baby ready to be born,
-\q2 but you are foolish,
+\q2 but you are foolish
 \q1 because you are like a child who refuses to be born.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 14 Will I really keep you from dying?
 \q2 Will I rescue you from dying?
-\q1 No! I will let you die
+\q1 No! I will let you die;
 \q2 I will let you perish.
 \q2 I have no more compassion left for you."
 
@@ -1023,7 +1023,7 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \q1
 \v 16 The people of the city of Samaria are guilty because they have rebelled against God.
 \q2 Their enemies will kill them with swords.
-\q1 they will thrown their children far down to the ground and kill them;
+\q1 They will throw their children far down to the ground and kill them;
 \q2 they will rip open their pregnant women."
 
 \s5
@@ -1032,24 +1032,24 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \v 1 Israel, return to Yahweh your God!
 \q2 You have sinned because you have done wicked things.
 \q1
-\v 2 So now, return to Yahweh, and think about how you will confess your sins to him.
+\v 2 So now, return to Yahweh and think about how you will confess your sins to him.
 \q2 Say this to him:
-\q1 "Take away all our sins,
+\q1 "Take away all of our sins
 \q2 and accept us; please be kind to us.
-\q1 Please accept us back, so that we may praise you in our words and song.
+\q1 Please accept us back so that we may praise you in our words and song.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 3 Assyria cannot save us.
 \q2 It is useless for us to ride horses into battle.
-\q1 We will never again say, 'You are our gods'
+\q1 We will never again say 'You are our gods'
 \q2 to the idols we have made with our own hands.
 \q2 Even children with no fathers look to you, Yahweh, and they find that you are kind to them."
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 4 Yahweh says, "I will forgive these people for having stopped honoring me;
-\q2 I will love them without ceasing,
+\q2 I will love them without ceasing
 \q2 because I have decided to stop being angry at them.
 \q1
 \v 5 I will help the people of Israel as the dew helps the ground.
@@ -1070,7 +1070,7 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \v 8 You people of Israel, I will completely stop you from worshiping idols.
 \q2 It is I, Yahweh, who will take care of you. No idol can do that.
 \q1 I am like a cypress tree that grows and stays fresh the entire year;
-\q2 all your good gifts come from me."
+\q2 all of your good gifts come from me."
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -1078,5 +1078,5 @@ they will die because they have insulted me.
 \q2 those who have understanding will study these things and pay careful attention to them.
 \q1 The way in which Yahweh wants us to live is right.
 \q2 Those who do what is right live by them.
-\q2 The rebellious people, however, sin, unable to obey him.
+\q2 However, the rebellious people sin, unable to obey him.
 

29-JOL.usfm

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 4 I am talking about the locusts that have eaten our crops.
-\q2 The first swarm of locusts came and cut many of the leaves of the crops;
+\q2 The first swarm of locusts came and cut many of the leaves of the crops,
 \q1 then another swarm came and ate the rest of the leaves,
 \q2 then another swarm came hopping along,
 \q1 and finally another swarm came
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 5 You people who are drunk, wake up!
-\q2 Wake up and wail loudly,
+\q2 Wake up and wail loudly
 \q1 because all the grapes are ruined,
-\q2 and so there will be no new wine!
+\q2 so there will be no new wine!
 \q1
 \v 6 Huge swarms of locusts have entered our country.
 \q2 They are like a powerful army
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 \q1 The locusts have teeth that are as sharp as the teeth of lions!
 \q1
 \v 7 They have destroyed our grapevines and our fig trees
-\q2 by stripping off and eating all the bark,
+\q2 by stripping off and eating all the bark
 \q2 with the result that the branches are white and bare.
 
 \s5
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 11 You farmers, grieve!
-\q2 You who take care of grapevines, wail,
+\q2 You who take care of grapevines, wail
 \q1 because the grain has been destroyed;
 \q2 there is no wheat or barley growing.
 \q1
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 13 You priests, put on rough sack clothes and wail.
 \q2 You who serve God by offering sacrifices on the altar,
-\q1 wear those sack clothes all night to show that you are mourning,
+\q1 wear those sack clothes all night to show that you are mourning
 \q2 because there is no flour or wine to be offered at the temple of your God.
 \q1
 \v 14 Set apart a day for when the people should go without food.
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@
 \v 18 Our cattle groan, searching for a pasture with some grass to eat,
 \q2 and the sheep bleat because they are suffering.
 \q1
-\v 19 Yahweh, I cry out to you,
+\v 19 Yahweh, I cry out to you
 \q2 because our pastures and our forests have dried up in the hot sunshine.
 \q1
 \v 20 It is as though even the wild animals cry out to you
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 1 Blow trumpets on Mount Zion,
 \q2 God's sacred hill in Jerusalem!
-\q1 Tell the people of Judah that they should be afraid and tremble,
+\q1 Tell the people of Judah that they should be afraid and tremble
 \q2 because it will soon be the time for Yahweh to punish us further.
 \q1
 \v 2 That will be a very dark and gloomy day;
@@ -175,8 +175,8 @@
 \p
 \v 12 But Yahweh says,
 \q1 "In spite of these disasters that you have experienced,
-\q2 you can return to me with all your inner being.
-\q1 Weep, and mourn, and fast to show that you are sorry that you have abandoned me.
+\q2 you can return to me with all of your inner being.
+\q1 Weep, mourn, and fast to show that you are sorry that you have abandoned me.
 \q1
 \v 13 Do not tear only your clothes
 \q2 to show that you are sorry;
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@
 \q2 and instead act mercifully toward you.
 \q1 If he does that, he will bless you
 \q2 by giving you plenty of grain and wine
-\q2 in order that you can offer some of those things for sacrifices to him.
+\q2 so that you can offer some of those things for sacrifices to him.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@
 \q2 and the grapevines will be covered with grapes.
 \q1
 \v 23 You people of Jerusalem,
-\q2 rejoice about what Yahweh, your God, will do for you.
+\q2 rejoice about what Yahweh your God will do for you.
 \q1 He will send abundant rain at the right time—
 \q2 in the spring and in the autumn,
 \q2 as he did previously.
@@ -264,12 +264,12 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 26 You, my people, will eat until your stomachs are full.
-\q2 Then you will praise me, Yahweh, your God,
-\q2 for the wonderful things that I have done for you.
+\q2 Then you will praise me, Yahweh your God,
+\q2 for the wonderful things I have done for you.
 \q1 And never again will I let others shame you.
 \q1
 \v 27 When that happens, you will know that I am always among you,
-\q2 that I am Yahweh, your God,
+\q2 that I am Yahweh your God,
 \q2 and that there is no other God.
 \q1 Never again will I let others shame you."
 
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@
 \v 2 Then in the Valley of Jehoshaphat I will gather together the people of all the other nations;
 \q2 I will judge and punish them
 \q1 because they scattered my Israelite people
-\q2 and forced them to go to other countries,
+\q2 and forced them to go to other countries
 \q2 and because they divided up my land among themselves.
 \q1
 \v 3 They played games of chance to determine who would get each of my people.
@@ -315,14 +315,14 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 4 You people of the cities of Tyre and Sidon, and you people of Philistia—you are angry at me, but you have no reason to be. If you are trying to get revenge on me, I will very quickly get revenge on you.
+\v 4 You people of the cities of Tyre and Sidon and you people of Philistia—you are angry at me, but you have no reason to be. If you are trying to get revenge on me, I will very quickly get revenge on you.
 \v 5 You took the silver and gold and other valuable things from my temple and put them into your own temples.
 \v 6 You dragged away the people of Jerusalem and other places in Judah, and you took them far away and sold them to Greek traders.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 7 But I will make it possible for my people to return from the places to which you sold them, and I will do to you what you did to them.
-\v 8 Then I will cause some of your sons and your daughters to be sold to the people of Judah! And they will be sold to the Sabea people, who live far away. That will certainly happen because I, Yahweh, have said it."
+\v 8 Then I will cause some of your sons and your daughters to be sold to the people of Judah! And they will be sold to the people of Sheba, who live far away. That will certainly happen because I, Yahweh, have said it."
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -346,11 +346,11 @@
 \v 12 Yahweh says, "The people in the nations near Judah must get ready and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
 \q2 There I will sit as a judge, and I will punish them.
 \q1
-\v 13 They are like crops that are ready to be harvested;
+\v 13 They are like crops that are ready to be harvested,
 \q2 so strike them as a farmer swings his sickle to cut the grain.
 \q1 They are like grapes that are piled high in the pits where they will be pressed;
 \q2 because they are very wicked,
-\q1 punish them severely now,
+\q1 punish them severely now
 \q2 as a farmer tramples on the grapes until the pits overflow with juice."
 
 \s5
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@
 \v 18 At that time, there will be vineyards covering the hills,
 \q2 and your cattle and goats on those hills will produce plenty of milk.
 \q2 The streams in Judah will never dry up,
-\q1 And a stream will flow from my temple into the Valley of Acacia northeast of the Dead Sea.
+\q1 and a stream will flow from my temple into the Valley of Acacias northeast of the Dead Sea.
 \q1
 \v 19 The armies of Egypt and Edom attacked the people of Judah
 \q2 and killed many people who had not done anything that was wrong.

30-AMO.usfm

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1 This is the message that Yahweh gave to Amos, a shepherd near the town of Tekoa south of Jerusalem. He received this message about Israel in a vision two years before the big earthquake. It was when Uzziah was the king of Judah and Jeroboam son of King Jehoash, was the king of Israel.
+\v 1 This is the message that Yahweh gave to Amos, a shepherd near the town of Tekoa south of Jerusalem. He received this message about Israel in a vision two years before the big earthquake. It was when Uzziah was the king of Judah and Jeroboam son of King Jehoash was the king of Israel.
 \p
 \v 2 This is what Amos said:
 \q1 "Yahweh will shout very loudly;
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 5 I will cause the gates of Damascus to be broken down;
-\q2 I will get rid of the king of Biqat Aven
+\q2 I will get rid of the king of the Valley of Aven
 \q1 and the man who rules in Beth Eden.
 \q2 The people of Aram will be captured and taken to the region of Kir."
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 \q2 I will punish the people of Gaza because of the many sins that they have committed;
 \q2 I will not change my mind about punishing them,
 \q1 because they captured large groups of people and took them to Edom
-\q2 and sold them to become the slaves of the people there.
+\q2 and sold them to become slaves of the people there.
 \q1
 \v 7 I will cause a fire to completely burn the walls of Gaza
 \q2 and also destroy its fortresses.
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 9 Yahweh also said this to me:
-\q1 "I will punish the people of the city of Tyre because of the many sins that their people have committed;
-\q2 I will not change my mind about punishing them
+\q1 "I will punish the people of the city of Tyre because of the many sins that they have committed;
+\q2 I will not change my mind about punishing them,
 \q1 because they also captured large groups of our people and took them to Edom,
 \q2 disregarding the treaty of friendship that they had made with your rulers.
 \q1
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 11 Yahweh also said this to me:
-\q1 "I will punish the people of Edom because of the many sins that their people have committed;
+\q1 "I will punish the people of Edom because of the many sins that they have committed;
 \q2 I will not change my mind about punishing them,
 \q1 because they pursued the people of Israel, who descended from Esau's brother Jacob, and killed them with swords;
 \q2 they did not act mercifully toward them at all.
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
 \q2 and they continue to be angry with them.
 \q1
 \v 12 I will cause a fire to burn the district of Teman in Edom
-\q2 and completely burn the fortresses of Bozrah, the biggest city in Edom."
+\q2 and completely burn the fortresses of Bozrah, the largest city in Edom."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
 \q2 People will hear soldiers shouting and blowing trumpets loudly
 \q2 while I am causing Moab to be destroyed
 \q1
-\v 3 and while I am getting rid of its king and all its leaders.
+\v 3 and while I am getting rid of its king and all of its leaders.
 \q2 That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, have said it!"
 
 \s5
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@
 \q1 But at the end of each day, instead of returning that garment as Yahweh had commanded them to,
 \q2 they lie down on that garment at the places where they worship their gods!
 \q1 They make people pay money for various reasons,
-\q2 and then they drink it in the temples of their gods.
+\q2 and with that money they buy wine and drink it in the temples of their gods.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -157,22 +157,22 @@
 \q1
 \v 10 I brought your ancestors out of Egypt,
 \q2 and then I led them through the desert for forty years.
-\q2 Then I enabled them to conquer the land of the Amorites, Canaan.
+\q2 Then I enabled them to conquer Canaan, the land of the Amorites.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 11 I chose some of you Israelites to be prophets,
-\q2 and I chose others to be Nazir who were completely dedicated to me.
+\q2 and I chose others to be Nazirites who were completely dedicated to me.
 \q1 You people of Israel certainly know that what I have said is true!
 \q1
 \v 12 But you commanded the prophets to not speak the messages that I gave to them,
-\q1 and you persuaded the Nazir to drink wine,
+\q1 and you persuaded the Nazirites to drink wine,
 \q2 which I told them never to do.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 13 So I will crush you
-\q2 as the wheels of a wagon that is loaded with grain crushes whatever it rolls over.
+\q2 as the wheels of a wagon that is loaded with grain crush whatever they roll over.
 \q1
 \v 14 Even if you run fast,
 \q2 you will not escape;
@@ -193,13 +193,13 @@
 \s5
 \c 3
 \p
-\v 1 "You people of Israel, I brought all your ancestors out of Egypt;
+\v 1 "You people of Israel, I brought all of your ancestors out of Egypt,
 \q2 so listen to what I am saying about you.
 \q1
 \v 2 From all the peoples on the earth,
 \q2 I chose and took care of only you.
 \q1 That is the reason that I will punish you
-\q2 for the sins that you have committed."
+\q2 for the sins you have committed."
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -230,16 +230,16 @@
 \q2 he tells his prophets about it.
 \q1
 \v 8 Everyone certainly becomes terrified when they hear a lion roar;
-\q2 Yahweh the Lord has given messages to prophets,
-\q1 they certainly must proclaim those messages,
+\q2 Yahweh the Lord has given messages to prophets;
+\q1 they certainly must proclaim those messages
 \q2 even though they terrify people.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 9 Proclaim to the people who guard the strongholds in Ashdod,
-\q2 and to those who protect the fortresses in the land of Egypt, and say this,
+\v 9 Proclaim to the people who guard the strongholds in Ashdod
+\q2 and to those who protect the fortresses in the land of Egypt, and say this:
 \q1 "Come together on the hills of Samaria,
-\q2 and see how much the people in that city are frightened,
+\q2 see how much the people in that city are frightened,
 \q2 and see the way the people are suffering because of what they are doing to each other!"
 \q1
 \v 10 Yahweh says that the people there do not know how to do things that are right.
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@
 \q2 sometimes a shepherd is able to snatch from the lion's mouth
 \q2 only two legs or an ear of the sheep.
 \q1 Similarly, only a few people from Samaria will escape,
-\q2 just as if someone could save only a part of a couch or a bed from a fire in the house."U
+\q2 just as if someone could save only a part of a couch or a bed from a fire in the house."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -270,15 +270,15 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 15 I will cause the houses that they live in during the winter to be torn down;
-\q2 and the houses they live in during the summer, they will also be torn down.
+\v 15 I will cause the houses that they live in during the winter to be torn down,
+\q2 and the houses they live in during the summer will also be torn down.
 \q2 Beautiful big houses and houses that are decorated with ivory will be destroyed.
 \q1 That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, have said it!"
 
 \s5
 \c 4
 \q1
-\v 1 You wealthy women of Samaria who have grown fat like the fat cows of the region of Bashan.
+\v 1 You wealthy women of Samaria have grown fat like the fat cows of the region of Bashan.
 \q2 You oppress poor people,
 \q2 and you cause needy people to suffer.
 \q1 And you say to your husbands,
@@ -291,24 +291,24 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 3 Your enemies will drag you out
+\v 3 Your enemies will drag you out,
 \q2 and you will go through breaks in your city walls,
 \q2 and they will force you to go toward Harmon.
 \q1 That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, have said it!
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 4 Go ahead: go to the hilltop places of idol worship that are at Bethel and Gilgal, where many people worship me;
+\v 4 Go ahead: Go to the hilltop places of idol worship that are at Bethel and Gilgal, where many people worship me;
 \q2 go and rebel more and more against me!
 \q1 Offer sacrifices on the morning after you arrive,
 \q2 and bring me a tenth of your crops the next day.
 \q1
-\v 5 Bring offerings of bread to thank me,
+\v 5 Bring offerings of bread to thank me
 \q2 and other offerings that are not required,
-\q1 and boast about these offerings that you bring,
+\q1 and boast about these offerings that you bring
 \q2 because that is what you like to do;
 \q1 but you do it to impress others, not to please me.
-\q1 That is certainly true, because I, Yahweh, have said it.
+\q1 That is certainly true because I, Yahweh, have said it.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -333,36 +333,36 @@
 \q1
 \v 9 Many times I struck your crops with disease and mildew.
 \q2 The locusts devoured your gardens and vineyards,
-\q2 your fig trees and olive trees, yet you did not return to me
-\q1 —this is Yahweh's declaration."
+\q2 your fig trees and olive trees, yet you did not return to me.
+\q1 That is certainly true because I, Yahweh, have said it."
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 10 I caused you to experience plagues
 \q2 like the plagues that I sent to the people of Egypt.
-\q1 I caused many of your young men to die in battles.
+\q1 I caused many of your young men to die in battles
 \q2 and allowed your enemies to capture your horses.
 \q1 Many of your soldiers were killed,
 \q2 and your camps were filled with the smell of their corpses.
 \q2 But in spite of that, you rejected me.
-\q1 That is certainly true, because I, Yahweh, have said it!
+\q1 That is certainly true because I, Yahweh, have said it!
 \q1
-\v 11 I got rid of many of you,
-\q2 like the people in Sodom and Gomorrah.
+\v 11 I got rid of many of you
+\q2 as I got rid of the people in Sodom and Gomorrah.
 \q1 Those of you who did not die were like a burning stick that was snatched from a fire so that it would not burn completely.
 \q2 But in spite of that, you rejected me.
-\q1 That is certainly true, because I, Yahweh, have said it!
+\q1 That is certainly true because I, Yahweh, have said it!
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 12 So now, you people of Israel, I am going to punish you.
 \q2 Prepare to stand in front of me, your God, when I judge you!
 \q1
-\v 13 I created the mountains,
+\v 13 I created the mountains
 \q2 and the winds.
-\q1 I reveal to humans what I am thinking.
+\q1 I reveal to humans what I am thinking
 \q2 and sometimes cause the daylight to become dark like the night.
-\q1 I rule over everything,
+\q1 I rule over everything
 \q2 and even walk on the highest mountains on the earth!
 \q2 I am Yahweh, commander of the angel armies!"
 
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 3 This is what Yahweh the Lord says to the people of Israel:
-\q1 "When your enemies attack you,
+\q1 "When your enemies attack you
 \q1 and when a thousand of your soldiers go into battle,
 \q2 only a hundred will survive.
 \q1 When a hundred soldiers march out from a city to fight,
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@
 \q2 if you do that, you will remain alive.
 \q1 If you do not do that,
 \q2 Yahweh will come down on you descendants of Joseph like a fire;
-\q1 that fire will burn everything in Bethel
+\q1 that fire will burn everything in Bethel,
 \q2 and nothing will be able to save that town.
 \q1
 \v 7 You people distort what is right; you make others think that it is something very bitter;
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@
 \q1 because you hate those who challenge anyone who tries to make unjust decisions;
 \q2 you hate those who tell the truth in your courts.
 \q1
-\v 11 You oppress poor people and force them to pay big taxes.
+\v 11 You oppress poor people and force them to pay many taxes.
 \q1 So you have built big stone mansions for yourselves,
 \q2 but you will not be able to live in them.
 \q1 You have planted vineyards,
@@ -449,11 +449,11 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 14 In order to remain alive,
-\q2 you must stop doing what is wrong, and start doing what is right.
+\q2 you must stop doing what is wrong and start doing what is right.
 \q1 If you do that, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, will be with you
 \q2 as you claim that he always is.
 \q1
-\v 15 Love what is good, and hate what is evil!
+\v 15 Love what is good and hate what is evil!
 \q2 Try to cause judges in your courts to make decisions that are right!
 \q1 If you do those things, perhaps Yahweh, commander of the angel armies,
 \q2 will act mercifully toward you descendants of Joseph who are still alive.
@@ -463,10 +463,10 @@
 \v 16 "Because I, Yahweh, will punish you for your sins, this is what I have solemnly declared:
 \q1 People will be wailing loudly in every street,
 \q2 and people will be shocked in every plaza.
-\q1 Farmers will be called to come and weep,
+\q1 Farmers will be called to come and weep
 \q2 along with the other official mourners who will wail for those who have died.
 \q1
-\v 17 People will be wailing in your vineyards,
+\v 17 People will be wailing in your vineyards
 \q2 because I will punish you severely.
 \q1 That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, have said it!"
 
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 19 At that time, when you try to run from a lion,
 \q2 you will face a bear.
-\q1 When you run into your house to be safe,
+\q1 When you run into your house to be safe
 \q2 and you put your hand on the wall,
 \q2 it will be bitten by a snake.
 \q1
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 25 You Israelite people, your ancestors wandered through the wilderness for forty years;
-\q2 and during that time, they never brought any sacrifices and offerings to me!
+\q2 during that time, they never brought any sacrifices and offerings to me!
 \q1
 \v 26 But you carried the two idols that you have made—
 \q2 Sikkuth, the god whom you call 'king,'
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@
 \s5
 \c 6
 \q1
-\v 1 Terrible things will happen to you people in Jerusalem who are not worried about anything,
+\v 1 Terrible things will happen to you people in Jerusalem who are not worried about anything
 \q2 and also to you leaders who live on the hill of the city of Samaria, you who think that you are safe.
 \q1 You call yourselves the most important people in the world,
 \q2 and you are the leaders to whom Israelites go for help.
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 5 You create new songs as if you had nothing better to do,
-\q2 and you play them on your harps like King David did.
+\q2 and you play them on your harps as King David did.
 \q1
 \v 6 You drink entire bowlfuls of wine,
 \q2 and you put expensive oils on your bodies,
@@ -585,41 +585,41 @@
 \q1
 \v 14 But Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, declares,
 \q2 "I will cause a certain nation to attack you people of Israel;
-\q1 they will oppress you all the way from Hamath Pass in the northwest
+\q1 they will oppress you all the way from Lebo Hamath in the northwest
 \q2 to the brook of the Arabah.
 
 \s5
 \c 7
 \p
 \v 1 Yahweh our God showed me in a vision that he was going to send locusts to destroy our crops. It was going to happen right after the king's share of the hay had been harvested and before the rest of the hay was ready to be harvested.
-\v 2 In the vision I saw those locusts come, and they ate everything that was green. Then I cried out, "Yahweh our Lord, please forgive us! We Israelite people are very helpless; how will we be able to survive ?"
+\v 2 In the vision I saw those locusts come, and they ate everything that was green. Then I cried out, "Yahweh our Lord, please forgive us! We Israelite people are very helpless; how will we be able to survive?"
 \p
 \v 3 So Yahweh changed his mind and said, "That will not happen."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 4 Then this is what Yahweh our Lord showed me in another vision: He was calling to a fire to come and punish his people. In the vision I saw that the fire had dried up the water under all the land and also had burned everything on the land.
-\v 5 Then I cried out again, "Yahweh our Lord, I plead with you, please stop this! We Israelite people are very helpless; how will we be able to survive ?"
+\v 4 Then this is what Yahweh our Lord showed me in another vision: he was calling to a fire to come and punish his people. In the vision I saw that the fire had dried up the water under all the land and also had burned everything on the land.
+\v 5 Then I cried out again, "Yahweh our Lord, I plead with you, please stop this! We Israelite people are very helpless; how will we be able to survive?"
 \p
-\v 6 So Yahweh changed his mind again, and said, "That also will not happen."
+\v 6 So Yahweh changed his mind again and said, "That also will not happen."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 7 Then Yahweh showed me another vision. I saw him standing beside a wall. It was very straight because it had been built using a plumb line. Yahweh had the plumb line in his hand.
 \v 8 Yahweh asked me, "Amos, what do you see?"
 \p I replied, "A plumb line."
-\p Then Yahweh said, "Look, I am going to use a plumb line among my Israelite people, to show that they are like a wall that is not straight. I will not change my mind again about punishing them.
+\p Then Yahweh said, "Look, I am going to use a plumb line among my Israelite people to show that they are like a wall that is not straight. I will not change my mind again about punishing them.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 9 The hilltop places of idolatry where the descendants of Isaac worship idols will be destroyed.
-\q2 And the other important holy places in Israel will also be destroyed.
+\v 9 The hilltop places of idolatry where the descendants of Isaac worship idols will be destroyed,
+\q2 and the other important holy places in Israel will also be destroyed.
 \q1 And I will enable your enemies to attack your people with swords,
-\q2 and they will get rid of King Jeroboam and all his descendants."
+\q2 and they will get rid of King Jeroboam and all of his descendants."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 10 Then Amaziah the priest at Bethel, sent a message to Jeroboam, the king of Israel. In the message he said, "Amos is plotting against you among the Israelite people. I am worried that the people of this country will not know that he is wrong.
+\v 10 Then Amaziah, the priest at Bethel, sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel. In the message he said, "Amos is plotting against you among the Israelite people. I am worried that the people of this country will not know that he is wrong.
 \v 11 This is what he is saying:
 \q1 'Jeroboam will soon be killed by someone using a sword,
 \q2 and the people of Israel will be exiled.'"
@@ -643,7 +643,7 @@
 \q1 'Your wife will become a prostitute in this very city;
 \q2 your sons and daughters will die because their enemies will kill them.
 \q1 Others will measure your land
-\q2 and divide it up among themselves;
+\q2 and divide it up among themselves,
 \q1 and you yourself will die in a foreign country.
 \q1 And the people of Israel will certainly have to leave their country and go into exile.'"
 
@@ -663,22 +663,22 @@
 \q2 and you destroy the poor people.
 \p
 \v 5 You habitually say,
-\q1 "We wish that the new moon festival would end soon,
-\q2 in order that we may be allowed to sell our grain.
-\q1 We wish that the Sabbath would end soon,
-\q2 in order that we may again be permitted to sell our wheat.—
-\q1 When we sell it,
-\q2 we can charge a big price for it,
-\q1 and we can cheat people by using scales that do not weigh correctly.
+\q1 "We wish that the new moon festival would end soon
+\q2 so that we may be allowed to sell our grain.
+\q1 We wish that the Sabbath would end soon
+\q2 so that we may again be permitted to sell our wheat;
+\q1 when we sell it,
+\q2 we will charge a bigger price for it
+\q1 and we will cheat people by using scales that do not weigh correctly.
 \q1
 \v 6 We will sell wheat that is no good.
-\q2 Those who are needy and poor and who do not have money to buy things,
+\q2 Those who are needy and poor and who do not have money to buy things—
 \q1 we will make them our slaves
 \q2 by buying them with the little amount of silver with which we could buy a pair of sandals!"
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 7 Yahweh has declared, "As I live, I, whom you should worship: I solemnly declare that I will not forget the evil things that you have done.
+\v 7 Yahweh has declared, "As I live, I, whom you should worship: I solemnly declare that I will not forget the evil things you have done.
 \q1
 \v 8 Because of those evil things, your country will certainly soon tremble,
 \q2 and all of you will mourn.
@@ -706,7 +706,7 @@
 \q1 But it will not be a time when there is no food or water;
 \q2 it will instead be a time when there will be no messages from me for anyone to hear.
 \q1
-\v 12 People will stagger from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean Sea,
+\v 12 People will stagger from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean Sea
 \q2 and wander from the north to the east,
 \q1 searching for a message from me,
 \q2 but there will not be any.
@@ -718,7 +718,7 @@
 \q2 because they will be very thirsty.
 \q1
 \v 14 Those who make oaths using the name of their shameful god of Samaria,
-\q2 and those who solemnly promise to do something using the name of the god of Dan,
+\q2 those who solemnly promise to do something using the name of the god of Dan,
 \q2 and those who swear using the name of the god of Beersheba—
 \q1 they will all die;
 \q2 they will never get up again."
@@ -727,8 +727,8 @@
 \c 9
 \p
 \v 1 Yahweh showed me another vision. In the vision, I saw him standing next to the altar. He said,
-\q1 "Strike the tops of the pillars of the temple,
-\q2 until they become loose and fall down,
+\q1 "Strike the tops of the pillars of the temple
+\q2 until they become loose and fall down
 \q2 so that the foundation will shake.
 \q1 Then cause the pieces of the temple to fall down on the people who are inside.
 \q1 I will kill with a sword anyone who tries to flee;
@@ -755,11 +755,11 @@
 \v 5 When Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, touches the earth, it melts,
 \q2 and all over the earth many people die, and the others mourn for them.
 \q1 It is as though Yahweh causes the earth repeatedly to rise and fall
-\q2 like water in the Nile River rises and falls.
+\q2 as water in the Nile River rises and falls.
 \q1
 \v 6 He builds his beautiful palace in heaven
 \q2 and sets the sky to be like a dome over the earth.
-\q1 He scoops up the water from the ocean and puts it into clouds,
+\q1 He scoops up the water from the ocean and puts it into clouds
 \q2 and then empties the clouds onto the earth.
 \q2 His name is Yahweh.
 
@@ -778,9 +778,9 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 9 When I command it, it will be as though I will shake you Israelite people who are living in various nations,
-\q2 as farmer shakes a sieve to separate the stone pebbles from the grain
-\q2 in order that they do not fall on the ground with the grain.
+\v 9 When I command it, it will be as though I will shake you Israelite people who are living in various nations
+\q2 as a farmer shakes a sieve to separate the stone pebbles from the grain
+\q2 so that they do not fall on the ground with the grain.
 \q1
 \v 10 From among my people,
 \q2 all you sinful people who say, 'We will not experience disasters; nothing evil will happen to us,'
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@
 \v 11 "The kingdom over which King David ruled has been destroyed, like a house that collapsed and then became ruins.
 \q2 But on that day I will cause it to become a kingdom again.
 \q1 I will cause it to prosper again
-\q2 just like it did previously.
+\q2 just as it did previously.
 \q1
 \v 12 When that happens, your armies will seize the remaining part of the region of Edom,
 \q2 and they will also seize the other nations that previously belonged to me.
@@ -812,7 +812,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 14 I will cause you, my Israelite people, to prosper again.
 \q2 You will rebuild your towns and live in them.
-\q1 You will plant vineyards and drink the wine made from the grapes that grows in them.
+\q1 You will plant vineyards and drink the wine made from the grapes that grow in them.
 \q1
 \v 15 I will enable you to live in your land again,
 \q2 the land that I gave to your ancestors;

31-OBA.usfm

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1 This is a message that Yahweh our God gave to me, Obadiah, about the Edom people.
+\v 1 This is a message that Yahweh our God gave to me, Obadiah, about the people of Edom.
 \p Yahweh our God has told me this about the people of Edom:
 \q1 "I, Yahweh, have sent a messenger to other nations,
 \q2 telling them to prepare to go and attack Edom."
@@ -40,14 +40,14 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 7 All your allies will turn against you,
+\v 7 All of your allies will turn against you,
 \q2 and they will force you to leave your country.
 \q1 Those with whom you have peace now will trick you and defeat you.
 \q2 Those who eat meals with you now are planning to trap you,
 \q1 and then they will say to you, 'You are not as clever as you thought you were!'
 \q1
-\v 8 I, Yahweh, declare that at the time that I destroy Edom,
-\q2 I will punish the men who live in those cliffs who thought that they were wise.
+\v 8 I, Yahweh, declare that at the time I destroy Edom,
+\q2 I will punish the men who live in those cliffs who thought they were wise.
 \q1
 \v 9 The soldiers from Teman town will become terrified;
 \q2 all you people who are descendants of Esau will be wiped out."
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@
 \q2 So now you will be disgraced, and you will be destroyed forever.
 \q1
 \v 11 Foreigners entered the gates of Jerusalem
-\q2 and cast lots to share out among themselves the valuable things they found;
-\q1 but you were as bad as those foreigners,
+\q2 and cast lots to share among themselves the valuable things they found,
+\q1 but you were as bad as those foreigners
 \q2 because you just stood there and did not help the Israelites.
 
 \s5
@@ -69,23 +69,23 @@
 \q1 You should not have made fun of them when they were suffering.
 \q1
 \v 13 They are my people,
-\q2 so you should not have entered their city gates when they were experiencing those disasters
+\q2 so you should not have entered their city gates when they were experiencing those disasters,
 \q1 and you should not have laughed at them.
 \q2 And you should not have taken away their valuable possessions.
 \q1
 \v 14 You should not have stood at crossroads
 \q2 to catch those who were trying to escape.
 \q1 You should not have captured them and put them into the hands of their enemies
-\q2 when they were experiencing those disasters."
+\q2 when they were experiencing those disasters.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 15 "There will soon be the time when I, Yahweh, will judge and punish all the nations.
+\v 15 There will soon be the time when I, Yahweh, will judge and punish all the nations.
 \q2 And you people of Edom will experience the same disasters that you caused others to experience.
 \q1 The same evil things that you have done to others will happen to you.
 \q1
 \v 16 It is as though you drank a cup of very bitter liquid on Zion, my sacred hill.
-\q2 But I will punish all the other nations just as severely,
+\q2 But I will punish all the other nations just as severely
 \q1 and cause them to disappear completely.
 
 \s5
@@ -107,9 +107,9 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 20 The great number of the people of Israel who were captured and taken away, they will return to the land,
-\q2 and they will capture the land that was ruled by the people of Canaan, and they will take possession of the land as far north as Zarephath.
-\q1 Those people of Israel who were captured and taken away from Jerusalem, and who live in Sepharad, they will take possession of the cities in the Negev, which is the southern Judean wilderness.
+\v 20 The great number of the people of Israel who were captured and taken away will return to the land,
+\q2 they will capture the land that was ruled by the people of Canaan, and they will take possession of the land as far north as Zarephath.
+\q1 Those people of Israel who were captured and taken away from Jerusalem and who live in Sepharad will take possession of the cities in the Negev, which is the southern Judean wilderness.
 \q1
 \v 21 The army of Jerusalem will attack Edom and conquer it,
 \q2 and Yahweh will be their king.

32-JON.usfm

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1 One day Yahweh said to the prophet Jonah son of Amittai,
+\v 1 One day, Yahweh said to the prophet Jonah son of Amittai,
 \v 2 "I have seen how wicked the people are who live in the great city of Nineveh. Therefore go there and warn the people that I am planning to destroy their city because of their sins."
 \v 3 But instead of going to Nineveh, Jonah went in the direction of the city of Tarshish to get away from Yahweh. He went down to the city of Joppa. There he paid the money to travel on a ship that was going to the city of Tarshish, and he got on.
 
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 11 The storm kept getting worse and the waves kept getting bigger. So one of the sailors asked Jonah, "What should we do with you in order to make the sea become calm for us?"
-\v 12 He replied, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea. If you do that, it will become calm for you. I know that this terrible storm happened because I did not do what Yahweh told me to do."
+\v 12 He replied, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea. If you do that, it will become calm for you. I know that this terrible storm has happened because I did not do what Yahweh told me to do."
 \p
 \v 13 But the sailors did not want to do that. Instead, they tried hard to row the ship back to the land. But they could not do that, because the storm continued to get worse.
 
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
 \v 5 The water surrounded me and almost drowned me. Seaweed was wrapped around my head.
 \pi
 \v 6 I sank down to where the mountains start rising from the bottom of the sea. I thought that forever it would be as though my body would be in a prison inside the earth below me.
-\pi But you, Yahweh God, whom I worship, rescued me from going down to the place of the dead!
+\pi But you, Yahweh God whom I worship, rescued me from going down to the place of the dead!
 
 \s5
 \pi
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
 \v 1 Then Yahweh said to Jonah again,
 \v 2 "Go to that huge city of Nineveh, and tell them the message that I gave you previously."
 \p
-\v 3 So this time Jonah obeyed Yahweh, and he went to Nineveh. That city was very big. A person had to walk for three days to completely go through it.
+\v 3 So this time Jonah obeyed Yahweh, and he went to Nineveh. That city was very large. A person had to walk for three days to completely go through it.
 
 \s5
 \v 4 When Jonah arrived, he began walking through the city for one day. Then he started to proclaim to the people, "Forty days from now, Nineveh will be destroyed!"
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@
 \c 4
 \p
 \v 1 But Jonah felt that it was very bad that God had not destroyed Nineveh. He became very angry.
-\v 2 He prayed to Yahweh, "Oh, Yahweh, what you have done is just what I thought that you would do even before I left home. The reason I ran away to go to Tarshish was to stop this very thing from happening because I knew that you act very kindly and compassionately toward all people. You do not quickly become angry with people who do evil. You love people very much, and you change your mind about punishing people who sin.
+\v 2 He prayed to Yahweh, "Oh Yahweh, what you have done is just what I thought that you would do even before I left home. The reason I ran away to go to Tarshish was to stop this very thing from happening because I knew that you act very kindly and compassionately toward all people. You do not quickly become angry with people who do evil. You love people very much, and you change your mind about punishing people who sin.
 \v 3 So now, Oh Yahweh, since you will not destroy Nineveh as you said you would, please allow me to die because now it would be better for me to die than to continue to live."
 
 \s5
@@ -130,5 +130,5 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 10 But Yahweh said to him, "You were concerned about that vine when I caused it to wither, even though you did not take care of it, and you did not make it grow. It just grew up during one night and it completely withered at the end of the next night.
-\v 11 But there are more than 120,000 people in Nineveh, that huge city, who cannot tell right from wrong, and there are also many cattle. So is it not right for me to be concerned about those people and not want to destroy them?"
+\v 11 But there are more than 120,000 people in Nineveh—that huge city—who cannot tell right from wrong, and there are also many cattle. So is it not right for me to be concerned about those people and not want to destroy them?"
 

33-MIC.usfm

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1 Yahweh gave Micah, who was from Moresheth in Judah, these messages in visions about Samaria and Jerusalem during the time when Jotham, and then Ahaz, and then Hezekiah were the kings of Judah.
+\v 1 Yahweh gave Micah, who was from Moresheth in Judah, these messages in visions about Samaria and Jerusalem during the time when Jotham, then Ahaz, and then Hezekiah were the kings of Judah.
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 \q2 and walk over the high places where you worship idols.
 \q1
 \v 4 It will be as though the mountains will melt under his feet
-\q2 as wax melts in front of a fire,
+\q2 as wax melts in front of a fire
 \q1 and as water disappears
 \q2 when it rushes down into a valley.
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 \q1 I will cause the stones of its buildings to roll down into the valley.
 \q2 I will destroy the buildings down to their foundations.
 \q1
-\v 7 I will make others smash the idols in Samaria to pieces.
+\v 7 I will make other people smash the idols in Samaria to pieces.
 \q2 The gifts given to prostitutes at the temples of their idols will be burned in fire.
 \q1 Because people paid prostitutes there,
 \q2 their enemies will take away those idols and sell them to pay prostitutes in other countries.
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 11 You people who live in Shaphir,
-\q2 naked and ashamed, you will be taken to another country.
-\q1 You people in Beth Ezel should mourn,
+\q2 you will be taken naked and ashamed to another country.
+\q1 You people in Beth Ezel should mourn
 \q2 because no one from Zaanan will go out to help you.
 \q1
 \v 12 The people of Maroth
@@ -78,9 +78,9 @@
 \q2 hitch your horses to pull the chariots in which you can ride to flee from your enemies.
 \q1 The Israelite people rebelled against Yahweh,
 \q2 and you imitated them,
-\q1 and that caused the people of Jerusalem to start sinning, too.
+\q1 and that caused the people of Jerusalem to also start sinning.
 \q1
-\v 14 You people of Judah, send a farewell gift to the people of Moresheth,
+\v 14 You people of Judah, send a farewell gift to the people of Moresheth Gath
 \q2 because their enemies will soon destroy it.
 \q1 The kings of Israel will soon find out that the people of the town of Akzib will disappoint them.
 
@@ -90,13 +90,13 @@
 \q2 Yahweh will soon send someone to conquer your town.
 \q1 It will be necessary for the great leaders of Israel to go and hide in the cave near Adullam.
 \q1
-\v 16 You people of Judah, shave your heads and go into mourning,
+\v 16 You people of Judah, shave your heads and go into mourning
 \q2 because the children whom you love will soon go into exile.
 
 \s5
 \c 2
 \q1
-\v 1 Terrible things will happen to you who lie awake at night,
+\v 1 Terrible things will happen to you who lie awake at night
 \q2 planning to do wicked things.
 \q1 Then you get up at dawn, and you do those things
 \q2 as soon as you are able to do them.
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@
 \v 3 Therefore, this is what Yahweh says:
 \q1 "I will cause you people of Israel to experience disasters,
 \q2 and you will not be able to escape from them.
-\q1 You will no longer walk around proudly,
+\q1 You will no longer walk around proudly
 \q2 because when that happens, it will be a time of much trouble for you.
 \q1
 \v 4 At that time, your enemies will make fun of you rich people;
@@ -131,12 +131,12 @@
 \q2 Do not say that Yahweh is going to humiliate us by causing us to experience disasters!"
 \q1
 \v 7 But you people talk like that!
-\q2 You say that Yahweh never gets angry,
+\q2 You say that Yahweh never gets angry
 \q2 and that he never really punishes us."
 \q1 Of course, what I say certainly helps those who live in the right way.
 \q1
 \v 8 But Yahweh says,
-\q2 "Recently my people have been acting toward me like an enemy.
+\q2 "Recently, my people have been acting toward me like an enemy.
 \q1 You rich people refuse to return the coats of those who have borrowed money from you,
 \q2 the coats they gave you to promise that they would repay their debts.
 \q2 You take their coats without warning, surprising them as much as soldiers returning from war would be surprised by attacks instead of safety at home.
@@ -153,11 +153,11 @@
 \q1
 \v 11 You people want a prophet who will lie to you,
 \q2 saying, 'I will preach that you should drink plenty of wine and other alcoholic drinks!'
-\q2 That is the kind of prophet who would please you."
+\q2 That is the kind of prophet who would please you.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 12 "But on that day, you descendants of Jacob, I will bring back from exile the Israelite people who have survived.
+\v 12 But on that day, you descendants of Jacob, I will bring back from exile the Israelite people who have survived.
 \q1 I will gather you together
 \q2 like a shepherd gathers his sheep into a pen,
 \q2 and there will be many of you in your land.
@@ -177,8 +177,8 @@
 \q1
 \v 2 but you hate what is good
 \q1 and love what is evil.
-\q2 You act like butchers:
-\q1 it is as though you strip the skin off my people
+\q2 You act like butchers;
+\q1 it is as though you strip the skin off of my people
 \q2 and tear the flesh from their bones.
 \q1
 \v 3 It is as though you chop them into pieces like meat to be cooked in a pot.
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@
 \v 4 Then, when you have troubles, you plead to Yahweh to help you,
 \q2 but he will not answer you.
 \q1 At that time, he will turn his face away from you
-\q2 because of the evil things that you have done."
+\q2 because of the evil things you have done."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -253,20 +253,20 @@
 \q2 to the temple where we can worship the God whom Jacob worshiped.
 \q1 There he will teach us how he wants us to conduct our lives,
 \q2 and we will do what he wants us to do."
-\q1 Mount Zion is the place where he will teach people;
+\q1 Mount Zion is the place where he will teach people,
 \q2 and people will go out from Jerusalem to tell others his messages.
 \q1
 \v 3 Yahweh will settle disputes between many different people and groups who are fighting against each other,
 \q2 and he will also settle disputes between powerful nations that are far away.
-\q1 Then people will hammer their swords to cause them to become plow blades,
+\q1 Then people will hammer their swords to cause them to become plow blades
 \q2 and hammer their spears to cause them to become pruning knives.
 \q1 Armies of nations will no longer fight against armies of other nations,
 \q2 and they will no longer train men how to fight in wars.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 4 Everyone will sit peacefully under his own grapevines,
-\q2 and under his own fig trees;
+\v 4 Everyone will sit peacefully under their own grapevines
+\q2 and under their own fig trees;
 \q1 no one will cause them to be afraid.
 \q2 That is what will surely happen because Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, has said it.
 \q1
@@ -292,10 +292,10 @@
 \q1
 \v 9 So why are you wailing now?
 \q2 Is it because you have no king?
-\q1 Have all your wise people died?
+\q1 Have all of your wise people died?
 \q2 You are weeping loudly like a woman who is giving birth to a baby.
 \q1
-\v 10 Well, you people of Jerusalem should twist and groan as a woman who is having birth pains,
+\v 10 Well, you people of Jerusalem should twist and groan as a woman who is having birth pains
 \q2 because now you must leave this city.
 \q1 While you are traveling, you will set up tents in open fields at night;
 \q2 you will go to live in Babylon.
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@
 \q2 They are saying, 'Jerusalem must be destroyed!
 \q2 We want to see this city when it becomes ruins!'"
 \q1
-\v 12 The prophet says, they do not know what Yahweh thinks;
+\v 12 The prophet says that they do not know what Yahweh thinks
 \q2 and they do not understand what he is planning.
 \q1 He will gather them and punish them
 \q2 as farmers thresh grain on the ground.
@@ -317,11 +317,11 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 13 Yahweh says, "So, you people of Jerusalem, rise up and punish the nations who oppose you.
-\q2 I will cause you to be very strong,
-\q1 as if you had horns made of iron,
-\q2 as if you had hooves made of bronze;
+\q2 I will cause you to be very strong
+\q1 as if you had horns made of iron
+\q2 and as if you had hooves made of bronze,
 \q2 and you will crush many nations.
-\q1 Then you will take from your enemies the valuable things that they have taken from other countries,
+\q1 Then you will take from your enemies the valuable things they have taken from other countries,
 \q2 and I will cause you to dedicate those things to me, the one who is the Lord of all the people on the earth."
 
 \s5
@@ -346,10 +346,10 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 4 And that a man who will rule there in Jerusalem will stand and lead his people well,
+\v 4 And a man who will rule there in Jerusalem will stand and lead his people well
 \q2 because Yahweh, his God, will cause him to be strong and greatly honored.
 \q1 Then the people whom he rules will live in Jerusalem safely;
-\q2 he will be greatly honored by people all over the earth
+\q2 he will be greatly honored by people all over the earth,
 \q2 so no one will dare to attack Jerusalem.
 \q2
 \v 5 And he will cause things to go well with his people.
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@
 \q2 when they invade our country.
 \q1
 \v 7 The descendants of Jacob who survive will be a blessing to the people of other nations
-\q2 like dew and rain sent by Yahweh do good to the grass.
+\q2 as dew and rain sent by Yahweh do good to the grass.
 \q1 They will not trust in humans to help them;
 \q2 instead, they will rely on Yahweh.
 
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@
 \q1 like a strong young lion that attacks sheep in a flock,
 \q2 and no one will be able to rescue their enemies.
 \q1
-\v 9 You Israelites will defeat all your enemies
+\v 9 You Israelites will defeat all of your enemies
 \q2 and completely destroy them.
 
 \s5
@@ -385,18 +385,18 @@
 \q2 together with your chariots.
 \q1
 \v 11 I will tear down your city walls
-\q2 and destroy all your fortified cities.
+\q2 and destroy all of your fortified cities.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 12 I will get rid of all those among you who practice magic
 \q2 and the fortune tellers.
 \q1
-\v 13 I will destroy all your idols and stone pillars,
+\v 13 I will destroy all of your idols and stone pillars,
 \q2 and then you will no longer bow down and worship things that you yourselves have made.
 \q1
 \v 14 I will get rid of your poles that represent the goddess Asherah,
-\q2 and I will also destroy all your idols.
+\q2 and I will also destroy all of your idols.
 \q1
 \v 15 Because I will be very angry,
 \q2 I will also punish the people of all the nations who have not obeyed me."
@@ -405,15 +405,15 @@
 \c 6
 \p
 \v 1 Pay attention to what Yahweh says:
-\q1 "You Israelistes, make your case against me before the mountains.
+\q1 "You Israelites, make your case against me before the mountains.
 \q2 Allow the hills to hear what you will say.
 \q1
-\v 2 Mountains, you who are the foundations of the earth, listen carefully to my accusation. 
-\q For I am bringing a charge against my people Israel. 
+\v 2 Mountains, you who are the foundations of the earth, listen carefully to my accusation, 
+\q for I am bringing a charge against my people Israel. 
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 3 My people, what have I done to cause trouble for you ?
+\v 3 My people, what have I done to cause trouble for you?
 \q2 What have I done to cause you to experience difficulties?
 \q1 Answer me!
 \q1
@@ -422,10 +422,10 @@
 \q2 I rescued them from that land where they were slaves.
 \q1 I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to you. 
 \q1
-\v 5 My people, remember when Balak, the king of Moab, planned to harm you,
+\v 5 My people, remember when Balak king of Moab planned to harm you
 \q2 and how Beor's son Balaam blessed your ancestors instead.
 \q1 At that time your ancestors crossed the Jordan River miraculously while they were traveling from Shittim to Gilgal.
-\q2 Think about those things in order that you may know that I, Yahweh, do what is right."
+\q2 Think about those things so that you may know that I, Yahweh, do what is right."
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -468,12 +468,12 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 13 Therefore, I have already begun to get rid of you,
-\q2 to ruin you because of the sins that you have committed.
+\q2 to ruin you because of the sins you have committed.
 \q1
 \v 14 Soon you will eat food, but you will not have enough to satisfy you;
 \q2 your stomachs will still feel as though they are empty.
 \q1 You will try to save up money,
-\q2 but you will be able to save nothing,
+\q2 but you will be able to save nothing
 \q1 because I will send your enemies to take it from you in wars.
 \q1
 \v 15 You will plant crops,
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 5 So do not trust anyone!
 \q2 Do not trust even a friend;
-\q1 even be careful what you say to your wife, whom you love.
+\q1 even be careful what you say to your wife whom you love.
 \q1
 \v 6 Boys will despise their fathers,
 \q2 and girls will defy their mothers.
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 10 Our enemies will also see it, and they will be disgraced
-\q2 because they ridiculed us, saying
+\q2 because they ridiculed us, saying,
 \q1 "Why is Yahweh, that God of yours, not helping you?"
 \q2 But with our own eyes we will see them be defeated;
 \q2 we will see them trampled
@@ -562,8 +562,8 @@
 \v 11 You people of Israel, at that time your cities will be rebuilt,
 \q2 and your territory will become larger.
 \q1
-\v 12 Your people will come back to you from many countries,
-\q2 from Assyria, from near the Euphrates River in the east, and from Egypt in the south,
+\v 12 Your people will come back to you from many countries—
+\q2 from Assyria, from near the Euphrates River in the east, from Egypt in the south,
 \q1 from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean Sea,
 \q2 and from many mountains.
 \q1
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 19 You will again act kindly toward us.
-\q2 You will get rid of the scroll on which you have written the sins that we have committed,
+\q2 You will get rid of the scroll on which you have written the sins we have committed,
 \q2 as though you were trampling it under your feet
 \q2 or throwing it into the deep ocean.
 \q1

34-NAM.usfm

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 \q2 He is very angry with those who worship other gods,
 \q2 and he continues to be angry with his enemies.
 \q1
-\v 3 Yahweh does not quickly become angry;
+\v 3 Yahweh does not quickly become angry,
 \q2 but he is very powerful,
 \q2 and he will never say that his enemies are innocent.
 \q2 Wherever he walks, there are whirlwinds and storms,
@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 7 But he is good;
-\q2 he protects us, his people, when we experience troubles.
+\q2 he protects us his people when we experience troubles.
 \q2 He takes care of those who trust in him.
 \q1
 \v 8 But he will get rid of his enemies;
 \q2 he will be to them like a flood that destroys everything.
 \q2 He will chase his enemies
-\q2 into the darkness of the place where the dead are.
+\q2 into the darkness of the place where dead people are.
 \q1
 
 \s5
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@
 \q2 He will not need to strike you two times to destroy you;
 \q2 he will destroy you by striking you only once.
 \q1
-\v 10 It will be as though his enemies are tangled in thorns
-\q2 and they will stagger like people who have drunk a lot of wine.
+\v 10 It will be as though his enemies are tangled in thorns,
+\q2 and they will stagger like people who have drunk much wine.
 \q2 It will be as though they will be burned up like dry stubble.
 \q1
 \v 11 In Nineveh there was a man who advised people to do very wicked things against Yahweh.
@@ -68,12 +68,12 @@
 \q1 "Although the people of Assyria have very many people
 \q2 and their army is very powerful,
 \q2 they will be destroyed and they will disappear.
-\q1 I say to my people in Judah,
+\q1 I say to my people in Judah that
 \q2 I have already punished you,
 \q2 but I will not punish you again.
 \q1
 \v 13 Now I will cause the people of Assyria to no longer enslave you;
- it will be as though I will tear off the shackles on your hands and feet."
+ it will be as though I will tear off the shackles that are on your hands and feet."
 
 \s5
 \m
@@ -81,17 +81,17 @@
 \q1 "You will not have any descendants who will continue to have your family names.
 \q2 And I will destroy all the statues of your gods
 \q2 that were carved or formed in molds.
-\q1 I will cause you to be killed and sent to your graves,
+\q1 I will cause you to be killed and sent to your graves
  because you are vile!"
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 15 You people of Judah. Look! A messenger will come across the mountains,
+\v 15 You people of Judah, look! A messenger will come across the mountains,
 \q2 and he will bring good news to you.
 \q1 He will declare that you will now have peace.
 \q2 So celebrate your festivals, and do what you solemnly promised
 \q2 to do when your enemies were threatening to attack you,
-\q1 because your wicked enemies will not invade your country again,
+\q1 because your wicked enemies will not invade your country again
 \q2 because they will be completely destroyed.
 
 \s5
@@ -123,14 +123,14 @@
 \v 6 The enemy soldiers will force open the city gates on the rivers;
 \q2 the palace will collapse.
 \q1
-\v 7 The queen will have her clothes stripped off her by enemy soldiers,
+\v 7 The queen will have her clothes stripped off of her by enemy soldiers,
 \q2 and her slave girls will moan like doves
 \q2 and beat their breasts to show that they are very sad.
 
 \s5
 \v 8 The people will rush from Nineveh
-\q2 like water rushes from a broken dam.
-\q2 The officials will shout, "Stop! Stop!"
+\q2 as water rushes from a broken dam.
+\q2 The officials will shout "Stop! Stop!"
 \q2 but the people will not even look back as they run away.
 \q1
 \v 9 The enemy attackers say to each other,
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
 \s5
 \v 11 After that happens, people will say,
 \q2 "What happened to that great city of Nineveh?
-\q2 It was like a den full of young lions,
+\q2 It was like a den full of young lions
 \q2 where the male and female lions lived and fed the young ones, where they were afraid of nothing.
 \q1
 \v 12 The soldiers in Nineveh were like lions that killed or strangled other animals
@@ -159,29 +159,29 @@
 \q2 I will cause your chariots to burn in fire and go up in smoke.
 \q2 Your young men will be killed with swords.
 \q2 I will make all the valuable things you stole from other nations disappear.
-\q2 Your messengers will never again take messages to other nations, demanding that
+\q2 Your messengers will never again take messages to other nations demanding that
 \q2 their armies surrender to them."
 
 \s5
 \c 3
 \q1
-\v 1 Terrible things will happen to Nineveh, that city that is full of people who murder, steal and lie. The city is full of people who the soldiers carried away from other countries.
+\v 1 Terrible things will happen to Nineveh, that city that is full of people who murder, steal, and lie. The city is full of people who the soldiers carried away from other countries.
 \v 2 But now listen to the enemy soldiers coming to attack Nineveh; listen to them cracking their whips, and listen to the rattle of their chariot wheels! Listen to their galloping horses and their chariots as they bounce along!
 
 \s5
-\v 3 Look at their flashing swords and glittering spears as the horsemen race forward! Many people of Nineveh will be killed; there will be piles of corpses, so many that the attackers will stumble over them.
+\v 3 Look at their flashing swords and glittering spears as the horsemen race forward! Many people of Nineveh will be killed; there will be piles of corpses—so many that the attackers will stumble over them.
 \v 4 All that will happen because Nineveh is like a beautiful prostitute
 \q2 who lures men to where they will be ruined;
 \q2 Nineveh is a beautiful city
 \q2 that has attracted people of other nations to come there.
-\q2 The people of Nineveh taught those people of other nations rituals of magic,
+\q2 The people of Nineveh taught those people of other nations rituals of magic
 \q2 and caused them to become their slaves.
 \q1
 
 \s5
 \v 5 So Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says to the people of Nineveh:
 \q2 "I am your enemy, and I will cause the people
-\q2 in other nations to see you completely humiliated;
+\q2 in other nations to see you completely humiliated
 \q2 like women who have committed adultery are humiliated
 \q2 by having their skirts lifted high,
 \q2 with the result that people can see their naked bodies.
@@ -244,14 +244,14 @@ there was no limit to their power.
 \q1 Go ahead and increase your population like swarms of locusts and grasshoppers.
 
 \s5
-\v 16 In your city there are now very many merchants;
-\q2 more than stars.
+\v 16 In your city there are now very many merchants,
+\q2 more than the number of stars in the sky.
 \q2 But when your city is being destroyed,
 \q2 those merchants will take the valuable things and disappear
 \q2 like locusts that strip the leaves from plants and then fly away.
 \q1
 \v 17 Your leaders are also like a swarm of locusts
-\q2 that crowd together on the fences on a cold day,
+\q2 that crowd together on the fences on a cold day
 \q2 and then fly away when the sun comes up,
 \q2 and no one knows where they have gone.
 \q1

35-HAB.usfm

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1 This is the conversation between Habakkuk the prophet and Yahweh.
+\v 1 This is the message that Yahweh gave to me, Habakkuk the prophet.
 \q1
 \v 2 I said, "Yahweh, how long must I continue to call to you for help before you respond?
 \q1 I cry out, "The people are acting so violently!"
@@ -21,15 +21,16 @@
 \q1 I see people destroying things and acting violently; they fight and quarrel everywhere.
 \q1
 \v 4 No one obeys the law of Moses, and no one acts in a right way for very long.
-\q1 Wicked people always defeat the righteous people in the courts,
+\q1 Wicked people always defeat the righteous people in the courts
 \q2 because judges never make fair decisions."
 
 \s5
+\m
+\s2 Yahweh replied to me
 \q1
-\v 5 Yahweh replied to me,
-\q1 "This is happening, but look around at what is happening in the other nations.
-\q2 If you look, you will be amazed, and even astonished, since I am doing something
-\q1 during this time that you would never have believed would happen,
+\v 5 "This is happening, but look around at what is happening in the other nations.
+\q2 If you look, you will be amazed and even astonished, since I am doing something
+\q1 during this time that you would never have believed would happen
 \q2 even if someone told you about it.
 \q1
 \v 6 Very soon I will bring the soldiers of Babylonia, who are fierce and swift.
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@
 \q2 and conquer many other countries.
 \q1
 \v 7 They are a people whom others fear very much,
-\q2 and they do whatever they want to,
+\q2 and they do whatever they want to
 \q2 because they believe that they are very great and that they have the right to judge everyone else.
 
 \s5
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 9 As they ride along,
 \q2 they are determined to act violently.
-\q1 They advance eagerly, as fast as the wind over the desert,
+\q1 They advance eagerly—as fast as the wind over the desert—
 \q2 and gather up as many prisoners as there are grains of sand!
 
 \s5
@@ -61,15 +62,17 @@
 \q1
 \v 11 They rush past like the wind,
 \q2 and then they go to attack other cities.
-\q1 But they are very guilty,
+\q1 But they are very guilty
 \q2 because they think that their own power is their god!"
 
 \s5
+\m
+\s2 Habakkuk asks Yahweh another question
 \q1
 \v 12 Then I said, "Yahweh, are you not the eternal God?
 \q2 You are my Holy One, so we will not die.
 \q1 So why have you sent those men from Babylonia to judge us and kill us?
-\q2 You are like our Rock, on top of which we can hide,
+\q2 You are like our Rock on top of which we can hide,
 \q2 so why have you sent them to punish us?
 
 \s5
@@ -77,7 +80,7 @@
 \v 13 You are pure, and you cannot endure looking at what is evil,
 \q2 so why are you ignoring men who are treacherous?
 \q1 Why do you do nothing
-\q2 to punish those wicked men from Babylonia,
+\q2 to punish those wicked men from Babylonia
 \q2 who destroy people who are more righteous than they are?
 \q1
 \v 14 They treat us like fish in the sea,
@@ -98,10 +101,10 @@
 \s5
 \c 2
 \q1
-\v 1 After I said that, I said to myself, "I will climb up into my guard post,
+\v 1 After I said that, I said to myself, "I will climb up into my guard post
 \q2 and stand there in my watchtower.
 \q1 I will wait there to find out what Yahweh will say,
-\q2 what he will reply and how I should answer."
+\q2 what he will reply, and how I should answer."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -128,22 +131,22 @@
 \v 5 If people live for excess such as wine, they will deceive themselves,
 \q2 and proud people are never able to rest.
 \q1 Greedy people open their mouths as wide as the place where dead people are,
-\q1 and they never have enough,
-\q2 just like the place of the dead never has enough dead people.
-\q1 The armies of Babylonia conquer many nations for themselves,
-\q2 and capture all their people.
+\q1 and they never have enough
+\q2 just as the place of the dead never has enough dead people.
+\q1 The armies of Babylonia conquer many nations for themselves
+\q2 and capture all of their people.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 6 But soon all those whom they have captured will ridicule the soldiers from Babylonia!
 \q1 They will make fun of them, saying,
 \q2 'Terrible things will happen to you who have stolen things from other countries!
-\q1 You got many things by forcing people to give them to you.
-\q2 But you certainly will not keep those things for long!'
+\q1 You got many things by forcing people to give them to you,
+\q2 but you certainly will not keep those things for long!'
 \q1
 \v 7 Suddenly those whom you forced to be unjustly indebted to you will rise up
 \q2 and cause you to tremble,
-\q2 and they will take away all the things that you have stolen from them.
+\q2 and they will take away all the things you have stolen from them.
 \q1
 \v 8 You stole things from the people of many nations.
 \q1 You murdered people of many peoples,
@@ -180,7 +183,7 @@
 \v 15 Terrible things will happen to you people of Babylonia,
 \q2 who cause people who live in nearby countries to become drunk.
 \q1 You force them to drink a lot of drugged wine
-\q2 until they are drunk and then they walk around naked
+\q2 until they are drunk, and then they walk around naked
 \q2 because you are happy when you see that.
 \q1
 \v 16 But you are the ones who soon will be disgraced instead of being honored.
@@ -193,12 +196,12 @@
 \v 17 You did violent things to the people in Lebanon,
 \q2 and you killed the wild animals there,
 \q1 but you will be punished severely for doing that.
-\q1 You have killed many people
+\q1 You have killed many people,
 \q2 and you have destroyed their lands and their cities.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 18 You people of Babylonia need to know that your idols are completely useless,
+\v 18 You people of Babylonia need to know that your idols are completely useless
 \q2 because it is people who made them.
 \q1 Statues that have been carved or made in a mold deceive you.
 \q2 Those who trust in idols
@@ -218,8 +221,8 @@
 \c 3
 \m
 \v 1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet.
-\v 2 Yahweh, I have heard about you;
-\q1 and I revere you because of all the amazing things that you have done.
+\v 2 Yahweh, I have heard about you,
+\q1 and I revere you because of all the amazing things you have done.
 \q2 In our time, do again some of those things that you did long ago!
 \q1 Even when you are angry with us,
 \q2 act mercifully toward us!
@@ -260,7 +263,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 9 It was as though you uncovered your bow and prepared to shoot it,
+\v 9 It was as though you uncovered your bow and prepared to shoot it
 \q2 and had grasped arrows to put to your bow.
 \q1 Then you split open the earth,
 \q2 and streams burst out.
@@ -272,8 +275,8 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 11 The sun and moon stopped moving in the sky,
-\q2 while your lightning flashed past like a swift arrow,
+\v 11 The sun and moon stopped moving in the sky
+\q2 while your lightning flashed past like a swift arrow
 \q2 and your glittering spear flashed.
 \q1
 \v 12 Being very angry, you walked across the earth
@@ -281,17 +284,17 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 13 But you also went to rescue your people,
+\v 13 But you also went to rescue your people
 \q2 and to save the one whom you have chosen.
 \q1 You struck down the leader of those wicked people
-\q2 and took away all his power completely.
+\q2 and took away all of his power completely.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 14 With his own spear you destroyed the leader of those soldiers who rushed like a whirlwind to attack and scatter us,
 \q2 thinking that they could conquer us as easily as they defeat the weak people who hide from them.
 \q1
-\v 15 You walked through the sea with your horses to destroy our enemies,
+\v 15 You walked through the sea with your horses to destroy our enemies
 \q2 and caused the waves to surge.
 
 \s5
@@ -301,17 +304,17 @@
 \q1 and my lips quivered
 \q2 because I became afraid.
 \q1 My legs became weak
-\q2 and I shook, because I was terrified.
+\q2 and I shook because I was terrified.
 \q1 But I will wait quietly for the people of Babylonia, those who invaded our country, to experience disasters!
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 17 Therefore,
-\q1 even if there are no blossoms on the fig trees,
+\q1 even if there are no blossoms on the fig trees
 \q2 and there are no grapes on the grapevines,
-\q1 and even if there are no olives growing on the olive trees,
+\q1 and even if there are no olives growing on the olive trees
 \q2 and there are no crops in the fields,
-\q1 and even if the flocks of sheep and goats die in the fields,
+\q1 and even if the flocks of sheep and goats die in the fields
 \q2 and there are no cattle in the stalls, this is what I will do.
 
 \s5
@@ -320,7 +323,7 @@
 \q2 I will be joyful because my God is the one who saves me!
 \q1
 \v 19 Yahweh the Lord is the one who gives me strength,
-\q2 and he enables me to climb safely like a deer does,
+\q2 and he enables me to climb safely like a deer does;
 \q2 he makes me walk on my high hills.
 \q (This message is for the choir director:
 \q2 When this prayer is sung, it is to be accompanied by people playing stringed instruments.)

36-ZEP.usfm

@@ -9,44 +9,43 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1 Yahweh's message came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the grandson of Gedaliah, and the great-grandson of Amariah, whose father was King Hezekiah.
-Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the king of Judah.
+\v 1 Yahweh's message came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the grandson of Gedaliah and great-grandson of Amariah, whose father was King Hezekiah. Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the king of Judah.
 \q1
 \v 2 Yahweh said,
 \q2 "I will sweep away everything that is on the earth.
 \q1
 \v 3 I will sweep away people and animals.
 \q2 I will sweep away birds and fish.
-\q1 I will get rid of wicked people;
+\q1 I will get rid of wicked people
 \q2 so that there will be no more wicked people on the earth."
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 4 "These are some of the things that I will do:
+\v 4 "These are some of the things I will do:
 \q2 I will punish the people who live in Jerusalem and other places in Judah,
-\q2 and destroy everything that has been used in the worship of Baal and
+\q2 destroy everything that has been used in the worship of Baal,
 \q1 and cause people to no longer remember the names of the pagan priests
 \q2 or the other priests who have turned away from me.
 \q1
-\v 5 I will get rid of those who go up on the roofs of their houses and worship the sun, moon, and stars,
+\v 5 I will get rid of those who go up on the roofs of their houses and worship the sun, moon, and stars
 \q2 and those who claim to worship me but also swear using the name of their king.
 \q1
-\v 6 Finally, I will get rid of all those who previously worshiped me but no longer do;
+\v 6 Finally, I will get rid of all those who previously worshiped me but no longer do—
 \q2 those who no longer seek my help or request me to tell them what they should do."
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 7 Be silent in front of Yahweh the Lord,
+\v 7 Be silent in front of Yahweh the Lord
 \q2 because it will soon be the time when Yahweh will judge and punish people.
 \q1 Yahweh has prepared himself to get rid of the people of Judah;
 \q2 they will be like animals that are set apart to be slaughtered for sacrifices,
 \q2 and he has chosen their enemies to be the ones who will get rid of them.
 \q1
 \v 8 Yahweh says, "On that day when I will get rid of the people of Judah,
-\q2 I will punish their officials and the king's sons,
+\q2 I will punish their officials, the king's sons,
 \q2 and all those who worship foreign gods—
 \q1
-\v 9 including those who show that they revere their god Dagan by avoiding stepping on the threshold of his temple,
+\v 9 including those who show that they revere their god Dagon by avoiding stepping on the threshold of his temple
 \q2 and those who do violent things and tell lies in the temples of their gods."
 
 \s5
@@ -56,7 +55,7 @@ Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the kin
 \q1 People will wail in the Second Quarter of the city,
 \q2 and people will hear a loud crash of buildings collapsing in the hills.
 \q1
-\v 11 All you people who live in the market area of Jerusalem should wail,
+\v 11 All you people who live in the market area of Jerusalem should wail
 \q2 because all those who sell goods for money will be slaughtered.
 
 \s5
@@ -65,7 +64,7 @@ Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the kin
 \q2 for those who have become very satisfied with their behavior and complacent about their sins.
 \q1 They think that I, Yahweh, will do neither good nor bad things, as if I do not even exist!
 \q1
-\v 13 So I have decided that armies will come and carry off their valuable possessions,
+\v 13 So I have decided that armies will come and carry off their valuable possessions
 \q2 after destroying their houses.
 \q1 The people will build new homes,
 \q2 but they will not live in them;
@@ -80,7 +79,7 @@ Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the kin
 \q1
 \v 15 It will be a time when God shows that he is very angry,
 \q2 a time when people experience much distress and trouble.
-\q1 It will be a time when many things are ruined, destroyed, and when everyone goes away.
+\q1 It will be a time when many things are ruined and destroyed and when everyone goes away.
 \q2 It will be a time when it is very gloomy and dark,
 \q2 when the clouds are very black.
 \q1
@@ -101,17 +100,17 @@ Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the kin
 \q2 by giving silver or gold to your enemies.
 \q1 Because Yahweh is very jealous,
 \q2 he will send a fire to burn up the entire world,
-\q1 and he will completely get rid, in a most terrifying way, of all the wicked people who live on the earth.
+\q1 and in a most terrifying way he will completely get rid of all the wicked people who live on the earth.
 
 \s5
 \c 2
 \q1
 \v 1 You people of Judah who ought to be ashamed,
-\q2 gather together to ask for God to merciful to you.
+\q2 gather together to ask for God to be merciful to you.
 \q1
 \v 2 Yahweh is very angry with you,
-\q2 so gather together now,
-\q1 before he punishes you—before he punishes you
+\q2 so gather together now
+\q1 before he punishes you
 \q2 and sweeps you away as the wind blows away the chaff.
 \q1
 \v 3 All you people in Judah who are humble,
@@ -124,12 +123,12 @@ Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the kin
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 4 When Yahweh punishes Philistia,
-\q2 the cities of Gaza and Ashkelon will lose all their inhabitants.
-\q1 Ashdod will be attacked and the people will be driven away at noon, when they are resting.
+\q2 the cities of Gaza and Ashkelon will lose all of their inhabitants.
+\q1 Ashdod will be attacked, and the people will be driven away at noon when they are resting.
 \q2 The people of the city of Ekron will also be driven out.
 \q1
-\v 5 And terrible things will happen to you people of Philistia who live near the sea,
-\q2 because Yahweh has said he will punish you, also.
+\v 5 And terrible things will happen to you people of Philistia who live near the sea
+\q2 because Yahweh has said he will punish you also.
 \q1 He will get rid of all of you; not one of you will survive!
 
 \s5
@@ -152,12 +151,12 @@ Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the kin
 \q2 as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
 \q1 Their land will be a place where there are nettles and salt pits;
 \q2 it will be ruined forever, with none of their people living there!
-\q1 My people who survive will take away all their valuable possessions
+\q1 My people who survive will take away all of their valuable possessions
 \q2 and also occupy their land."
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 10 The people of Moab and Ammon will get what they deserve for being proud,
+\v 10 The people of Moab and Ammon will get what they deserve for being proud
 \q2 because they made fun of the people who belong to Yahweh, commander of the angel armies.
 \q1
 \v 11 Yahweh will cause them to be terrified
@@ -171,9 +170,9 @@ Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the kin
 \q1
 \v 13 Yahweh will punish and destroy Assyria,
 \q2 that land northeast of us, and cause its capital Nineveh
-\q2 to become ruined and deserted, and as dry as the desert.
+\q2 to become ruined, deserted, and as dry as the desert.
 \q1
-\v 14 Flocks of sheep and herds of cattle and many kinds of wild animals will lie down there.
+\v 14 Flocks of sheep, herds of cattle, and many kinds of wild animals will lie down there.
 \q2 Owls and crows will sit on the columns of the destroyed buildings,
 \q1 and they will hoot through the windows.
 \q1 There will be rubble in the doorways,
@@ -188,15 +187,15 @@ Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the kin
 \q2 there is no city as great as ours!"
 \q1 But now it will become a horrible place to see,
 \q2 a place where wild animals make their dens.
-\q1 And everyone who passes by there will hiss and scorn that city,
-\q2 and shake their fists to show that they detest that city very much.
+\q1 And everyone who passes by there will hiss and scorn that city
+\q2 and shake their fists to show they detest that city very much.
 
 \s5
 \c 3
 \q1
 \v 1 Terrible things will happen to Jerusalem,
 \q2 the city whose people have rebelled against Yahweh
-\q1 and who have become unacceptable to him because of the sins that they have committed.
+\q1 and who have become unacceptable to him because of the sins they have committed.
 \q2 They act violently toward others and they oppress other people.
 \q1
 \v 2 The people there pay no attention to the prophets whom Yahweh has sent to tell them the wrong things that they are doing
@@ -206,8 +205,8 @@ Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the kin
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 3 Their leaders are like roaring lions;
-\q2 they are like wolves that attack during the evening,
-\q2 and eat everything that they kill,
+\q2 they are like wolves that attack during the evening
+\q2 and eat everything they kill,
 \q2 with the result that the next morning there is nothing left of those animals to eat.
 \q1
 \v 4 The prophets in Jerusalem are proud,
@@ -217,7 +216,7 @@ Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the kin
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 5 But Yahweh is also in the city, and he never does what is wrong.
-\q1 He treats people justly, day after day;
+\q1 Day after day he treats people justly,
 \q2 but wicked people are never ashamed about their wrongdoing.
 
 \s5
@@ -234,7 +233,7 @@ Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the kin
 \q2 surely the people of Jerusalem will honor me now
 \q2 and allow me to correct them.
 \q1 If they do that, I will not destroy them;
-\q2 I will not punish them like I said that I would do.'
+\q2 I will not punish them like I said I would do.'
 \q1 But in spite of knowing how I punished those other nations,
 \q2 they were still eager to get up early each morning
 \q2 and continue to perform evil deeds."
@@ -251,13 +250,13 @@ Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the kin
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 9 When that happens, I will cause all people to be changed
-\q2 and enable them to speak only what is pure,
-\q2 in order that everyone can worship me as one people.
+\q2 and enable them to speak only what is pure
+\q2 so that everyone can worship me as one people.
 \q1
 \v 10 Then my people who were forced to go to other countries, those who live along the upper part of the Nile River in Ethiopia,
 \q2 will come to me and bring offerings to me.
 \q1
-\v 11 At that time, you people in Jerusalem will no longer be ashamed about what has happened to you,
+\v 11 At that time, you people in Jerusalem will no longer be ashamed about what has happened to you
 \q2 because you no longer will be rebelling against me.
 \q1 I will get rid of all the people among you who are very proud.
 \q2 No one on Zion, my holy hill, will strut around proudly anymore.
@@ -269,17 +268,17 @@ Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the kin
 \q1
 \v 13 Those people who are still alive in Israel will not do anything wrong;
 \q2 they will tell no lies or deceive anyone.
-\q1 They will eat and sleep safely,
+\q1 They will eat and sleep safely
 \q2 because no one will cause them to be afraid."
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 14 You people who live in Jerusalem and other places in Israel,
 \q2 sing and shout loudly!
-\q1 Be glad, and rejoice with all your inner being,
+\q1 Be glad and rejoice with all of your inner being
 \q1
 \v 15 because Yahweh will take away the charges against you,
-\q2 and he will make your enemies go enemies far away from you!
+\q2 and he will make your enemies go far away from you!
 \q1 Yahweh himself, the king of the Israelites, will live among you,
 \q2 and you will never again be afraid that others will harm you.
 \q1
@@ -304,8 +303,8 @@ Yahweh gave this message during the time when King Amon's son Josiah was the kin
 \q2 places where they had been disgraced.
 \q1
 \v 20 At that time, I will gather you together and bring you back home to Israel.
-\q1 I will cause you to greatly praised and honored
+\q1 I will cause you to be greatly praised and honored
 \q2 among all the nations of the earth.
 \q1 You will see when I bring your people home again."
-\q2 This is what Yahweh, has declared!
+\q2 This is what Yahweh has declared!
 

37-HAG.usfm

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1 Haggai, who was a prophet, received a message from Yahweh. Yahweh spoke this message to him in the second year after Darius had become king of Persia. This happened on the first day of the sixth month of that year. Haggai told this message to Shealtiel's son Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and to Jehozadak's son Joshua, the high priest.
+\v 1 Haggai, who was a prophet, received a message from Yahweh. Yahweh spoke this message to him in the second year after Darius had become king of Persia. This happened on the first day of the sixth month of that year. Haggai told this message to Shealtiel's son Zerubbabel, who was the governor of Judah, and to Jozadak's son Joshua, who was the high priest.
 \p
 \v 2 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, told him that the people were saying that it was not yet time for them to rebuild Yahweh's temple.
 
@@ -17,22 +17,22 @@
 \p
 \v 3 Then Yahweh gave him this message to tell to the people of Jerusalem:
 \v 4 "It is not right for you to be living in luxurious houses while my temple is only ruins!
-\v 5 I, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says this: 'Think about what you are doing.
-\v 6 You have planted a lot of seeds, but you are not getting many crops to harvest. You eat food, but you never get enough. You drink wine, but you are still thirsty. You wear clothes, but you do not stay warm. You earn money, but it is spent as quickly as you make it.'
+\v 5 I, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, say this: 'Think about what you are doing.
+\v 6 You have planted many seeds, but you are not getting many crops to harvest. You eat food, but you never get enough. You drink wine, but you are still thirsty. You wear clothes, but you do not stay warm. You earn money, but it is spent as quickly as you make it.'
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 7 So this is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says: 'Think about what you are doing.
 \v 8 Then go up into the hills, cut down trees, bring timber down here, and rebuild my temple. When you do that, I will be pleased and I will appear there with my glory.
-\v 9 You expected to harvest plenty of crops, but there were few crops to harvest because I removed them. I did this because my temple is a ruin, while each of you are busy building your own beautiful house.
+\v 9 You expected to harvest plenty of crops, but there were few crops to harvest because I removed them. I did this because my temple is a ruin, while each of you is busy building your own beautiful house.
 
 \s5
 \v 10 It is because of what you are doing that rain does not fall from the sky, and as a result there are no crops.
-\v 11 I have caused a drought over both fields and mountains and all your other crops—whether grain or wine or oil—have dried up. Because of that, you and your cattle do not have enough food, and the hard work that you have done will be for nothing.'"
+\v 11 I have caused a drought over both fields and mountains, and all of your other crops—whether grain or wine or oil—have dried up. Because of that, you and your cattle do not have enough food, and the hard work that you have done will be for nothing.'"
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 12 Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua and all the others of God's people who were still alive obeyed the message that Yahweh their God had spoken, and they listened to the message that Haggai had given them, because they knew that Yahweh their God had sent him. Then they honored Yahweh, for he was present with them.
+\v 12 Then Zerubbabel, Joshua the high priest, and all the others of God's people who were still alive obeyed the message that Yahweh their God had spoken, and they listened to the message that Haggai had given them, because they knew that Yahweh their God had sent him. Then they honored Yahweh, for he was present with them.
 \p
 \v 13 Then Haggai, who was Yahweh's messenger, gave this message from Yahweh to the people: "I, Yahweh, declare that I am with you."
 
@@ -44,12 +44,12 @@
 \c 2
 \p
 \v 1 Almost one month later, on the twenty-first day of the next month, Yahweh gave the prophet Haggai another message.
-\v 2 The message was that he should say this to Shealtiel's son Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, Jehozadek's son Jeshua the high priest, and to the other people who were still alive in Jerusalem:
+\v 2 The message was that he should say this to Shealtiel's son Zerubbabel the governor of Judah, to Jozadek's son Joshua the high priest, and to the other people who were still alive in Jerusalem:
 
 \s5
 \v 3 "Do any of you remember how glorious our former temple was? If you do, what does it look like to you now? It must seem like nothing at all.
-\v 4 But now Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says to all of you, to Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of you people who live in this nation, 'Do not be discouraged; instead be strong!
-\v 5 My Spirit remains among you, like I promised your ancestors when they left Egypt. So do not be afraid!'
+\v 4 But now Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says to all of you, to Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the rest of you people who live in this nation, 'Do not be discouraged; instead be strong!
+\v 5 My Spirit remains among you, as I promised your ancestors when they left Egypt. So do not be afraid!'
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -62,23 +62,23 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 10 Then on the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of that same year, Yahweh gave still another message to the prophet Haggai:
-\v 11 "This is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies says: 'Ask the priests this question about what is written in the laws of Moses about sacrifices:
-\v 12 If one of you priests takes from the altar some meat that was sacrificed and is carrying it in his robes, if his robe touches some bread or stew or wine or olive oil or some other food, does that food also become holy?'"
+\v 10 Then on the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of that same year, Yahweh gave another message to the prophet Haggai:
+\v 11 "This is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says: 'Ask the priests this question about what is written in the laws of Moses about sacrifices:
+\v 12 If one of you priests takes from the altar some meat that was sacrificed and is carrying it in his robe, if his robe touches some bread or stew or wine or olive oil or some other food, does that food also become holy?'"
 \p When he said that to the priests, they replied, "No."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 Then Haggai asked them, "If someone becomes unacceptable to God by touching a corpse, and then he touches any of those foods, will the food also become unacceptable to God?"
+\v 13 Then Haggai asked them, "If someone becomes unacceptable to God by touching a corpse and then he touches any of those foods, will the food also become unacceptable to God?"
 \p The priests replied, "Yes."
 \p
-\v 14 Then Haggai replied, "Yahweh says this: 'It is the same with you people and with this nation. Everything that you do and all the sacrifices that you all offer are unacceptable to me because of the sins that you have committed.
+\v 14 Then Haggai replied, "Yahweh says this: 'It is the same with you people and with this nation. Everything that you do and all the sacrifices that you all offer are unacceptable to me because of the sins you have committed.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 15 Think about what has been happening to you before you began to lay the foundation of my temple.
-\v 16 When you expected to harvest twenty measures of grain, you harvested only ten. When someone went to a big wine vat to get fifty measures of wine, there were only twenty in the vat.
-\v 17 I sent blight and mildew to destroy all your crops. But still you did not return to me.' This is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says to you.
+\v 16 When you expected to harvest twenty measures of grain, you harvested only ten. When someone went to a big wine vat to get fifty measures of wine, there were only twenty measures of wine in the vat.
+\v 17 I sent blight and mildew to destroy all of your crops. But still you did not return to me.' This is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says to you.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@
 \p
 \v 20 On that same day, Yahweh gave another message to Haggai.
 \v 21 He said, "Tell Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, that I am going to shake the sky and the earth.
-\v 22 I will end the power of the kings of many nations. I will cause their chariots and their drivers, their horses and the soldiers who are riding on them to be destroyed. The soldiers will kill each other with their own swords.
+\v 22 I will end the power of the kings of many nations. I will cause their chariots and their drivers, their horses, and the soldiers who are riding on them to be destroyed. The soldiers will kill each other with their own swords.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 23 Zerubbabel, you will become my servant on that day. And I, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, declare that like kings wear signet rings to show that they have authority to rule people, I will appoint you and cause you to have authority to rule. I will do that because I have chosen you. That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, have said it."
+\v 23 Zerubbabel, you will become my servant on that day. And I, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, declare that as kings wear signet rings to show that they have authority to rule people, I will appoint you and cause you to have authority to rule. I will do that because I have chosen you. That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, have said it."
 

38-ZEC.usfm

@@ -9,20 +9,19 @@
 \s5
 \c 1
 \p
-\v 1 When Darius had been the emperor of Persia for two years, in the eighth month his reign, Yahweh gave Zechariah the prophet, son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo the prophet, this message:
+\v 1 When Darius had been the emperor of Persia for two years, in the eighth month his reign, Yahweh gave Zechariah the prophet, who was the son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo the prophet, this message:
 \p
 \v 2 "I was very angry with your ancestors.
 \v 3 So tell this to the people: Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says this: 'Return to me, and if you do that, I will help you again.
 
 \s5
-\v 4 Do not be like your ancestors. Prophets, who have now died, continually proclaimed to your ancestors that they should stop doing the evil things that they were always doing. But they refused to pay attention to what I said.
+\v 4 Do not be like your ancestors. Prophets who have now died continually proclaimed to your ancestors that they should stop doing the evil things that they were always doing. But they refused to pay attention to what I said.
 \v 5 Your ancestors have died and are now in their graves. Even the prophets did not live forever either.
-\v 6 But the commands and the decrees that I had instructed my servants the prophets to tell them—your ancestors did not obey them, so I punished them.
-So then they repented and said that I, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, had done to them what they deserved for their evil behavior, just like I had said I would do.'"
+\v 6 But the commands and the decrees that I had instructed my servants the prophets to tell them—your ancestors did not obey them, so I punished them. So then they repented and said that I, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, had done to them what they deserved for their evil behavior, just as I had said I would do.'"
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, Yahweh gave another message to me.
+\v 7 Shebat is the eleventh month of the year. On the twenty-fourth day of that month, a message from Yahweh came to Zechariah. The message came in the second year that Darius was ruling as king. Yahweh gave his message to Zechariah, who was the son of Berekiah and grandson of the prophet Iddo. This is the message: 
 \p
 \v 8 During the night I had a vision. In the vision I saw an angel who was on a red horse. He was in a narrow valley among some myrtle trees. Behind him were angels on other horses—red, reddish-brown, and white horses.
 \p
@@ -33,21 +32,20 @@ So then they repented and said that I, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, ha
 \p
 \v 10 Then the angel who had stopped under the myrtle trees explained. He said, "They are the angels whom Yahweh has sent to patrol the entire world."
 \p
-\v 11 Then those angels reported to the angel of Yahweh who was under the myrtle trees, "We have traveled throughout the world, and we have found out that the army of the emperor has conquered nations throughout the world, and that they are now helpless and inactive."
+\v 11 Then those angels reported to the angel of Yahweh who was under the myrtle trees, "We have traveled throughout the world, and we have found out that the army of the emperor has conquered nations throughout the world and that they are now helpless and inactive."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 12 Then the angel asked, "Yahweh, Commander of the angel armies, how long will you continue to not act mercifully toward Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah? You have been angry with them for seventy years!"
+\v 12 Then the angel asked, "Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, how long will you continue to not act mercifully toward Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah? You have been angry with them for seventy years!"
 \v 13 So Yahweh spoke kindly to the angel who had talked to me, saying things that comforted him.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 14 Then the angel who had been talking with me said to me, "Proclaim this to the people of Jerusalem: Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says that he is very concerned about the people who live on Mount Zion and in the other parts of Jerusalem.
-\v 15 And he is very angry with the nations that are proud and feel safe. He was only a little bit angry with Judah, but they caused them to suffer much more.
+\v 15 And he is very angry with the nations that are proud and feel safe. He was only a little angry with Judah, but they caused them to suffer much more.
 
 \s5
-\v 16 Therefore, he says that
-he will go back to Jerusalem and help the people. It will be as if he himself had surveyed and measured all the land in the city.
+\v 16 Therefore, he says that he will go back to Jerusalem and help the people. It will be as if he himself had surveyed and measured all the land in the city.
 \v 17 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, also said to tell people in his cities in Judah that they will soon be very prosperous again.
 He will encourage the people of Jerusalem again, and he will again choose Jerusalem as his special city."
 
@@ -61,14 +59,14 @@ He will encourage the people of Jerusalem again, and he will again choose Jerusa
 \p
 \v 20 Then Yahweh showed me four blacksmiths.
 \v 21 I asked, "What are those men coming to do?"
-\p He replied, "The nations that those horns represent scattered the people of Judah, so they suffered greatly. But these blacksmiths are coming to frighten and destroy those nations and to throw down their horns, their power—all those nations who had attacked the land of Judah."
+\p He replied, "The nations that those horns represent scattered the people of Judah so that they suffered greatly. But these blacksmiths are coming to frighten and destroy those nations and to throw down the horns—the power—of all those nations who had attacked the land of Judah."
 
 \s5
 \c 2
 \p
 \v 1 Then I looked up and saw a man with a surveyor's line.
 \v 2 I asked him, "Where are you going?"
-\p He replied, "I am going to survey Jerusalem, to determine how wide it is and how long it is."
+\p He replied, "I am going to survey Jerusalem to determine how wide it is and how long it is."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -88,19 +86,19 @@ He will encourage the people of Jerusalem again, and he will again choose Jerusa
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 10 Yahweh says, "You people of Jerusalem, shout and be happy, because I will come to you and live among you!"
+\v 10 Yahweh says, "You people of Jerusalem, shout and be happy because I will come to you and live among you!"
 \p
-\v 11 At that time, people of many nations will join with Yahweh and become his people. He will live among all of you; and you will know that Yahweh, powerful Commander of the angel armies, is the one who sent me to you as a prophet.
+\v 11 At that time, people of many nations will join with Yahweh and become his people. He will live among all of you, and you will know that Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, is the one who sent me to you as a prophet.
 
 \s5
 \v 12 The people of Judah will be a very special part of his own land, and Jerusalem will again be the city that he has chosen.
-\v 13 Everyone, everywhere, should be silent in the presence of Yahweh, because he is about to come down again from where he lives in heaven to do great things for us.
+\v 13 Everyone everywhere should be silent in the presence of Yahweh, because he is about to come down again from where he lives in heaven to do great things for us.
 
 \s5
 \c 3
 \p
-\v 1 Then Yahweh showed me Joshua, the high priest, who was standing in front of the angel that Yahweh had sent. And Satan was standing at Joshua's right side, ready to accuse him of having sinned.
-\v 2 But the angel of Yahweh said to Satan, "Satan, may Yahweh rebuke you! He has chosen Jerusalem to be his special city, and may he rebuke you! This man, Joshua, has been brought back from Babylonia; he is certainly like a burning stick that someone has snatched from a fire."
+\v 1 Then Yahweh showed me Joshua the high priest, who was standing in front of the angel that Yahweh had sent. And Satan was standing at Joshua's right side, ready to accuse him of having sinned.
+\v 2 But the angel of Yahweh said to Satan, "Satan, may Yahweh rebuke you! He has chosen Jerusalem to be his special city, and may he rebuke you! This man Joshua has been brought back from Babylonia; he is certainly like a burning stick that someone has snatched from a fire."
 \p
 \v 3 Now as Joshua was standing in front of the angel, he was wearing filthy clothes.
 
@@ -113,7 +111,7 @@ He will encourage the people of Jerusalem again, and he will again choose Jerusa
 \s5
 \p
 \v 6 Then the same angel said this to Joshua:
-\v 7 "Yahweh, Commander of the angel armies, says that if you do what I want you to do and obey my instructions, you will be in charge of my temple and its courtyard. And I will allow you to be part of this group of angels who are always standing near to me and can speak with me at any time.
+\v 7 "Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says that if you do what I want you to do and obey my instructions, you will be in charge of my temple and its courtyard. And I will allow you to be with these angels who are always standing near to me and can speak with me at any time.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -127,9 +125,9 @@ He will encourage the people of Jerusalem again, and he will again choose Jerusa
 \s5
 \c 4
 \p
-\v 1 Then the angel who had been talking with me returned, and he called to me while I was thinking deeply, as though I had been asleep.
+\v 1 Then the angel who had been talking with me returned, and he called to me while I was thinking deeply as though I had been asleep.
 \v 2 He asked me, "What do you see?"
-\p I replied, "I see a lampstand made completely of gold. There is a small bowl for olive oil at the top, and there are seven small lamps around the bowl, and a place for seven wicks on each lamp.
+\p I replied, "I see a lampstand made completely of gold. There is a small bowl for olive oil at the top, and there are seven small lamps around the bowl and a place for seven wicks on each lamp.
 \v 3 Furthermore, I see two olive trees, one at the right side of the lampstand and one at the left side."
 
 \s5
@@ -141,8 +139,8 @@ He will encourage the people of Jerusalem again, and he will again choose Jerusa
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 6 Then the angel said to me, "This is the message from Yahweh to you, Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah: 'You will do what I want you to do, but it will not be by your own strength or power. It will be done by the power of my Spirit,' says Yahweh, commander of the angel armies."
-\v 7 The angel continued to speak to me: "Zerubbabel, you have many difficult matters to handle. They are like high mountains. But it will be as though they became flat land. And you will bring to the new temple the final stone, the highest stone, to complete it. When you set it in place, all the people will shout repeatedly, 'It is beautiful! May God bless it!'"
+\v 6 Then the angel gave me this message from Yahweh for Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah: "You will do what I want you to do, but it will not be by your own strength or power. It will be done by the power of my Spirit, says Yahweh, commander of the angel armies.
+\v 7 Zerubbabel, you have many difficult matters to handle. They are like high mountains. But it will be as though they became flat land. And you will bring to the new temple the final stone—the highest stone—to complete it. When you set it in place, all the people will shout repeatedly, 'It is beautiful! May God bless it!'"
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -173,8 +171,8 @@ He will encourage the people of Jerusalem again, and he will again choose Jerusa
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 3 Then he said to me, "On this scroll Yahweh has written the words that he is speaking to curse the entire land of Judah. On one side of the scroll it is written that every thief will be banished. On the other side it is written that everyone who tells a lie when he is calling on Yahweh to witness that he is telling the truth will also be banished from the country.
-\v 4 The Commander of the angel armies says, 'I will send this scroll to the places where thieves live and to the houses of those who use my name when they call on me to witness that they are telling the truth. This scroll will stay in their houses until those houses and all their wood and stones are destroyed.'"
+\v 3 Then he said to me, "On this scroll Yahweh has written the words that he is speaking to curse the entire land of Judah. On one side of the scroll, it is written that every thief will be banished. On the other side it is written that everyone who tells a lie when he is calling on Yahweh to witness that he is telling the truth will also be banished from the country.
+\v 4 The commander of the angel armies says, 'I will send this scroll to the places where thieves live and to the houses of those who use my name when they call on me to witness that they are telling the truth. This scroll will stay in their houses until those houses and all of their wood and stones are destroyed.'"
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -188,7 +186,7 @@ He will encourage the people of Jerusalem again, and he will again choose Jerusa
 \s5
 \v 8 The angel said, "She represents the wicked things that people do." Then he pushed her back into the barrel and closed the very heavy lid again.
 \p
-\v 9 Then I looked up and saw two women in front of me. They were flying toward us, with their wings spread out in the wind. Their wings were large, like storks' wings. They lifted the barrel up into the sky.
+\v 9 Then I looked up and saw two women in front of me. They were flying toward us with their wings spread out in the wind. Their wings were large, like storks' wings. They lifted the barrel up into the sky.
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -213,27 +211,27 @@ He will encourage the people of Jerusalem again, and he will again choose Jerusa
 \p
 \v 7 When those powerful horses left, they were eager to go throughout the world. As they were leaving, the angel said to them, "Go throughout the world and see what is happening!" So they left to do that.
 \p
-\v 8 Then the angel called to me and said, "Look, the chariots that have gone north will mollify the Spirit of Yahweh by punishing the people in that region."
+\v 8 Then the angel called to me and said, "Look, the chariots that have gone north will satisfy the Spirit of Yahweh by punishing the people in that region."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 9 Then Yahweh gave me another message.
-\v 10 He said, "Today Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah will be bringing some silver and gold from the people who were exiled in Babylon. As soon as they arrive, go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.
-\v 11 Take some of that silver and gold from them and make a crown. Then put it on the head of Jehozadak's son Joshua, the high priest.
+\v 10 He said, "Today Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah will bring some silver and gold from the people who were exiled in Babylon. As soon as they arrive, go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.
+\v 11 Take some of that silver and gold from them and make a crown. Then put it on the head of Jozadak's son Joshua, the high priest.
 
 \s5
-\v 12 Tell him that I, the Commander of the angel armies, say that the man who is called the Branch will come. He will leave the place where he is now, and he will supervise those who build my temple.
-\v 13 He is the one who will tell those who will build my temple what to do. He will wear royal clothing and he will sit on his throne and rule. He will also be a priest sitting sitting on his throne, and there will be peace between the two roles.
+\v 12 Tell him that I, the commander of the angel armies, say that the man who is called the Branch will come. He will leave the place where he is now, and he will supervise those who build my temple.
+\v 13 He is the one who will tell those who will build my temple what to do. He will wear royal clothing, and he will sit on his throne and rule. He will also be a priest sitting on his throne, and there will be peace between the two roles.
 
 \s5
-\v 14 The crown was handed over to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah, and they were to place it in the house of Yahweh, as a way to honor them."
-\v 15 People who are living far away will come and help to build Yahweh's temple. When that happens, you people will know that Yahweh, the Commander of the angel armies, have sent me to you people. That will happen if all of you faithfully obey Yahweh, your God.
+\v 14 The crown was handed over to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah, and they were to place it in the house of Yahweh as a way to honor them."
+\v 15 People who are living far away will come and help to build Yahweh's temple. When that happens, you people will know that Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, have sent me to you people. That will happen if all of you faithfully obey Yahweh your God.
 
 \s5
 \c 7
 \p
 \v 1 When Darius had been the emperor for almost four years, on the fourth day of Kislev (which was the ninth month in their calendar), Yahweh gave me another message.
-\v 2 The people of the city of Bethel sent two men, Sharezer and Regem-Melek,, along with some other men, to the temple of Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, to request that Yahweh be kind to them.
+\v 2 The people of the city of Bethel sent two men, Sharezer and Regem-Melek, along with some other men to the temple of Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, to request that Yahweh be kind to them.
 \v 3 They also asked the priests at Yahweh's temple and the prophets this question: "For many years, during the fifth month and during the seventh month of each year, we have mourned and fasted. Should we continue to do that?"
 
 \s5
@@ -241,13 +239,13 @@ He will encourage the people of Jerusalem again, and he will again choose Jerusa
 \v 4 Then Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, gave me a message.
 \v 5 He told me to say this to the priests and, in fact, to everyone in the whole land: "Tell me whom you were honoring when you did not eat but went around in dirty clothing. You were not really honoring me, were you?
 \v 6 And when you feasted at my temple, you did it just to have a good time; you did not really intend to honor me, did you?
-\v 7 This is exactly what I kept telling the former prophets to proclaim to the people, when the people in Jerusalem and the nearby towns were many and prosperous, and when people also lived in the southern Judean wilderness, and in the foothills to the west."
+\v 7 This is exactly what I kept telling the former prophets to proclaim to the people when the people in Jerusalem and the nearby towns were many and prosperous and when people also lived in the southern Judean wilderness and in the foothills to the west."
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 8 Yahweh gave another message to me:
-\v 9 "Tell the people that this is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says: 'I told you to do what is just, to act kindly and mercifully toward each other, in order to honor my covenant with you.
-\v 10 I told you not to oppress widows or orphans or foreigners or poor people. I said to not even think about doing evil to anyone else.'"
+\v 9 "Tell the people that this is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says: 'I told you to do what is just and to act kindly and mercifully toward each other in order to honor my covenant with you.
+\v 10 I told you to not oppress widows or orphans or foreigners or poor people. I said to not even think about doing evil to anyone else.'"
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -257,42 +255,42 @@ He will encourage the people of Jerusalem again, and he will again choose Jerusa
 \s5
 \p
 \v 13 In those times, when Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, called to the people, they refused to listen. So he said, "In exactly the same way, I will refuse to listen when they call to me.
-\v 14 And I will scatter them among many nations, nations that they have never been to before. I will scatter them as a storm scatters leaves. After they are gone, their own land will be empty, with no one living there. No one will travel through it and no one will come back to it, because they have turned it, their most pleasant land, into a wilderness."
+\v 14 And I will scatter them among many nations—nations they have never been to before. I will scatter them as a storm scatters leaves. After they are gone, their own land will be empty, with no one living there. No one will travel through it and no one will come back to it because they have turned it—their most pleasant land—into a wilderness."
 
 \s5
 \c 8
 \p
 \v 1 Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
-\v 2 "This is what I, Yahweh the Commander of the angel armies, say: I love the people of Jerusalem; I love them very much, and I am very angry with their enemies.
+\v 2 "This is what I, Yahweh the commander of the angel armies, say: I love the people of Jerusalem; I love them very much, and I am very angry with their enemies.
 \p
-\v 3 So this is what I, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, say: On that day I will return to Mount Zion and I will live there. At that time, Jerusalem will be called The City of Faithful People, and Mount Zion will be called The Mountain that Belongs to Yahweh."
+\v 3 So this is what I, Yahweh the commander of the angel armies, say: On that day I will return to Mount Zion and I will live there. At that time, Jerusalem will be called The City of Faithful People, and Mount Zion will be called The Mountain that Belongs to Yahweh."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 4 Yahweh, the Commander of the angel armies, also says this: "On that day the old men and old women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each of them holding a cane because of their being very old.
+\v 4 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, also says this: "On that day the old men and old women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each of them holding a cane because of their being very old.
 \v 5 And the city streets with be full of boys and girls playing."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 6 Yahweh, the Commander of the angel armies, also says this: "When those things happen, it will seem marvelous to the people who are still alive, but it certainly will not seem marvelous to me!"
+\v 6 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, also says this: "When those things happen, it will seem marvelous to the people who are still alive, but it certainly will not seem marvelous to me!"
 \p
 \v 7 Yahweh also says this: "I will bring my people back from the land to the east—Babylonia—and from the land to the west—Egypt—to which they had to go.
 \v 8 I will bring them back to Judah, and they will again live in Jerusalem. They will again worship me as my people, and I will be their God. I will be faithful to them and act toward them in a just manner."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 9 Yahweh, the Commander of the angel armies, also says this: "When the foundation for my temple was laid, there were prophets there who gave messages from me. Some of you people heard what those prophets said. So be brave while you are building the temple, in order that you may finish building it.
-\v 10 Before you started to rebuild the temple, your fields gave no crops, no return for either man or beast working in them. And people were afraid to go anywhere because I had caused people to be against each other.
+\v 9 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, also says this: "When the foundation for my temple was laid, prophets were there who gave messages from me. Some of you people heard what those prophets said. So be brave while you are building the temple so that you may finish building it.
+\v 10 Before you started to rebuild the temple, your fields gave no crops—no return for either man or beast working in them. And people were afraid to go anywhere because I had caused people to be against each other.
 
 \s5
-\v 11 But now I will act differently toward you people who are still alive, differently than I did previously. That is what I, Yahweh, the Commander of the angel armies, say.
+\v 11 But now I will act differently toward you people who are still alive, differently than I did previously. That is what I, Yahweh the commander of the angel armies, say.
 \p
 \v 12 From now on, I will give you peace. Your grapevines will produce grapes, and good crops will grow in your fields. There will be rain from the sky. I will always give all these things to you people who are still alive.
 
 \s5
 \v 13 You people of Judah and Israel, the people of other nations think of you when they speak of what a curse means. But I will rescue you, and I will give you many good things. So do not be afraid; work hard to finish building the temple."
 \p
-\v 14 Yahweh, the Commander of the angel armies, also says this: "When your ancestors caused me to become very angry, I did not change my mind about that. Instead, I indeed punished them.
+\v 14 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, also says this: "When your ancestors caused me to become very angry, I did not change my mind about that. Instead, I indeed punished them.
 \v 15 But now I will do something different. I am planning to do good things to the people of Jerusalem and other towns in Judah again. So do not be afraid.
 
 \s5
@@ -301,31 +299,31 @@ He will encourage the people of Jerusalem again, and he will again choose Jerusa
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 18 Yahweh, the Commander of the angel armies, spoke to me again.
+\v 18 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, spoke to me again.
 \v 19 This is what he said: "The times when you people of Judah abstain from food during the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months of each year will become times when you celebrate pleasant and joyful festivals instead. But you must want to speak truthfully and to be peaceful."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 20 Yahweh, the Commander of the angel armies, also says this: "There will be people gathered from many peoples and from many foreign cities, and they will come here to Jerusalem.
+\v 20 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, also says this: "There will be people gathered from many peoples and from many foreign cities, and they will come here to Jerusalem.
 \v 21 People from one city will go to the people in another city and say, 'Let us go together to Jerusalem to worship Yahweh and request him to bless us; we ourselves are going.'
 \v 22 And people from many peoples and from powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to worship Yahweh and request him to bless them."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 23 Yahweh, the Commander of the angel armies, also says this: "At that time, this is what will happen everywhere: For every Jewish person, there will be ten foreigners, people who speak a different language, who will come and grab the fringe of his robe. They will say to him, 'We have heard people say that God is with you. So allow us to go with you to Jerusalem to worship him.' People from every nation and language will do this."
+\v 23 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, also says this: "At that time, this is what will happen everywhere: For every Jewish person, there will be ten foreigners—people who speak a different language—who will come and grab the fringe of his robe. They will say to him, 'We have heard people say that God is with you. So allow us to go with you to Jerusalem to worship him.' People from every nation and language will do this."
 
 \s5
 \c 9
 \p
-\v 1 This is another message that I received from Yahweh about the region of Hadrach and the city of Damascus, the place where they get their rest. All the eyes of the nations and the people of the tribe of Israel are all looking toward Yahweh, to see what he will say.
-\v 2 This message is also about the people in the region of Hamath near to Damascus, and about the people in the cities of Tyre and Sidon, people who are very wise.
+\v 1 This is another message that I received from Yahweh about the region of Hadrak and the city of Damascus, the place where they get their rest. All the eyes of the nations and the people of the tribe of Israel are all looking toward Yahweh to see what he will say.
+\v 2 This message is also about the people in the region of Hamath near to Damascus and about the people in the cities of Tyre and Sidon, people who are very wise.
 
 \s5
-\v 3 The people in Tyre have built a high wall around their city. They piled up huge amounts of silver and gold like other people pile up soil when they dig in the streets.
+\v 3 The people in Tyre have built a high wall around their city. They piled up huge amounts of silver and gold as other people pile up soil when they dig in the streets.
 \v 4 But I, Yahweh, will make them lose everything, including their ships in which their men fight on the sea. Their city will burn to the ground.
 
 \s5
-\v 5 The people in the city of Ashkelon will see that happen, and they will become very afraid. The people in the city of Gaza will shake because they are terrified, and the people in the city of Ekron will shake too, because they no longer hope to escape enemies. The king of Gaza will die; no one will live any longer in Ashkelon.
+\v 5 The people in the city of Ashkelon will see that happen, and they will become very afraid. The people in the city of Gaza will shake because they are terrified, and the people in the city of Ekron will also shake because they no longer hope to escape enemies. The king of Gaza will die; no one will live any longer in Ashkelon.
 \v 6 Yahweh says, "Foreigners will occupy the city of Ashdod. I will no longer allow the people in all those cities of Philistia to be proud.
 \v 7 I will no longer allow them to eat meat that still has blood in it, and I will forbid them to eat food that they offered to idols. At that time, the people in the region of Philistia who survive will worship me; they will become like a clan in Judah. The people of the city of Ekron will become part of my people, as the people of the city of Jebus did when the Israelites conquered them.
 
@@ -333,52 +331,52 @@ He will encourage the people of Jerusalem again, and he will again choose Jerusa
 \v 8 I will protect my land, and I will not allow any enemy soldiers to enter it. No enemies will harm my people again, because I myself will be watching over them carefully.
 
 \s5
-\v 9 Rejoice very much, you people of Jerusalem and shout joyfully,
+\v 9 Rejoice very much, you people of Jerusalem, and shout joyfully
 \q because your king will be coming to you.
 \q He is righteous and victorious;
 \q he will be gentle,
 \q and he will be riding on a donkey,
 \q on a young female donkey.
 \v 10 I will destroy the chariots in the region of Ephraim that are used in war and all the horses in Jerusalem that they take into battle. I will break all the bows they use in wars.
-\q Your king will proclaim that he will cause things to go well and peacefully among the nations. He will rule the area from the Mediterranean Sea to the Dead Sea, and from the Euphrates River to the most distant places on the earth.
+\q Your king will proclaim that he will cause things to go well and peacefully among the nations. He will rule the area from the Mediterranean Sea to the Dead Sea and from the Euphrates River to the most distant places on the earth.
 
 \s5
-\v 11 As for you, my people of Jerusalem, because of the blood that flowed when I made my covenant with you, I will free your people whom they took to other countries, where it was as though they were prisoners in a waterless pit.
-\v 12 You people who were prisoners in those countries who still believe that I will help you, return to Judah, for I will defend you there. Today I declare that I will give you two blessings for each of the troubles that you have experienced.
+\v 11 As for you, my people of Jerusalem, because of the blood that flowed when I made my covenant with you, I will free your people whom they took to other countries where it was as though they were prisoners in a waterless pit.
+\v 12 You people who were prisoners in those countries who still believe that I will help you: Return to Judah, for I will defend you there. Today I declare that I will give you two blessings for each of the troubles that you have experienced.
 \v 13 I will cause Judah to be like my bow, and I will cause Israel to be like my arrow. I will enable you young men of Jerusalem to fight against the soldiers of Greece; you will be like a warrior's sword."
 
 \s5
-\v 14 One day Yahweh will appear in the sky above his people, and the arrows that he shoots will be like lightning bolts. Yahweh our Lord will blow his trumpet, and he will march with the powerful storms that come from the land of Teman in the south.
+\v 14 One day, Yahweh will appear in the sky above his people, and the arrows that he shoots will be like lightning bolts. Yahweh our Lord will blow his trumpet, and he will march with the powerful storms that come from the land of Teman in the south.
 \v 15 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, will protect his people; the soldiers of Judah will attack and defeat their enemies who attack them using slings and stones. Those soldiers of Judah will drink and celebrate and shout like people who are drunk; they will be as full of wine as the bowl that holds the blood of the animals priest kill at the altar—the blood that the priests sprinkle on the corners of the altar.
 
 \s5
-\v 16 On that day, Yahweh our God will save his people like a shepherd saves his flock of sheep from danger. In our land, they will be like jewels that sparkle in a crown.
+\v 16 On that day, Yahweh our God will save his people as a shepherd saves his flock of sheep from danger. In our land, they will be like jewels that sparkle in a crown.
 \v 17 They will be delightful and beautiful. The young men will become strong from eating grain, and the young women will become strong from drinking new wine.
 
 \s5
 \c 10
 \p
 \v 1 Ask Yahweh to cause rain to fall in the springtime, because he is the one who makes the clouds from which the rain falls in storms. He causes showers to fall on us, and he causes crops to grow well in the fields.
-\v 2 What people think that the idols in their houses say is only nonsense, and people who say that they can interpret dreams tell only lies. When they tell people things to comfort them, what they say is useless, so the people who consult them are like lost sheep; they are in danger because they have no one to protect them like sheep with no shepherd.
+\v 2 What people think that the idols in their houses say is only nonsense, and people who say that they can interpret dreams tell only lies. When they tell people things to comfort them, what they say is useless, so the people who consult them are like lost sheep; they are in danger because they have no one to protect them, like sheep with no shepherd.
 
 \s5
-\v 3 Yahweh says, "I am angry with the leaders of my people, and I will punish them. I, Yahweh, the Commander of the angel armies, I will take care of my people, the people of Judah, like a shepherd takes care of his flock, and I will cause them to be like war horses in battle.
+\v 3 Yahweh says, "I am angry with the leaders of my people, and I will punish them. I, Yahweh commander of the angel armies, will take care of my people, the people of Judah, as a shepherd takes care of his flock, and I will cause them to be like war horses in battle.
 
 \s5
-\v 4 From Judah will come rulers who will be very important. From Judah will come leaders who will hold the people together, like a tent peg keeps a tent up. From Judah will come leaders who will take the soldiers into war, like a king holding his own bow for battle. From them will come every one of their own leaders.
+\v 4 From Judah will come rulers who will be very important. From Judah will come leaders who will hold the people together as a tent peg keeps a tent up. From Judah will come leaders who will take the soldiers into war, like a king holding his own bow for battle. From them will come every one of their own leaders.
 \v 5 They will be like mighty warriors who trample their enemies into the mud during battle. I, Yahweh, will be with them, so they will defeat and shame their enemies who ride on horses.
 
 \s5
-\v 6 I will make the people of Judah strong, and I will rescue the people of Israel. I will bring them back from the countries to which they were exiled; I will do that because I pity them. Then it will be as though I had never abandoned them because I am Yahweh, their God, and I will answer them when they pray for help.
+\v 6 I will make the people of Judah strong, and I will rescue the people of Israel. I will bring them back from the countries to which they were exiled; I will do that because I pity them. Then it will be as though I had never abandoned them because I am Yahweh their God, and I will answer them when they pray for help.
 \v 7 The people of Israel will then be like strong soldiers; they will be as happy as people who have drunk a lot of wine. Their children will see their fathers being very happy, and they also will be happy because of what I have done for them.
 
 \s5
 \v 8 I will signal for my people to return from far away, and I will gather them together in their own country. I will rescue them, and they will become very numerous as they were previously.
 \v 9 I have caused them to be scattered among many peoples, but in those distant countries they will think about me again. They and their children will remain alive and return to Judah.
-\v 10 I will bring them back from Egypt and from Assyria; I will bring them back to the regions of Gilead and Lebanon, but there not be enough space for them all to live there.
+\v 10 I will bring them back from Egypt and from Assyria; I will bring them back to the regions of Gilead and Lebanon, but there will not be enough space for them all to live there.
 
 \s5
-\v 11 I will go before them through their sufferings, as if I were walking through a sea, but I will calm those waves and end their sufferings, as if I were drying up the Nile River. I will defeat the proud soldiers of Assyria, and I will cause Egypt to no longer be powerful.
+\v 11 I will go before them through their sufferings as if I were walking through a sea, but I will calm those waves and end their sufferings as if I were drying up the Nile River. I will defeat the proud soldiers of Assyria, and I will cause Egypt to no longer be powerful.
 \v 12 I will enable my people to be strong, and they will honor me and obey me. That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, have said it."
 
 \s5
@@ -392,8 +390,8 @@ Listen to the lions roar; they roar because the thick forest where they live nea
 \s5
 \p
 \v 4 This is what Yahweh my God said to me: "I want you to supervise this flock of sheep until the flock perishes.
-\v 5 The dealers in sheep will kill the sheep, and no one will punish them. Those who sell the sheep will say, 'I praise Yahweh, because I will become rich!' And the shepherds whom the owners hire do not feel sorry for the sheep.
-\v 6 And similarly, I no longer feel sorry for the people of this country. I am going to allow their fellow countrymen and their king, to oppress them. They will ruin this country, and I will not rescue any of them."
+\v 5 The dealers in sheep will kill the sheep, and no one will punish them. Those who sell the sheep will say, 'I praise Yahweh because I will become rich!' And the shepherds whom the owners hire do not feel sorry for the sheep.
+\v 6 And similarly, I no longer feel sorry for the people of this country. I am going to allow their fellow countrymen and their king to oppress them. They will ruin this country, and I will not rescue any of them."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -404,14 +402,14 @@ Listen to the lions roar; they roar because the thick forest where they live nea
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 10 Then I took the staff that I had named 'Kindness,' and I broke it. I did this because Yahweh had told me to cancel the covenant that he had made with all his tribes of Israel.
+\v 10 Then I took the staff I had named 'Kindness,' and I broke it. I did this because Yahweh had told me to cancel the covenant he had made with all his tribes of Israel.
 \v 11 So that covenant was ended on that very day. The dealers who were watching me knew by seeing what I was doing that I was giving them a message from Yahweh.
 \p
 \v 12 I told them, "If you think it is right, pay me for my work. If you do not think it is right, do not pay me." So they paid me only thirty pieces of silver.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 Then Yahweh said to me, "That is a ridiculously small amount of money that they have for your work. So put it into the treasury." So I took the silver to the temple of Yahweh, and I deposited it in the treasury there.
+\v 13 Then Yahweh said to me, "That is a ridiculously small amount of money that they have paid you for your work. So put it into the treasury." So I took the silver to the temple of Yahweh, and I deposited it in the treasury there.
 \p
 \v 14 Then I broke my second staff, the one that I had named "Union." That indicated that Judah and Israel would no longer be together as brothers.
 
@@ -428,63 +426,60 @@ May his enemies strike his arm and his right eye with their swords. May he have
 \c 12
 \p
 \v 1 This is a message from Yahweh concerning Israel—Yahweh, the one who stretched out the sky, who created the earth, and who gave life to human beings. This is what he says:
-\v 2 "I will soon cause Jerusalem to be like a cup full of very strong alcoholic drink, and the people of other nations who drink it will stagger around. The people of Judah will drink it, too, for they also will suffer when the enemy besieges Jerusalem.
+\v 2 "I will soon cause Jerusalem to be like a cup full of very strong alcoholic drink, and the people of other nations who drink it will stagger around. The people of Judah will also drink it, for they also will suffer when the enemy besieges Jerusalem.
 \v 3 At that time, the armies of all the peoples will gather to attack Jerusalem, but I will cause Jerusalem to be like a very heavy rock, and all who try to lift it will be badly injured. This will happen when the armies of all the world's nations attack Jerusalem.
 
 \s5
-\v 4 At that time I will cause every one of their enemies' horses to panic, and their riders to become crazy. I will protect the people of Judah, but I will cause all their enemies' horses to become blind.
-\v 5 Then the leaders of Judah will say to themselves, 'The people in Jerusalem encourage us because Yahweh, the Commander of the angel armies, is the one they worship.'
+\v 4 At that time I will cause every one of their enemies' horses to panic and their riders to become crazy. I will protect the people of Judah, but I will cause all of their enemies' horses to become blind.
+\v 5 Then the leaders of Judah will say to themselves, 'The people in Jerusalem encourage us because Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, is the one they worship.'
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 6 At that time I will make the leaders of Judah like a pot of fire that someone puts in piles of firewood; and like a burning torch in a field of ripe grain. The leaders of Judah and their soldiers will destroy the peoples surrounding them in all directions. But the people of Jerusalem will remain safe in their own city."
+\v 6 At that time I will make the leaders of Judah like a pot of fire that someone puts in piles of firewood and like a burning torch in a field of ripe grain. The leaders of Judah and their soldiers will destroy the peoples surrounding them in all directions. But the people of Jerusalem will remain safe in their own city."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 7 Yahweh will protect those who live in the other places in Judah before he rescues the people of Jerusalem, in order that people will not honor the descendants of David and those in Jerusalem more than the people in all the rest of Judah.
+\v 7 Yahweh will protect those who live in the other places in Judah before he rescues the people of Jerusalem so that people will not honor the descendants of David and those in Jerusalem more than the people in all the rest of Judah.
 \v 8 At that time, Yahweh will protect everyone in Jerusalem. The weakest soldiers among them will be as strong as David was, and the descendants of David will be like God; they will lead the others like the angel of Yahweh himself.
 \v 9 "At that time, I will start to destroy all the armies that attack Jerusalem."
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 10 "I, Yahweh, will cause the descendants of David to have mercy on others, and to beg me to have mercy on themselves. They will gaze at me, whom they pierced." They will cry bitterly, as people cry for a firstborn son, an only son, who has died.
+\v 10 "I, Yahweh, will cause the descendants of David to have mercy on others and to beg me to have mercy on themselves. They will gaze at me whom they pierced." They will cry bitterly, as people cry for a firstborn son, an only son, who has died.
 \v 11 At that time, many people in Jerusalem will be crying bitterly, as people cry at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
 
 \s5
 \v 12 Many people in Judah will cry, each clan by themselves. The male descendants of David will mourn by themselves, and their wives will mourn by themselves; the male descendants of Nathan will mourn by themselves, and their wives will mourn by themselves.
 \v 13 The male descendants of Levi will mourn by themselves, and their wives will mourn by themselves; the male descendants of Shimei will mourn by themselves, and their wives will mourn by themselves.
-\v 14 All the clans will mourn separately, their males by themselves, and their wives by themselves."
+\v 14 All the clans will mourn separately, their males by themselves and their wives by themselves."
 
 \s5
 \c 13
 \p
-\v 1 At that time it will be as though there is a spring of water that will continuously flow to cleanse the descendants of King David and all the other people in Jerusalem from the guilt of the sins that they have committed, especially from becoming unacceptable to Yahweh by worshiping idols.
+\v 1 At that time it will be as though there is a spring of water that will continuously flow to cleanse the descendants of King David and all the other people in Jerusalem from the guilt of the sins they have committed, especially from becoming unacceptable to Yahweh by worshiping idols.
 \p
-\v 2 Yahweh, the Commander of angel armies, says, "At that time, I will prevent people from even mentioning the names of the idols in their country, and no one will worship them anymore. I will also drive away from the land all the people who falsely claim that they are prophets; I will also drive away the evil spirit that leads them to tell the people false messages from me.
+\v 2 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says, "At that time, I will prevent people from even mentioning the names of the idols in their country, and no one will worship them anymore. I will also drive away from the land all the people who falsely claim that they are prophets; I will also drive away the evil spirit that leads them to tell the people false messages from me.
 
 \s5
 \v 3 If someone continues to prophesy falsely, his own parents, even though he is their own son, will say to him, 'You have told lies saying that Yahweh gave those messages to you, so you must die.' Then they will stab him and kill him.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 4 At that time, the false prophets will be ashamed to announce that he has received any vision at all. They will no longer put on cloaks made with animal hair that prophets normally wear, because they will want the people to think that they were never really prophets at all.
+\v 4 At that time, the false prophets will be ashamed to announce that they have received any vision at all. They will no longer put on cloaks made with animal hair that prophets normally wear, because they will want the people to think that they were never really prophets at all.
 \v 5 So each of them will say, 'I am not really a prophet; I am a farmer, and I have been a farmer on my land ever since I was a boy!'
 \v 6 But others will see scars on their bodies and think that they cut themselves in order to please idols while they were worshiping them. So they will ask, 'Why do you have those scars?' And they will tell a lie: 'I was injured in a quarrel at my friend's house.'"
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 7 Yahweh, the Commander of angel armies, says,
+\v 7 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says,
 \q "Someone must attack and kill the one who is like a shepherd working for me,
 \q the man who is my close companion.
 \q You with the sword! When you kill my shepherd, my people will run away like sheep.
 \q And I myself will attack my ordinary people, those who are like little sheep."
 
 \s5
-\v 8 Yahweh also says, "Two-thirds of the people in Judah will die;
-Only one-third of the people in Judah will remain alive.
-\v 9 I will test the ones that remain alive by causing them to experience great difficulties, to find out if they will continue to worship me.
-I will purify them as someone purifies gold or silver by putting it into a very hot fire.
-Then my people will call to me for help, and I will answer them. I will tell them that they are my people, and they will say that I, Yahweh, am the God they worship and obey.
+\v 8 Yahweh also says, "Two-thirds of the people in Judah will die; only one-third of the people in Judah will remain alive.
+\v 9 I will test the ones who remain alive by causing them to experience great difficulties to find out if they will continue to worship me. I will purify them as someone purifies gold or silver by putting it into a very hot fire. Then my people will call to me for help, and I will answer them. I will tell them that they are my people, and they will say that I, Yahweh, am the God they worship and obey.
 
 \s5
 \c 14
@@ -499,12 +494,12 @@ Then my people will call to me for help, and I will answer them. I will tell the
 \v 4 On that day, he will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives will split into two parts, with a large valley between the parts. Half of the mount will move toward the north, and half will move toward the south.
 
 \s5
-\v 5 You people of Jerusalem will flee through that valley which extends to the other side of the mount, all the way to the village of Azel. It will be just as when people fled when there was an earthquake when Uzziah was king. Then Yahweh my God will come, and his own angels will be with him.
+\v 5 You people of Jerusalem will flee through that valley that extends to the other side of the mount all the way to the village of Azel. It will be just as when people fled when there was an earthquake when Uzziah was king. Then Yahweh my God will come, and his own angels will be with him.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 6 At that time, there will be no light from the sun, but it will not be cold or frosty.
-\v 7 Only Yahweh knows when this will happen. There will be no daytime or nighttime, because it will be light all the time, even in the evening.
+\v 7 Only Yahweh knows when this will happen. There will be no daytime or nighttime because it will be light all the time, even in the evening.
 \p
 \v 8 At that time, water will flow from Jerusalem. One stream will flow toward the east to the Dead Sea. The other stream will flow toward the west to the Mediterranean Sea. The water will flow all the time, even during the hot season as well as in the cold season.
 
@@ -512,7 +507,7 @@ Then my people will call to me for help, and I will answer them. I will tell the
 \p
 \v 9 After that time, Yahweh will be the king who rules the entire world. Everyone will know that Yahweh, and only Yahweh, is the true God.
 \p
-\v 10 At that time, all the land in Judah will be flat, like the plain along the Jordan, from the town of Geba in the north to the town of Rimmon far to the south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem will remain high up, as it has always been. The city will extend northeast from the Benjamin Gate and the Corner Gate, which was the old gate, and to the Tower of Hananel, and then extending to the king's winepresses to the southwest.
+\v 10 At that time, all the land in Judah will be flat like the plain along the Jordan, from the town of Geba in the north to the town of Rimmon far to the south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem will remain high up, as it has always been. The city will extend northeast from the Benjamin Gate and the Corner Gate, which was the old gate, to the Tower of Hananel and then extending to the king's winepresses to the southwest.
 \v 11 Many people will live there, and God will never again threaten the city with destruction. It will be a completely safe city to live in.
 
 \s5
@@ -521,12 +516,12 @@ Then my people will call to me for help, and I will answer them. I will tell the
 \v 13 At that time, Yahweh will cause them to panic. They will grab hold of each other and attack each other.
 
 \s5
-\v 14 Even the people who live in other places in Judah will attack Jerusalem. They will collect the valuable things, the plunder, from the surrounding armies of the nations—a lot of gold and silver and clothes.
+\v 14 Even the people who live in other places in Judah will attack Jerusalem. They will collect the valuable things, the plunder, from the surrounding armies of the nations—a great amount of gold and silver and clothes.
 \v 15 The same plague that will afflict the people of other nations will afflict the horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all the other work animals in their camps.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 16 The people of other nations who previously came to fight against Jerusalem, all those who are still alive, will return to Jerusalem every year to worship the King, Yahweh, the Commander of the angel armies, and to celebrate the Festival of Shelters.
+\v 16 The people of other nations who previously came to fight against Jerusalem, all those who are still alive, will return to Jerusalem every year to worship the King, Yahweh commander of the angel armies, and to celebrate the Festival of Shelters.
 \v 17 If there are people in those nations who do not go to Jerusalem to worship there, rain will not fall on their land.
 \v 18 If the people of Egypt do not go to Jerusalem, they will not have any rain. And Yahweh will cause them to suffer the same plague that afflicted the people of other nations that do not celebrate the Festival of Shelters.
 
@@ -536,5 +531,5 @@ Then my people will call to me for help, and I will answer them. I will tell the
 \s5
 \p
 \v 20 At that time, the words "Dedicated to Yahweh" will be written on the bells that are fastened to the horses. The cooking pots in the courtyard of the temple will belong to Yahweh, like the bowls that are in front of the altar.
-\v 21 Every pot in Jerusalem and everywhere else in Judah will be dedicated to Yahweh, the Commander of the angel armies. So everyone who offers sacrifices there in Jerusalem will be able to take some of the meat that has been brought for sacrifices and cook it in their own pots. And at that time, people will no longer buy or sell things in the courtyard of the temple of Yahweh, the Commander of the angel armies.
+\v 21 Every pot in Jerusalem and everywhere else in Judah will be dedicated to Yahweh, commander of the angel armies. So everyone who offers sacrifices there in Jerusalem will be able to take some of the meat that has been brought for sacrifices and cook it in their own pots. And at that time, people will no longer buy or sell things in the courtyard of the temple of Yahweh, commander of the angel armies.
 

39-MAL.usfm

@@ -26,11 +26,11 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 6 But the Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says to the people,
+\v 6 But Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says to the people,
 \pi "Boys honor their fathers, and servants respect their masters. So, if I am like your father and your master, why do you not honor me? Why do you not obey me?"
 \m And Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, has something to say to you priests:
 \pi "You show no respect for me! But you priests ask,
-\pi2 'How have shown no respect for you?'
+\pi2 'How have we shown no respect for you?'
 \pi
 \v 7 I answer: Instead of honoring me, you have disgraced me by offering sacrifices on my altar that are unworthy of me, sacrifices that I would never accept. Then you dare to ask,
 \pi2 'What sacrifices have we given that are unworthy of you?'
@@ -47,12 +47,12 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 10 Yahweh also says,
-\pi "I wish that one of you would shut the gates of the temple courtyard, in order that no one could offer those worthless sacrifices. I am not pleased with you, and I will not accept the offerings that you bring to me."
+\pi "I wish that one of you would shut the gates of the temple courtyard so that no one could offer those worthless sacrifices. I am not pleased with you, and I will not accept the offerings that you bring to me."
 \m This is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says.
 \v 11 He also says,
 \pi "People of other nations from east to west will indeed honor me. They will burn incense to honor me, and they will bring right offerings, offerings that I will accept. This will happen because people in all the nations will praise and honor me.
 \p
-\v 12 But you priests—you priests act in a way that shows me no honor at all. You say,
+\v 12 But you priests act in a way that shows me no honor at all. You say,
 \pi2 'It is all right if people disgrace the altar by bringing sacrifices that he will not accept.'
 
 \s5
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
 \m This is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says.
 \p
 \v 14 Yahweh also says,
-\pi "I will curse anyone who tries to cheat me by swearing that he will bring to me a perfect animal from his herd, and who then brings me one that has defects. If anyone does that, I will punish him, because I am a great king, and people of the other nations honor me, but you do not!"
+\pi "I will curse anyone who tries to cheat me by swearing that he will bring to me a perfect animal from his herd and who then brings me one that has defects. If anyone does that, I will punish him because I am a great king, and people of the other nations honor me, but you do not!"
 \m This is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says.
 
 \s5
@@ -71,12 +71,12 @@
 \p
 \v 1 You priests, I will say something to warn you.
 \v 2 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says this:
-\pi "Pay attention to what I am saying, and then decide to honor me. If you do not do that, I will curse you, and I will curse the things that I have done for you to help you. And I have already cursed them, because you have not honored me.
+\pi "Pay attention to what I am saying, and then decide to honor me. If you do not do that, I will curse you, and I will curse the things that I have done for you to help you. And I have already cursed them because you have not honored me.
 
 \s5
 \v 3 I will punish your descendants, and it will be as though I had splattered on your faces the dung from the animals that you have sacrificed, and I will make others come and throw you away with that dung.
 \p
-\v 4 When that happens, you will know that I warned you like this, in order that you descendants of Levi will obey my covenant with the priests."
+\v 4 When that happens, you will know that I warned you like this so that you descendants of Levi will obey my covenant with the priests."
 \m This is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, is saying to you.
 
 \s5
@@ -84,12 +84,12 @@
 \pi "I made my covenant with your ancestor Levi because I wanted the priests to live prosperously and peacefully. And that is what I enabled them to do. I required that they greatly respect me and honor me, and they did so.
 \v 6 They taught the people what was true and right; they did not tell lies. They worked for me peacefully and loyally, and they helped many people to stop sinning.
 \p
-\v 7 What priests say should enable people to continue to learn the truth from generation to generation. They should be certain that the priests will teach them correction, because they must be true messengers from me, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies.
+\v 7 What priests say should enable people to continue to learn the truth from generation to generation. They should be certain that the priests will teach them correction because they must be true messengers from me, Yahweh commander of the angel armies.
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 8 But, you priests do not act in that way any more. Instead, what you have taught people has caused many of them to sin. You have rejected the covenant that I made with the descendants of Levi long ago.
-\v 9 Therefore I have caused all the people to despise you, and I have caused them to shame you, for you have not obeyed me. Instead, you teach people different things, depending on how important they are."
+\v 8 But, you priests do not act in that way anymore. Instead, what you have taught people has caused many of them to sin. You have rejected the covenant I made with the descendants of Levi long ago.
+\v 9 Therefore I have caused all the people to despise you, and I have caused them to shame you, for you have not obeyed me. Instead, you teach people different things depending on how important they are."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 This is another thing that you do: You come and weep in front of Yahweh's altar, covering it with your tears. You wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings.
+\v 13 This is another thing you do: You come and weep in front of Yahweh's altar, covering it with your tears. You wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings.
 
 \s5
 \v 14 You cry out, saying "Why does Yahweh not like our offerings?" The answer is that Yahweh heard that each of you men solemnly promised to be faithful to your wives when you were young. But you men have not done what you promised; you have sent them away, the ones with whom you made that covenant, so you could marry foreign women.
@@ -111,14 +111,14 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 17 You have made Yahweh lose his paitence with you by saying all those disgusting things. But you dare to ask, "How have we made him impatient?"
+\v 17 You have made Yahweh lose his patience with you by saying all those disgusting things. But you dare to ask, "How have we made him impatient?"
 \p The answer is that you have said that Yahweh is pleased with all those who do what is evil, that he actually views them as good. And you have also made him impatient by always saying, "Why does God not act justly toward us?"
 
 \s5
 \c 3
 \p
 \v 1 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says this:
-\pi "Look, I will soon send a messenger to you, who will get you ready to welcome me. I, the Lord, whom you say you desire to come, will appear suddenly in my temple. A messenger will come, whom Yahweh had promised in the covenant that you say you take pleasure in. I myself am coming." This is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says.
+\pi "Look, I will soon send a messenger to you who will get you ready to welcome me. I, the Lord, whom you say you desire to come, will appear suddenly in my temple. A messenger will come whom Yahweh had promised in the covenant that you say you take pleasure in. I myself am coming." This is what Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says.
 \p
 \v 2 And none of you will be able to stop Yahweh from judging you. For he will declare no one innocent when he comes. He will act like a fire that burns hot enough to refine precious metals. He will act as the strong soap that laundrymen use to clean clothing.
 \v 3 Yahweh will judge you; he will be like a silversmith who sits down and makes his silver pure, free from all impurities. Yahweh will forgive you and make all of you priests and Levite temple workers not want to sin any longer. He will make you like pure gold or silver. Then he will accept your offerings that you bring to him, because you will be righteous."
@@ -132,21 +132,21 @@
 
 \s5
 \pi
-\v 6 I am Yahweh, and I never change. That is why I have not yet gotten rid of you, although you deceive people like your ancestor Jacob did.
-\v 7 Ever since the time when your ancestors were alive, you have ignored my commands and refused to obey them. Now return to me; if you do so, I will return to you. That is what I, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, say. But you ask,
+\v 6 I am Yahweh, and I never change. That is why I have not yet gotten rid of you, although you deceive people as your ancestor Jacob did.
+\v 7 Ever since the time when your ancestors were alive, you have ignored my commands and refused to obey them. Now return to me; if you do so, I will return to you. That is what I, Yahweh commander of the angel armies, say. But you ask,
 \pi2 'We have never gone away from you, so how can we return to you?'
 
 \s5
 \pi
-\v 8 I reply: People should certainly not cheat God; but you people have cheated me! You ask,
+\v 8 I reply: People should certainly not cheat God, but you people have cheated me! You ask,
 \pi2 'In what way did we cheat you?'
 \pi I reply: You have cheated me by not bringing to me each year the tithes and other offerings that I have required you to give me.
-\v 9 I have cursed everything that you do, because all you people in this country have been cheating me.
+\v 9 I have cursed everything you do, because all you people in this country have been cheating me.
 
 \s5
-\v 10 Now bring all the tithes to the storerooms of the temple, in order that there may be enough food for the people who serve me there. If you do that, I, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, promise that I will open the windows of heaven and pour out from them blessings on you. If you bring your tithes to the temple, the blessings will be very great, with the result that you will not have enough space to store all of them. So test me to see if I am telling the truth.
-\v 11 You will have abundant crops to harvest, because I will protect them in order that locusts do not harm them. Your grapes will not fall from the vines before they are ripe.
-\v 12 When that happens, the people of all nations will say that I have truly helped you, because your country will be delightful. That is what I, Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, say."
+\v 10 Now bring all the tithes to the storerooms of the temple so that there may be enough food for the people who serve me there. If you do that, I, Yahweh commander of the angel armies, promise that I will open the windows of heaven and pour out from them blessings on you. If you bring your tithes to the temple, the blessings will be very great, with the result that you will not have enough space to store all of them. So test me to see if I am telling the truth.
+\v 11 You will have abundant crops to harvest because I will protect them so that locusts do not harm them. Your grapes will not fall from the vines before they are ripe.
+\v 12 When that happens, the people of all nations will say that I have truly helped you, because your country will be delightful. That is what I, Yahweh commander of the angel armies, say."
 
 \s5
 \pi
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@
 \pi2 'What terrible things have we said about you?'
 \p
 \v 14 I reply: You have said that it is useless for you to worship me. You say that you have gained nothing by obeying my commands. You say that you have gained nothing by being sorry for your sins.
-\v 15 You have also decided that from now on, you will say that I like to help arrogant people. You think that it is those who do evil who become rich. You say they dare me to punish them because they think I never will."
+\v 15 You have also decided that from now on you will say that I like to help arrogant people. You think that it is those who do evil who become rich. You say they dare me to punish them because they think I never will."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@
 \s5
 \p
 \v 17 Yahweh, commander of the angel armies, says this about those people:
-\pi "They will be my people. On the day that I punish the wicked people among you, I will not punish them. I will be just like a father who does not punish his son who obeys him.
+\pi "They will be my people. On the day I punish the wicked people among you, I will not punish them. I will be just like a father who does not punish his son who obeys him.
 \v 18 When that happens, you will again see that the manner in which I treat righteous people is different from the manner in which I treat wicked people. You will see that the manner in which I act toward those who worship me is different from the manner in which I act toward those who do not."
 
 \s5
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 4 Be sure to obey the laws that I commanded Moses, who served me well, to give you. Obey all the commandments and decrees that I gave him on Mount Sinai, for all you people of Israel to obey.
+\v 4 Be sure to obey the laws that I commanded Moses—who served me well—to give you. Obey all the commandments and decrees that I gave him on Mount Sinai for all you people of Israel to obey.
 \p
 \v 5 Listen to this: One day I will send to you the prophet Elijah. He will arrive before the great and dreadful day when I, Yahweh, will judge everyone and punish those who deserve punishment.
 \v 6 Because of what Elijah will preach, parents and their children join together in loving each other again. If that does not happen, I will come and destroy your country."

42-MRK.usfm

@@ -958,7 +958,7 @@ They called the blind man, saying, "Jesus is calling you! So cheer up and get up
 \p
 \v 51 Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?"
 \p
-The blind man said to him, "Teacher, I want to be able to see again!"
+The blind man said to him, "Rabboni, my Teacher, I want to be able to see again!"
 \p
 \v 52 Jesus said to him, "I am healing you because you believed in me. So you may go!" He could see immediately. And he went with Jesus along the road.
 

46-ROM.usfm

@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 Did God's good law separate me from God forever because I couldn't obey it? Not at all! It was not the law but my sin that caused my spiritual death—the separation from God— and ultimately, the law convicted me of my sin and it carried the punishment of death. The law, which is a good thing, showed my sin for what it truly is. By those commandments in the law, the commandments show how terrible my sin is.
+\v 13 Did God's good law separate me from God forever because I could not obey it? Not at all! It was not the law but my sin that caused my spiritual death—the separation from God— and ultimately, the law convicted me of my sin and it carried the punishment of death. The law, which is a good thing, showed my sin for what it truly is. By those commandments in the law, the commandments show how terrible my sin is.
 \p
 \v 14 We know that the law came from God and changes our attitude. But I am a person whose attitude tends toward sin. It is as though I had been forced to become a slave of my desire to sin—had to do whatever my desires told me to do.
 

47-1CO.usfm

@@ -419,8 +419,8 @@ But we can know the very thoughts of Christ.
 \s5
 \p
 \v 3 This is how I answer those who say that I am not a true apostle:
-\v 4 "Don't we have the right to receive financial support from those we serve?
-\v 5 Don't we have the right to travel with a believing wife, like the other apostles do—like the Lord's brother and Cephas?"
+\v 4 "Do we not have the right to receive financial support from those we serve?
+\v 5 Do we not have the right to travel with a believing wife, like the other apostles do—like the Lord's brother and Cephas?"
 \v 6 No one made a rule that only Barnabas and I must take on work in order to support ourselves.
 
 \s5

60-JAS.usfm

@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 13 Some of you are arrogantly saying, "Today or tomorrow we will go to a certain city. We will spend a year there and we will buy and sell things and earn a lot of money." Now you listen to me!
+\v 13 Now you listen to me! Some of you are arrogantly saying, "Today or tomorrow we will go to a certain city. We will spend a year there and we will buy and sell things and earn a lot of money." 
 \v 14 You should not talk like that, because you do not know what will happen tomorrow, and you do not know how long you will live! Your life is short, like a mist that appears for a short time and then disappears.
 
 \s5

manifest.yaml

@@ -2,37 +2,38 @@
 dublin_core:
   conformsto: 'rc0.2'
   contributor:
-    - 'Alrick G. Headley, M.Div., Th.M.'
     - 'Adam W. Nagelvoort, M.Div. Academic Ministries, Columbia International University'
-    - 'Dave Statezni, BA Orig langs., M.Div. Fuller Theological Seminary'
+    - 'Alrick G. Headley, M.Div.; Th.M.'
     - 'Bram van den Heuvel, M.A.'
     - 'C. Harry Harriss, M.Div.'
-    - 'David Trombold, M. Div.'
-    - 'Elizabeth Oakes, BA in Religious Studies, Linguistics'
+    - 'Dave Statezni, B.A. Original Languages; M.Div. Fuller Theological Seminary'
+    - 'David Trombold, M.Div.'
+    - 'Elizabeth Oakes, B.A. in Religious Studies; and Linguistics'
     - 'Forest Deal'
-    - 'George "Drew" Curley, M.Div., PhD, Professor of Biblical Languages'
+    - 'George "Drew" Curley, M.Div.; Ph.D. and Professor of Biblical Languages'
     - 'Hendrik "Henry" de Vries'
-    - 'Henry Whitney, BA, Education'
-    - 'Jesse Griffin, BA Biblical Studies, MA Biblical Languages'
-    - 'James N. Pohlig, M.Div., MA in Linguistics, D. Litt. in Biblical Languages'
-    - 'Larry T Brooks, M.Div., Assemblies of God Theological Seminary'
-    - 'Larry Sallee, Th.M Dallas Theological Seminary, D.Min. Columbia Biblical Seminary' 
-    - 'Paul M Fahnestock, M.Div. Reformed Theological Seminary, D. Min. Pittsburgh Theological Seminary'
-    - 'Perry Oakes, PhD in Old Testament, MA in Linguistics'
-    - 'Peter Smircich, BA Philosophy'
-    - 'Robert W. Johnson'
-    - 'Susan Quigley, MA in Linguistics'
-    - 'Thomas Warren, M.Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, D.Min, Reformed Theological Seminary'
+    - 'Henry Whitney, B.A. in Education'
+    - 'Jesse Griffin, B.A. in Biblical Studies; M.A. in Biblical Languages'
+    - 'James N. Pohlig, M.Div. Concordia Theological Seminary; M.A. in Linguistics, University of Texas at Arlington; D.Litt. Stellenbosch University in Biblical Languages'
+    - 'John Hutchins, B.A. in Bible and Theology; M.A. in New Testament; M.A. in Biblical Languages'
+    - 'Larry T. Brooks, M.Div., Assemblies of God Theological Seminary'
+    - 'Larry Sallee, D.Min.'
+    - 'Paul M. Fahnestock, M.Div. Reformed Theological Seminary; D.Min. Pittsburgh Theological Seminary'
+    - 'Perry Oakes, Ph.D. in Old Testament; MA in Linguistics'
+    - 'Peter Smircich, B.A. in Philosophy'
+    - 'Robert W. Johnson, B.S./M.S., Chemical Engineering'
+    - 'Susan Quigley, M.A. in Linguistics'
+    - 'W. Thomas Warren, B.A. in Bible, Belhaven College; M.Div. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; D.Min. Reformed Theological Seminary'
     - 'Timothy Neu, Ph.D. Biblical Studies'
-    - 'Ward Pyles, M.Div., Western Baptist Theological Seminary'
-    - 'David Trombold'
+    - 'Ward Pyles, M.Div. Western Baptist Theological Seminary'
     - 'Dean Ropp'
     - 'Gene Mullen'
     - 'James Vigen'
     - 'Leonard Smith'
-    - 'Nicholas Alsop'
     - 'Michael Francis'
+    - 'Nicholas Alsop'
     - 'Door43 World Missions Community'
+    - 'Wycliffe Associates Staff'
   creator: 'Door43 World Missions Community'
   description: "An open-licensed translation, intended to provide a 'functional' understanding of the Bible. It increases the translator's understanding of the text by translating theological terms as descriptive phrases."
   format: 'text/usfm'