“ The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.

那领五千的随即拿去做买卖，另外赚了五千。

那领五千的立刻拿去做买卖，另外赚了五千。

那领五千的立刻拿去做买卖，另外赚了五千。

得到五千银币的立刻去做买卖，结果赚了五千；

那领了三万的马上去做生意，另外赚了三万。

那领了五千的，立刻用这些钱去做生意，另外赚了五千。

那領五千的隨即拿去做買賣，另外賺了五千。

那領五千的立刻拿去做買賣，另外賺了五千。

那領五千的立刻拿去做買賣，另外賺了五千。

得到五千銀幣的立刻去做買賣，結果賺了五千；

那領了三萬的馬上去做生意，另外賺了三萬。

那領三萬的隨即去，用銀子作買賣，另外賺了三萬。

那領了五千的，立刻用這些錢去做生意，另外賺了五千。

受五千者、往而貿易、又獲五千、

其受五千者、往而貿易、又獲五千、

其受五他連得者、往以之貿易、又獲五他連得、

其受五千者、出而貿易、獲利五千。

The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.

The slave who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work. He earned five bags more.

He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more.

The one who had received the five talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five more talents.

Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents.

the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more.

Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made[ them] other five talents.

The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more.

Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

In this way, King Hezekiah handled the distribution throughout all Judah, doing what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God.In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful.

Your eyes will shine, and your heart will thrill with joy, for merchants from around the world will come to you. They will bring you the wealth of many lands.Vast caravans of camels will converge on you, the camels of Midian and Ephah. The people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincense and will come worshiping the Lord.The flocks of Kedar will be given to you, and the rams of Nebaioth will be brought for my altars. I will accept their offerings, and I will make my Temple glorious.“ And what do I see flying like clouds to Israel, like doves to their nests?They are ships from the ends of the earth, from lands that trust in me, led by the great ships of Tarshish. They are bringing the people of Israel home from far away, carrying their silver and gold. They will honor the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has filled you with splendor.“ Foreigners will come to rebuild your towns, and their kings will serve you. For though I have destroyed you in my anger, I will now have mercy on you through my grace.Your gates will stay open day and night to receive the wealth of many lands. The kings of the world will be led as captives in a victory procession.For the nations that refuse to serve you will be destroyed.“ The glory of Lebanon will be yours— the forests of cypress, fir, and pine— to beautify my sanctuary. My Temple will be glorious!The descendants of your tormentors will come and bow before you. Those who despised you will kiss your feet. They will call you the City of the Lord, and Zion of the Holy One of Israel.“ Though you were once despised and hated, with no one traveling through you, I will make you beautiful forever, a joy to all generations.Powerful kings and mighty nations will satisfy your every need, as though you were a child nursing at the breast of a queen. You will know at last that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.

But in the end her profits will be given to the Lord. Her wealth will not be hoarded but will provide good food and fine clothing for the Lord’s priests.

Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty one years.He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images.He ordered that the altars of Baal be demolished and that the incense altars which stood above them be broken down. He also made sure that the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images were smashed and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their own altars, and so he purified Judah and Jerusalem.He did the same thing in the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, even as far as Naphtali, and in the regions all around them.He destroyed the pagan altars and the Asherah poles, and he crushed the idols into dust. He cut down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Finally, he returned to Jerusalem.In the eighteenth year of his reign, after he had purified the land and the Temple, Josiah appointed Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of Jerusalem, and Joah son of Joahaz, the royal historian, to repair the Temple of the Lord his God.They gave Hilkiah the high priest the money that had been collected by the Levites who served as gatekeepers at the Temple of God. The gifts were brought by people from Manasseh, Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, as well as from all Judah, Benjamin, and the people of Jerusalem.He entrusted the money to the men assigned to supervise the restoration of the Lord’s Temple. Then they paid the workers who did the repairs and renovation of the Temple.They hired carpenters and builders, who purchased finished stone for the walls and timber for the rafters and beams. They restored what earlier kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.The workers served faithfully under the leadership of Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the Merarite clan, and Zechariah and Meshullam, Levites of the Kohathite clan. Other Levites, all of whom were skilled musicians,were put in charge of the laborers of the various trades. Still others assisted as secretaries, officials, and gatekeepers.While they were bringing out the money collected at the Lord’s Temple, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that was written by Moses.Hilkiah said to Shaphan the court secretary,“ I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple!” Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan.Shaphan took the scroll to the king and reported,“ Your officials are doing everything they were assigned to do.The money that was collected at the Temple of the Lord has been turned over to the supervisors and workmen.”Shaphan also told the king,“ Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” So Shaphan read it to the king.When the king heard what was written in the Law, he tore his clothes in despair.Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser:“ Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for all the remnant of Israel and Judah. Inquire about the words written in the scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger has been poured out on us because our ancestors have not obeyed the word of the Lord. We have not been doing everything this scroll says we must do.”So Hilkiah and the other men went to the New Quarter of Jerusalem to consult with the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, the keeper of the Temple wardrobe.She said to them,“ The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken! Go back and tell the man who sent you,‘ This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this city and its people. All the curses written in the scroll that was read to the king of Judah will come true.For my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will be poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.’“ But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord and tell him:‘ This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard:You were sorry and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this city and its people. You humbled yourself and tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord.So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You yourself will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city and its people.’” So they took her message back to the king.Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.And the king went up to the Temple of the Lord with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the Levites— all the people from the greatest to the least. There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the Lord’s Temple.The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord’s presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll.And he required everyone in Jerusalem and the people of Benjamin to make a similar pledge. The people of Jerusalem did so, renewing their covenant with God, the God of their ancestors.So Josiah removed all detestable idols from the entire land of Israel and required everyone to worship the Lord their God. And throughout the rest of his lifetime, they did not turn away from the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

David consulted with all his officials, including the generals and captains of his army.Then he addressed the entire assembly of Israel as follows:“ If you approve and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send messages to all the Israelites throughout the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands. Let us invite them to come and join us.It is time to bring back the Ark of our God, for we neglected it during the reign of Saul.”

Then David said,“ This will be the location for the Temple of the Lord God and the place of the altar for Israel’s burnt offerings!”So David gave orders to call together the foreigners living in Israel, and he assigned them the task of preparing finished stone for building the Temple of God.David provided large amounts of iron for the nails that would be needed for the doors in the gates and for the clamps, and he gave more bronze than could be weighed.He also provided innumerable cedar logs, for the men of Tyre and Sidon had brought vast amounts of cedar to David.David said,“ My son Solomon is still young and inexperienced. And since the Temple to be built for the Lord must be a magnificent structure, famous and glorious throughout the world, I will begin making preparations for it now.” So David collected vast amounts of building materials before his death.Then David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel.“ My son, I wanted to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God,” David told him.“ But the Lord said to me,‘ You have killed many men in the battles you have fought. And since you have shed so much blood in my sight, you will not be the one to build a Temple to honor my name.But you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign.He is the one who will build a Temple to honor my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will secure the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’“ Now, my son, may the Lord be with you and give you success as you follow his directions in building the Temple of the Lord your God.And may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding, that you may obey the Law of the Lord your God as you rule over Israel.For you will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the Lord gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart!“ I have worked hard to provide materials for building the Temple of the Lord— nearly 4,000 tons of gold, 40,000 tons of silver, and so much iron and bronze that it cannot be weighed. I have also gathered timber and stone for the walls, though you may need to add more.You have a large number of skilled stonemasons and carpenters and craftsmen of every kind.You have expert goldsmiths and silversmiths and workers of bronze and iron. Now begin the work, and may the Lord be with you!”Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to assist Solomon in this project.“ The Lord your God is with you,” he declared.“ He has given you peace with the surrounding nations. He has handed them over to me, and they are now subject to the Lord and his people.Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that you can bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the Lord’s name.”

But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me— and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

When Asa heard this message from Azariah the prophet, he took courage and removed all the detestable idols from the land of Judah and Benjamin and in the towns he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. And he repaired the altar of the Lord, which stood in front of the entry room of the Lord’s Temple.Then Asa called together all the people of Judah and Benjamin, along with the people of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them. For many from Israel had moved to Judah during Asa’s reign when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.The people gathered at Jerusalem in late spring, during the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.On that day they sacrificed to the Lord 700 cattle and 7,000 sheep and goats from the plunder they had taken in the battle.Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul.They agreed that anyone who refused to seek the Lord, the God of Israel, would be put to death— whether young or old, man or woman.They shouted out their oath of loyalty to the Lord with trumpets blaring and rams’ horns sounding.All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their heart. They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side.

Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them.They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.

Kings and queens will serve you and care for all your needs. They will bow to the earth before you and lick the dust from your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Those who trust in me will never be put to shame.”

When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies,the king summoned Nathan the prophet.“ Look,” David said,“ I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!”Nathan replied to the king,“ Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.”

This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed.

O Lord God, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth!Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?”

(niv)

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day— and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (niv)

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. (niv)

The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. (niv)

King David rose to his feet and said:“ Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it.But God said to me,‘ You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’“ Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.Of all my sons— and the Lord has given me many— he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.He said to me:‘ Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.’“ So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.“ And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement.He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things.He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the Lord, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service.He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used in various kinds of service:the weight of gold for the gold lampstands and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand;the weight of gold for each table for consecrated bread; the weight of silver for the silver tables;the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish;and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave him the plan for the chariot, that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and overshadow the ark of the covenant of the Lord.“ All this,” David said,“ I have in writing as a result of the Lord’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.”David also said to Solomon his son,“ Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing person skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”Then King David said to the whole assembly:“ My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God.With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God— gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble— all of these in large quantities.Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple:three thousand talents of gold( gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings,for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?”Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron.Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite.The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,“ Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.“ But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. (niv)

He got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city.Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. (niv)

The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baalsbut sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel.The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah.With them were certain Levites— Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah— and the priests Elishama and Jehoram.They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people. (niv)

Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.He told them,“ Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict.Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem.He gave them these orders:“ You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord.In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities— whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations— you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin. (niv)

Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year— twelve years— neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.But the earlier governors— those preceding me— placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that.Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land.Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations.Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people. (niv)