The Altar and the Foundation

Ezra 3

Jesus the son of Josedec and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel rebuild the altar of the God of Israel and resume the daily whole burnt offerings and the feast of tabernacles, though the temple's foundation is not yet laid. In the second year they lay the foundation of the house of the Lord amid trumpets, cymbals, and praise, while the people's shout of joy and the weeping of those who remembered the former house mingle into one great sound.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonYET when the seventh month was come, the Israelites who were in their cities, even the whole people, like one man, assembled at Jerusalem.

BrentonAnd the seventh month came on, and the children of Israel were in their cities, and the people assembled as one man at Jerusalem.

GreekΚαὶ ἔφθασεν ὁ μὴν ὁ ἕβδομος, καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ ἐν πόλεσιν αὐτῶν, καὶ συνήχθη ὁ λαὸς ὡς ἀνὴρ εἷς εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ.

KJVAnd when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

JPSAnd when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

ThomsonAnd Jesus the son of Josedek with his brethren the priests, and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel with his brethren, arose and rebuilt the altar of the God of Israel, that they might offer thereon whole burnt offerings according to what is written in the law of Moses the man of God.

BrentonThen stood up Jesus the son of Josedec, and his brethren the priests, and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and his brethren, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer upon it whole-burnt-offerings, according to the things that were written in the law of Moses the man of God.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνέστη Ἰησοῦς ὁ τοῦ Ἰωσεδὲκ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ ἱερεῖς, καὶ Ζοροβάβελ ὁ τοῦ Σαλαθιὴλ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν τὸ θυσιαστήριον Θεοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, τοῦ ἀνενέγκαι ἐπʼ αὐτὸ ὁλοκαυτώσεις, κατὰ τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐν νόμῳ Μωυσῆ ἀνθρώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ.

KJVThen stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.

JPSThen stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.

ThomsonAnd when they had erected the altar on its basis (it was done with a dread upon them, on account of the neighbouring people), the whole burnt offering for the morning, and also for the evening, was offered up thereon to the Lord.

BrentonAnd they set up the altar on its place, for there was a terror upon them because of the people of the lands: and the whole-burnt-offering was offered up upon it to the Lord morning and evening.

GreekΚαὶ ἡτοίμασαν τὸ θυσιαστήριον ἐπὶ τὴν ἑτοιμασίαν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐν καταπλήξει ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν λαῶν τῶν γαιῶν· καὶ ἀνέβη ἐπʼ αὐτὸ ὁλοκαύτωσις τῷ Κυρίῳ τοπρωῒ καὶ εἰς ἑσπέραν.

KJVAnd they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.

JPSAnd they set the altar upon its bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of the countries, and they offered burnt-offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt-offerings morning and evening.

ThomsonBut when they had celebrated the festival of tabernacles, according to what was written, and offered the whole burnt offering day by day in number as prescribed, the set number for every day—

BrentonAnd they kept the feast of tabernacles, according to that which was written, and offered whole-burnt-offerings daily in number according to the ordinance, the exact daily rate.

GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησαν τὴν ἑορτὴν τῶν σκηνῶν κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, καὶ ὁλοκαυτώσεις ἡμέραν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐν ἀριθμῷ ὡς ἡ κρίσις, λόγον ἡμέρας ἐν ἡμέρᾳ αὐτοῦ·

KJVThey kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;

JPSAnd they kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt-offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required;

Thomsonafter this they offered the continual burnt offerings in due course, and those for the new moons, and for all the festivals dedicated to the Lord, and for everyone who offered a free-will offering to the Lord.

BrentonAnd after this the perpetual whole-burnt-offering, and offering for the season of new moon, and for all the hallowed feasts to the Lord, and for every one that offered a free-will-offering to the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ μετὰ τοῦτο ὁλοκαυτώσεις ἐνδελεχισμοῦ, καὶ εἰς τὰς νουμηνίας καὶ εἰς πάσας ἑορτὰς τῷ Κυρίῳ τὰς ἡγιασμένας, καὶ παντὶ ἑκουσιαζομένῳ ἑκούσιον τῷ Κυρίῳ.

KJVAnd afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.

JPSand afterward the continual burnt-offering, and the offerings of the new moons, and of all the appointed seasons of the LORD that were hallowed, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill-offering unto the LORD.

ThomsonOn the first day of the seventh month they began to offer whole burnt offerings to the Lord, though the foundation of the house of the Lord was not laid:

BrentonOn the first day of the seventh month they began to offer whole-burnt-offerings to the Lord: but the foundation of the house of the Lord was not laid.

GreekἘν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ ἑβδόμου ἤρξαντο ἀναφέρειν ὁλοκαυτώσεις τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ ὁ οἶκος τοῦ Κυρίου οὐκ ἐθεμελιώθη.

KJVFrom the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.

JPSFrom the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt-offerings unto the LORD; but the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.

Thomsonbut they had given money to the stone-cutters and carpenters, and meat and drink and oil to the Sidonians and Tyrians, to bring cedar timber from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the permission granted them by Cyrus king of the Persians.

BrentonAnd they gave money to the stone-hewers and carpenters, and meat and drink, and oil, to the Sidonians, and Tyrians, to bring cedar trees from Libanus to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant of Cyrus king of the Persians to them.

GreekΚαὶ ἔδωκαν ἀργύριον τοῖς λατόμοις καὶ τοῖς τέκτοσι, καὶ βρώματα καὶ ποτὰ, καὶ ἔλαιον τοῖς Σιδωνίοις καὶ τοῖς Τυρίοις, ἐνέγκαι ξύλα κέδρινα ἀπὸ τοῦ Λιβάνου πρὸς θάλασσαν Ἰόππης, κατʼ ἐπιχώρησιν Κύρου βασιλέως Περσῶν ἐπʼ αὐτούς.

KJVThey gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.

JPSThey gave money also unto the hewers, and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea, unto Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.

ThomsonAnd in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedek with the rest of their brethren, the priests, and the Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, made a beginning.

BrentonAnd in the second year of their coming to the house of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, and they appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, over the workmen in the house of the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἐν τῷ ἔτει τῷ δευτέρῳ τοῦ ἐλθεῖν αὐτοὺς εἰς οἶκον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, ἐν μηνὶ τῷ δευτέρῳ ἤρξατο Ζοροβάβελ ὁ τοῦ Σαλαθιὴλ καὶ Ἰησοῦς ὁ τοῦ Ἰωσεδὲκ, καὶ οἱ κατάλοιποι τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτῶν οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται, καὶ πάντες οἱ ἐρχόμενοι ἀπὸ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἔστησαν τοὺς Λευίτας ἀπὸ εἰκοσαετοῦς καὶ ἐπάνω ἐπὶ τοὺς ποιοῦντας τὰ ἔργα ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου.

KJVNow in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.

JPSNow in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of the LORD.

ThomsonNow they had appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upwards, over them who did the works in the house of the Lord; so there were over the workmen employed at the house of the Lord, Jesus with his sons and brethren, Kadmiel with his sons, the sons of Juda, the sons of Enadad, their sons and their brethren, the Levites.

BrentonAnd Jesus and his sons and his brethren stood, Cadmiel and his sons the sons of Juda, over them that wrought the works in the house of God: the sons of Enadad, their sons and their brethren the Levites.

GreekΚαὶ ἔστη Ἰησοῦς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ, Καδμιὴλ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ υἱοὶ Ἰούδα ἐπὶ τοὺς ποιοῦντας τὰ ἔργα ἐν οἴκῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ· υἱοὶ Ἠναδὰδ, υἱοὶ αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν οἱ Λευῖται.

KJVThen stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.

JPSThen stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, and Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen in the house of God; the sons of Henadad also, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.

ThomsonAnd while they were laying the foundations of the house of the Lord, the priests attended in their robes, with trumpets, and the Levites, the Asaphites, with cymbals, to praise the Lord in the manner prescribed by David king of Israel,

BrentonAnd they laid a foundation for building the house of the Lord: and the priests in their robes stood with trumpets and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the order of David king of Israel.

GreekΚαὶ ἐθεμελίωσαν τοῦ οἰκοδομῆσαι τὸν οἶκον Κυρίου· καὶ ἔστησαν οἱ ἱερεῖς ἐστολισμένοι ἐν σάλπιγξι, καὶ οἱ Λευῖται υἱοὶ Ἀσὰφ ἐν κυμβάλοις τοῦ αἰνεῖν τὸν Κύριον ἐπὶ χεῖρας Δαυὶδ βασιλέως Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAnd when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

JPSAnd when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the direction of David king of Israel.

Thomsonand they raised their responsive strains, in the song of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, [entitled] For it is good: for to everlasting His mercy endureth for Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, to praise the Lord, at laying the foundation of the house of the Lord.

BrentonAnd they answered each other with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, saying, For it is good, for his mercy to Israel endures for ever. And all the people shouted with a loud voice to praise the Lord at the laying the foundation of the house of the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν ἐν αἴνῳ καὶ ἀνθομολογήσει τῷ Κυρίῳ, ὅτι ἀγαθὸν, ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ Ἰσραήλ· καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἐσήμαινε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ αἰνεῖν τῷ Κυρίῳ ἐπὶ τῇ θεμελιώσει τοῦ οἴκου Κυρίου.

KJVAnd they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

JPSAnd they sang one to another in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD: ‘for He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever toward Israel.’ And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

ThomsonBut many of the priests and Levites, and the old chiefs of families, who with their eyes had seen the former house on its foundations, and now saw this, wept aloud, while the people were shouting for joy to swell the song;

BrentonBut many of the priests and the Levites, and the elder men, heads of families, who had seen the former house on its foundation, and who saw this house with their eyes, wept with a loud voice: but the multitude shouted with joy to raise a song.

GreekΚαὶ πολλοὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἱερέων καὶ τῶν Λευιτῶν καὶ ἄρχοντες τῶν πατριῶν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι οἳ εἴδοσαν τὸν οἴκον τὸν πρῶτον ἐν θεμελιώσει αὐτοῦ, καὶ τοῦτον τὸν οἶκον ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτῶν, ἔκλαιον φωνῇ μεγάλῃ· καὶ ὁ ὄχλος ἐν σημασίᾳ μετʼ εὐφροσύνης τοῦ ὑψῶσαι ᾠδήν.

KJVBut many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

JPSBut many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’houses, the old men that had seen the first house standing on its foundation, wept with a loud voice, when this house was before their eyes; and many shouted aloud for joy;

Thomsonso that the people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of the people’s wailing.

BrentonAnd the people did not distinguish the voice of the glad shout from the voice of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud voice, and the voice was heard even from afar off.

GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ λαὸς ἐπιγινώσκων φωνὴν σημασίας τῆς εὐφροσύνης ἀπὸ τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ κλαυθμοῦ τοῦ λαοῦ, ὅτι ὁ λαὸς ἐκραύγασε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, καὶ ἡ φωνὴ ἠκούετο ἕως ἀπὸ μακρόθεν.

KJVSo that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

JPSso that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.