Then he washed his face and came out. Regaining his composure, he said, "Serve the meal."

Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of all his attendants, so he called out, "Send everyone away from me!" No one was with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers.

For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor, a lifetime. Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning.

They came to the leader's house, and He saw a commotion-- people weeping and wailing loudly.

He went in and said to them, "Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep."

They said to her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "Because they've taken away my Lord," she told them, "and I don't know where they've put Him."

"Woman," Jesus said to her, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, "Sir, if you've removed Him, tell me where you've put Him, and I will take Him away."

Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.

May the LORD reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge."

But as for you, be strong; don't be discouraged, for your work has a reward."

Go, eat your bread with pleasure, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works.

For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you showed for His name when you served the saints-- and you continue to serve them.

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.

Again I will build you so that you will be rebuilt, Virgin Israel. You will take up your tambourines again and go forth in joyful dancing.

You will plant vineyards again on the mountains of Samaria; the planters will plant and will enjoy [the fruit].

"I will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands where I have banished them, and I will return them to their grazing land. They will become fruitful and numerous.

I will be found by you"-- the LORD's declaration-- "and I will restore your fortunesand gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you"-- the LORD's declaration. "I will restore you to the place I deported you from."

for the days are certainly coming"-- [this is] the LORD's declaration-- "when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah"-- the LORD's declaration. "I will restore them to the land I gave to their ancestors and they will possess it."

This is what the LORD says: I will certainly restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents and show compassion on his dwellings. Every city will be rebuilt on its mound; every citadel will stand on its proper site.

I will restore the fortunes of Judah and of Israel and will rebuild them as in former times.

a sound of joy and gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the bride, and the voice of those saying, Praise the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good; His faithful love endures forever as they bring thank offerings to the temple of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as in former times, says the LORD.

So the family leaders of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites-- everyone God had motivated-- prepared to go up and rebuild the LORD's house in Jerusalem.

King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the LORD's house that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and had placed in the house of his gods.

This was the inventory: 30 gold basins, 1,000 silver basins, 29 silver knives,

The gold and silver articles totaled 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought all of them when the exiles went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

"Therefore say: This is what the Lord God says: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

"When they arrive there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it.

When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will demonstrate My holiness through you in the sight of the nations.

When I lead you into the land of Israel, the land I swore to give your fathers, you will know that I am the LORD.

And the Judeans and the Israelites will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves a single ruler, and go up from the land. For the day of Jezreel will be great.