City of God, the Lord says glorious things about you.

神的城啊，有荣耀的事乃指着你说的。细拉

上帝的城啊，有荣耀的事是指着你说的。（细拉）

神的城啊，有荣耀的事是指着你说的。（细拉）

上帝的城啊，人们传扬你的荣耀。（细拉）

神的城啊！有很多荣耀的事，都是指着你说的。（细拉）

神的城啊，有许多荣耀的事是指着你说的！细拉

神的城啊，有榮耀的事乃指着你說的。（細拉）

上帝的城啊，有榮耀的事是指着你說的。（細拉）

神的城啊，有榮耀的事是指着你說的。（細拉）

上帝的城啊，人們傳揚你的榮耀。（細拉）

神的城啊！有很多榮耀的事，都是指著你說的。（細拉）

上帝之城啊，有許多榮耀事、乃指着你而說的。（細拉）

神的城啊，有許多榮耀的事是指著你說的！細拉

上帝之邑歟、有榮之事、指爾而言兮、

上帝有命、將被榮光於其邑兮、

天主之城歟、有言應許爾多榮耀之事、細拉、

於穆聖邑。光榮何極。

Glorious things are said of you, city of God:

Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah

O city of God, what glorious things are said of you! Interlude

Glorious things are said about you, city of God. Selah

Glorious things are spoken of you, City of God. Selah

Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! Selah

Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.[ Selah

Glorious things are said about you, city of God. Selah

Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

People say wonderful things about you, O city of God.( Selah)

Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. Selah.

I will cause many people and animals to live in you, Israel. They will have many babies. I will cause people to make their homes in your towns, just as I did in the past. I will help you succeed more than ever before. Then you will know that I am the Lord.I will let my people Israel live there again. They will possess you. They will receive you as their own. You will never take their children away from them again.” ’ ”The Lord and King says,“ People say to you mountains,‘ You destroy people. You let your nation’s children be taken away.’But I will not let you destroy people anymore. I will no longer let your nation’s children be taken away,” announces the Lord and King.“ You will not have to listen to the nations laughing at you anymore. People will no longer make fun of you. You will not let your nation fall,” announces the Lord and King.Another message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ Son of man, the people of Israel used to live in their own land. But they made it‘ unclean’ because of how they acted and the way they lived. To me they were‘ unclean’ like a woman having her monthly period.They spilled people’s blood in the land. They made the land‘ unclean’ by worshiping other gods. So I poured out my great anger on them.I scattered them among the nations. I sent them to other countries. I judged them based on how they acted and on how they lived.They treated my name as if it were not holy. They did it everywhere they went among the nations. People said about them,‘ They are the Lord’ s people. But they were forced to leave his land.’I was concerned about my holy name. The people of Israel treated it as if it were not holy. They did it everywhere they went among the nations.“ So tell the Israelites,‘ The Lord and King speaks. He says,“ People of Israel, I will not take action for your benefit. Instead, I will act for the honor of my holy name. You have treated it as if it were not holy. You did it everywhere you went among the nations.But I will show everyone how holy my great name is. You have treated it as if it were not holy. So I will use you to prove to the nations how holy I am. Then they will know that I am the Lord,” announces the Lord and King.“‘ “I will take you out of the nations. I will gather you together from all the countries. I will bring you back into your own land.I will sprinkle pure water on you. Then you will be‘ clean.’ I will make you completely pure and‘ clean.’ I will take all the statues of your gods away from you.I will give you new hearts. I will give you a new spirit that is faithful to me. I will remove your stubborn hearts from you. I will give you hearts that obey me.I will put my Spirit in you. I will make you want to obey my rules. I want you to be careful to keep my laws.Then you will live in the land I gave your people of long ago. You will be my people. And I will be your God.I will save you from all your‘ uncleanness.’ I will give you plenty of grain. You will have more than enough. So you will never be hungry again.I will multiply the fruit on your trees. I will increase the crops in your fields. Then the nations will no longer make fun of you because you are hungry.You will remember your evil ways and the sinful things you have done. You will hate yourselves because you have sinned so much. I also hate your evil practices.I want you to know that I am not doing those things for your benefit,” announces the Lord and King.“ People of Israel, you should be ashamed of yourselves! Your conduct has brought dishonor to you.” ’ ”The Lord and King says,“ I will make you pure from all your sins. On that day I will give you homes in your towns again. Your broken- down houses will be rebuilt.The dry and empty land will be farmed again. Everyone who passes through it will see that it is no longer empty.They will say,‘ This land was completely destroyed. But now it’s like the Garden of Eden. The cities were full of broken- down buildings. They were destroyed and empty. But now they have high walls around them. And people live in them.’Then the nations that remain around you will know that I have rebuilt what was once destroyed. I have planted again the fields that were once empty. I have spoken. And I will do this. I am the Lord.”The Lord and King says,“ Once again I will answer Israel’s prayer. Here is what I will do for them. I will multiply them as if they were sheep.Large flocks of animals are sacrificed at Jerusalem during the appointed feasts there. In the same way, the destroyed cities will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

I will live with them. I will be their God. And they will be my people.My temple will be among them forever. Then the nations will know that I make Israel holy. I am the Lord.” ’ ”

Then he carried me away in a vision. The Spirit took me to a huge, high mountain. He showed me Jerusalem, the Holy City. It was coming down out of heaven from God.It shone with the glory of God. It gleamed like a very valuable jewel. It was like a jasper, as clear as crystal.The city had a huge, high wall with 12 gates. Twelve angels were at the gates, one at each of them. On the gates were written the names of the 12 tribes of Israel.There were three gates on the east and three on the north. There were three gates on the south and three on the west.The wall of the city had 12 foundations. Written on them were the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.The angel who talked with me had a gold measuring rod. He used it to measure the city, its gates and its walls.The city was laid out like a square. It was as long as it was wide. The angel measured the city with the rod. It was 1,400 miles long. It was as wide and high as it was long.The angel measured the wall as human beings measure things. It was 200 feet thick.The wall was made out of jasper. The city was made out of pure gold, as pure as glass.The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of jewel. The first foundation was made out of jasper. The second was made out of sapphire. The third was made out of agate. The fourth was made out of emerald.The fifth was made out of onyx. The sixth was made out of ruby. The seventh was made out of chrysolite. The eighth was made out of beryl. The ninth was made out of topaz. The tenth was made out of turquoise. The eleventh was made out of jacinth. The twelfth was made out of amethyst.The 12 gates were made from 12 pearls. Each gate was made out of a single pearl. The main street of the city was made out of gold. It was gold as pure as glass that people can see through clearly.I didn’t see a temple in the city. That’s because the Lamb and the Lord God who rules over all are its temple.The city does not need the sun or moon to shine on it. God’s glory is its light, and the Lamb is its lamp.The nations will walk by the light of the city. The kings of the world will bring their glory into it.Its gates will never be shut, because there will be no night there.The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.Only what is pure will enter the city. No one who causes people to believe lies will enter it. No one who does shameful things will enter it either. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will enter the city.

I looked, and there in front of me was the Lamb. He was standing on Mount Zion. With him were 144,000 people. Written on their foreheads were his name and his Father’s name.

But you have come to Mount Zion. You have come to the city of the living God. This is the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to a joyful gathering of angels. There are thousands and thousands of them.You have come to the church of God’s people. God’s first and only Son is over all things. God’s people share in what belongs to his Son. Their names are written in heaven. You have come to God, who is the Judge of all people. You have come to the spirits of godly people who have been made perfect.

God’s blessings are like a river. They fill the city of God with joy. That city is the holy place where the Most High God lives.

Mount Zion is high and beautiful. It brings joy to everyone on earth. Mount Zion is like the highest parts of Mount Zaphon. It is the city of the Great King.God is there to keep it safe. He has shown himself to be like a fort to the city.

“ You people have not been faithful,” announces the Lord.“ Return to me. I am your husband. I will choose one of you from each town. I will choose two from each territory. And I will bring you to the city of Zion.Then I will give you shepherds who are dear to my heart. Their knowledge and understanding will help them lead you.In those days there will be many more of you in the land,” announces the Lord.“ Then people will not talk about the ark of the covenant of the Lord anymore. It will never enter their minds. They will not remember it. The ark will not be missed. And another one will not be made.At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord. All the nations will gather together there. They will go there to honor me. They will no longer do what their stubborn and evil hearts want them to do.

“ I set my people free. I will come to Mount Zion. I will come to those in Jacob’s family who turn away from their sins,” announces the Lord.“ Here is the covenant I will make with them,” says the Lord.“ My Spirit is on you and will not leave you. I have put my words in your mouth. They will never leave your mouth. And they will never leave the mouths of your children or their children after them. That will be true for all time to come,” says the Lord.“ People of Jerusalem, get up. Shine, because your light has come. The glory of the Lord will shine on you.Darkness covers the earth. Thick darkness spreads over the nations. But I will rise and shine on you. My glory will appear over you.Nations will come to your light. Kings will come to the brightness of your new day.“ Look up. Look all around you. All your people are getting together to come back to you. Your sons will come from far away. Your daughters will be carried on the hip like little children.Then your face will glow with joy. Your heart will beat fast because you are so happy. Wealth from across the ocean will be brought to you. The riches of the nations will come to you.Herds of young camels will cover your land. They will come from Midian and Ephah. They will also come from Sheba. They’ll carry gold and incense. And people will shout praises to me.All of Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve as your sacrifices. I will accept them as offerings on my altar. That is how I will bring honor to my glorious temple.“ Whose ships are these that sail along like clouds? They fly like doves to their nests.People from the islands are coming to me. The ships of Tarshish are out in front. They are bringing your children back from far away. Your children are bringing their silver and gold with them. They are coming to honor me. I am the Lord your God. I am the Holy One of Israel. I have honored you.“ People from other lands will rebuild your walls. Their kings will serve you. When I was angry with you, I struck you. But now I will show you my tender love.Your gates will always stand open. They will never be shut, day or night. Then people can bring you the wealth of the nations. Their kings will come along with them.The nation or kingdom that will not serve you will be destroyed. It will be completely wiped out.“ Lebanon’s glorious trees will be brought to you. Its junipers, firs and cypress trees will be brought. They will be used to make my temple beautiful. And I will bring glory to the place where my throne is.The children of those who crush you will come and bow down to you. All those who hate you will kneel down at your feet. Jerusalem, they will call you the City of the Lord. They will name you Zion, the City of the Holy One of Israel.“ You have been deserted and hated. No one even travels through you. But I will make you into something to be proud of forever. You will be a place of joy for all time to come.You will get everything you need from kings and nations. You will be like children who are nursing at their mother’s breasts. Then you will know that I am the one who saves you. I am the Lord. I set you free. I am the Mighty One of Jacob.Instead of bronze I will bring you gold. In place of iron I will give you silver. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze. In place of stones I will give you iron. I will make peace govern you. I will make godliness rule over you.People will no longer harm one another in your land. They will not wipe out or destroy anything inside your borders. You will call your walls Salvation. And you will name your gates Praise.You will not need the light of the sun by day anymore. The bright light of the moon will no longer have to shine on you. I will be your light forever. My glory will shine on you. I am the Lord your God.Your sun will never set again. Your moon will never lose its light. I will be your light forever. Your days of sorrow will come to an end.Then all your people will do what is right. The land will belong to them forever. They will be like a young tree I have planted. My hands have created them. They will show how glorious I am.The smallest family among you will become a tribe. The smallest tribe will become a mighty nation. I am the Lord. When it is the right time, I will act quickly.”

They will come and shout for joy on Mount Zion. They will be joyful because of everything I give them. I give them grain, olive oil and fresh wine. I give them the young animals in their flocks and herds. Israel will be like a garden that has plenty of water. And they will not be sad anymore.Then young women will dance and be glad. And so will the men, young and old alike. I will turn their mourning into gladness. I will comfort them. And I will give them joy instead of sorrow.

Mount Zion is filled with joy. The villages of Judah are glad. That’s because you judge fairly.Walk all around Zion. Count its towers.Think carefully about its outer walls. Just look at how safe it is! Then you can tell its people that God keeps them safe.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. They will always be secure. They will last forever.Like the mountains around Jerusalem, the Lord is all around his people both now and forever.

People of Zion, give a loud shout! Sing for joy! The Holy One of Israel is among you. And he is great.”

“ Make a large area for your tent. Spread out its curtains. Go ahead and make your tent wider. Make its ropes longer. Drive the stakes down deeper.You will spread out to the right and the left. Your children after you will drive out the nations that are now living in your land. They will make their homes in the deserted cities of those nations.“ Do not be afraid. You will not be put to shame anymore. Do not be afraid of being dishonored. People will no longer make fun of you. You will forget the time when you suffered as slaves in Egypt. You will no longer remember the shame of being a widow in Babylon.I made you. I am now your husband. My name is the Lord Who Rules Over All. I am the Holy One of Israel. I have set you free. I am the God of the whole earth.You were like a wife who was deserted. And her heart was broken. You were like a wife who married young. And her husband sent her away. But now I am calling you to come back,” says your God.“ For a brief moment I left you. But because I love you so much, I will bring you back.For a moment I turned my face away from you. I was very angry with you. But I will show you my loving concern. My faithful love will continue forever,” says the Lord. He is the one who set you free.“ During Noah’s time I made a promise. I said I would never cover the earth with water again. In the same way, I have promised not to be angry with you. I will never punish you again.The mountains might shake. The hills might be removed. But my faithful love for you will never be shaken. And my covenant that promises peace to you will never be removed,” says the Lord. He shows you his loving concern.

He wants me to help those in Zion who are filled with sorrow. I will put beautiful crowns on their heads in place of ashes. I will anoint them with olive oil to give them joy instead of sorrow. I will give them a spirit of praise in place of a spirit of sadness. They will be like oak trees that are strong and straight. The Lord himself will plant them in the land. That will show how glorious he is.They will rebuild the places that were destroyed long ago. They will repair the buildings that have been broken down for many years. They will make the destroyed cities like new again. They have been broken down for a very long time.Outsiders will serve you by taking care of your flocks. People from other lands will work in your fields and vineyards.You will be called priests of the Lord. You will be named workers for our God. You will enjoy the wealth of nations. You will brag about getting their riches.Instead of being put to shame you will receive a double share of wealth. Instead of being dishonored you will be glad to be in your land. You will receive a double share of riches there. And you’ll be filled with joy that will last forever.The Lord says,“ I love those who do what is right. I hate it when people steal and do other sinful things. So I will be faithful to my people. And I will bless them. I will make a covenant with them that will last forever.Their children after them will be famous among the nations. Their families will be praised by people everywhere. All those who see them will agree that I have blessed them.”The people of Jerusalem will say,“ We take great delight in the Lord. We are joyful because we belong to our God. He has dressed us with salvation as if it were our clothes. He has put robes of godliness on us. We are like a groom who is dressed up for his wedding. We are like a bride who decorates herself with her jewels.The soil makes the young plant come up. A garden causes seeds to grow. In the same way, the Lord and King will make godliness grow. And all the nations will praise him.”The Lord says,“ For the good of Zion I will not keep silent. For Jerusalem’s benefit I will not remain quiet. I will not keep silent until what I will do for them shines like the sunrise. I will not remain quiet until they are saved and shine like a blazing torch.Jerusalem, the nations will see that I have made everything right for you. All their kings will see your glory. You will be called by a new name. I myself will give it to you.You will be like a glorious crown in my strong hand. You will be like a royal crown in my powerful hand.People will not call you Deserted anymore. They will no longer name your land Empty. Instead, you will be called One the Lord Delights In. Your land will be named Married One. That’s because the Lord will take delight in you. And your land will be married.As a young man marries a young woman, so your Builder will marry you. As a groom is happy with his bride, so your God will be full of joy over you.”Jerusalem, I have stationed guards on your walls. They must never be silent day or night. You who call out to the Lord must not give yourselves any rest.And don’t give him any rest until he makes Jerusalem secure. Don’t give him any peace until people all over the earth praise that city.The Lord has made a promise. He has lifted up his right hand and mighty arm. He has promised,“ I will never give your grain to your enemies for food again. Outsiders will never again drink the fresh wine you have worked so hard for.Instead, those who gather the grain will eat it themselves. And they will praise me. Those who gather grapes to make the wine will enjoy it. They will drink it in the courtyards of my temple.”Go out through your gates, people of Jerusalem! Go out! Prepare the way for the rest of your people to return. Build up the road! Build it up! Remove the stones. Raise a banner over the city for the nations to see.The Lord has announced a message from one end of the earth to the other. He has said,“ Tell the people of Zion,‘ Look! Your Savior is coming! He is bringing his people back as his reward. He has won the battle over their enemies.’ ”They will be called the Holy People. They will be called the People the Lord Set Free. And Jerusalem will be named the City the Lord Cares About. It will be named the City No Longer Deserted.

But the city of Zion said,“ The Lord has deserted me. The Lord has forgotten me.”The Lord answers,“ Can a mother forget the baby who is nursing at her breast? Can she stop having tender love for the child who was born to her? She might forget her child. But I will not forget you.I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Your walls are never out of my sight.Your people will hurry back. Those who destroyed you so completely will leave you.Look up. Look all around you. All your people are getting together to come back to you. You can be sure that I live,” announces the Lord.“ And you can be just as sure that your people will be like decorations you will wear. Like a bride, you will wear them proudly.“ Zion, you were destroyed. Your land was left empty. It was turned into a dry and empty desert. But now you will be too small to hold all your people. And those who destroyed you will be far away.The children born during your time of sorrow will speak to you. They will say,‘ This city is too small for us. Give us more space to live in.’Then you will say to yourself,‘ Whose children are these? I lost my children. And I couldn’t have any more. My children were taken far away from me. And no one wanted them. Who brought these children up? I was left all alone. So where have these children come from?’ ”The Lord and King continues,“ I will call out to the nations. I will give a signal to them. They will bring back your sons in their arms. They will carry your daughters on their hips.Their kings will become like fathers to you. Their queens will be like mothers who nurse you. They will bow down to you with their faces toward the ground. They will kiss the dust at your feet to show you their respect. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Those who put their hope in me will not be ashamed.”Can goods that were stolen by soldiers be taken away from them? Can prisoners be set free from the powerful Babylonians?“ Yes, they can,” the Lord answers.“ Prisoners will be taken away from soldiers. Stolen goods will be taken back from the powerful Babylonians. Zion, I will fight against those who fight against you. And I will save your people.I will make those who treat you badly eat the flesh of others. They will drink blood and get drunk on it as if it were wine. Then everyone on earth will know that I am the one who saves you. I am the Lord. I set you free. I am the Mighty One of Jacob.”

It was the 14th year after Jerusalem had been captured. We had been brought to Babylon as prisoners. It was the tenth day of a month near the beginning of the 25th year after that. On that day the power of the Lord came on me. He took me back to my land.In visions God gave me, he brought me to the land of Israel. He set me on a very high mountain. Some buildings were on the south side of it. They looked like a city.He took me there. I saw a man who appeared to be made out of bronze. He was standing at the gate of the outer courtyard. He was holding a linen measuring tape and a measuring rod.The man said to me,“ Son of man, look carefully and listen closely. Pay attention to everything I show you. That is why the Lord brought you here. Tell the people of Israel everything you see.”I saw a wall that completely surrounded the temple area. The measuring rod in the man’s hand was 11 feet long. He measured the wall with it. The wall was as thick and as high as one measuring rod.Then the man went to the east gate. He climbed its steps. He measured the gateway. It was one rod wide.The rooms where the guards stood were one rod long and one rod wide. The walls between the rooms were almost nine feet thick. The gateway next to the porch was one rod wide. The porch faced the front of the temple.Then the man measured the porch of the gateway.It was 14 feet wide. Each of its doorposts was three and a half feet thick. The porch of the gateway faced the front of the temple.Inside the east gate were three rooms on each side. All the rooms were the same size. The walls on each side of the rooms had the same thickness.Then the man measured the entrance of the gateway. It was 18 feet wide and 23 feet long.In front of each room was a wall. It was 21 inches high. The rooms measured 11 feet on each side.Then he measured the gateway from the back wall of one room to the back wall of the room across from it. It was 44 feet from the top of one wall to the top of the other.He measured along the front of the side walls all around the inside of the gateway. The total was 105 feet. That didn’t include the porch that faced the courtyard.It was 88 feet from the entrance of the gateway to the far end of its porch.The rooms and their side walls inside the gateway had narrow openings on top of them. So did the porch. All the openings faced the inside. The front of each side wall was decorated with a palm tree.Then the man brought me into the outer courtyard. There I saw some rooms and a sidewalk. They had been built all around the courtyard. Along the sidewalk were 30 rooms.The sidewalk went all the way up to the sides of the gateways. It was as wide as they were long. This was the lower sidewalk.Then he measured from the inside of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner courtyard. The east side measured 175 feet. So did the north side.Then the man measured the north gate. He wanted to show me how long and wide it was. The gate led into the outer courtyard.It had three rooms on each side. Their side walls and porch measured the same as the ones at the first gateway. They measured 88 feet long and 44 feet wide.Its openings, porch and palm tree decorations measured the same as the ones at the east gate. Seven steps led up to the north gate. Its porch was across from them.The inner courtyard had a gate. It faced the gate on the north. It was just like the east gate. He measured from one gate to the one across from it. The total was 175 feet.Then the man led me to the south side of the courtyard. There I saw the south gate. He measured its doorposts and porch. They measured the same as the others.The gateway and its porch had narrow openings all around. The openings were the same as the others had. The side walls and porch measured 88 feet long and 44 feet wide.Seven steps led up to it. Its porch was across from them. The front of each side wall was decorated with a palm tree.The inner courtyard also had a gate that faced south. The man measured from this gate to the outer gate on the south side. The total was 175 feet.Then the man brought me into the inner courtyard. We went through the south gate. He measured it. It was the same size as the others.Its rooms, side walls and porch measured the same as the ones at the other gateways. The gateway and its porch had openings all around. The side walls and porch measured 88 feet long and 44 feet wide.The porches of the gateways around the inner courtyard were 44 feet wide and nine feet long.Its porch faced the outer courtyard. Palm trees decorated its doorposts. Eight steps led up to it.Then the man brought me to the east side of the inner courtyard. There he measured the gateway. It was the same size as the others.Its rooms, side walls and porch measured the same as the ones at the other gateways. The gateway and its porch had openings all around. The side walls and porch measured 88 feet long and 44 feet wide.Its porch faced the outer courtyard. Each doorpost was decorated with a palm tree. Eight steps led up to the porch.Then the man brought me to the north gate. He measured it. It was the same size as the others.Its rooms, side walls and porch measured the same as the ones at the other gateways. It had openings all around. The side walls and the porch measured 88 feet long and 44 feet wide.The porch faced the outer courtyard. Each doorpost was decorated with a palm tree. Eight steps led up to the porch.A room with a doorway was by the porch of each inner gateway. The burnt offerings were washed there.On each side of the porch of the gateway were two tables. The burnt offerings were killed on them. So were the sin offerings and guilt offerings.Two more tables were by the outer wall of the gateway porch. They were near the steps at the entrance of the north gateway. Two more tables were on the other side of the steps.So there were four tables on each side of the gateway. The total number of tables was eight. Animals for sacrifice were killed on all of them.There were also four other tables for the burnt offerings. They were made out of blocks of stone. Each table was two and a half feet long and two and a half feet wide. And each was almost two feet high. The tools for killing the burnt offerings and other sacrifices were placed on them.Large hooks hung on the walls all around. Each was three inches long. The meat of the offerings was placed on the tables.Near the inner gates were two rooms. They were in the inner courtyard. One room was next to the north gate. It faced south. The other one was next to the south gate. It faced north.The man said to me,“ The room that faces south is for the priests who guard the temple.The one that faces north is for the priests who guard the altar. All these priests are the sons of Zadok. They are the only Levites who can approach the Lord to serve him.”Then the man measured the courtyard. It was square. It measured 175 feet long and 175 feet wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.The man brought me to the porch of the temple. He measured the doorposts of the porch. Each of them was almost nine feet wide. The entrance was 24 and a half feet wide. Each of the side walls was a little over five feet wide.The porch was 35 feet wide. It was 21 feet from front to back. It was reached by some stairs. Pillars were on each side of the doorposts.

The Lord and King says,“ Your enemies made fun of you. They bragged,‘ The hills you lived in for a long time belong to us now.’ ” ’

“ Here are the tribes. They are listed by their names.“ Dan will receive one share of land. It will be at the northern border of Israel. The border will follow the Hethlon road to Lebo Hamath. Hazar Enan will be part of the border. So will the northern border of Damascus next to Hamath. Dan’s northern border will run from east to west.Asher will receive one share. It will border the territory of Dan from east to west.Naphtali will receive one share. It will border the territory of Asher from east to west.Manasseh will receive one share. It will border the territory of Naphtali from east to west.Ephraim will receive one share. It will border the territory of Manasseh from east to west.Reuben will receive one share. It will border the territory of Ephraim from east to west.Judah will receive one share. It will border the territory of Reuben from east to west.“ You must give one share as a special gift to me. It will border the territory of Judah from east to west. It will be eight miles wide. It will be as long as the border of each of the territories of the tribes. Its border will run from east to west. The temple will be in the center of that strip of land.“ Give that special share of land to me. It will be eight miles long and three and a third miles wide.It will be the sacred share of land for the priests. It will be eight miles long on the north side. It will be three and a third miles wide on the west side. It will be three and a third miles wide on the east side. And it will be eight miles long on the south side. My temple will be in the center of it.This share of land will be for the priests who are set apart to me. They will come from the family line of Zadok. The members of that family served me faithfully. They did not go astray as the Levites and other Israelites did.Their share of land will be a special gift to them. It will be part of the sacred share of the land. It will be very holy. Its border will run along the territory of the Levites.“ The Levites will receive a share. It will be next to the territory of the priests. The Levites’ share will be eight miles long and three and a third miles wide.They must not sell or trade any of it. It is the best part of the land. It must not be handed over to anyone else. It is set apart to me.“ The area that remains is one and two- thirds miles wide. It is eight miles long. It will not be holy. The people in Jerusalem can build houses there. They can use some of it as grasslands. The city will be in the center of it.Each of the four sides of the city will be one and a half miles long.Each of the four sides of the city’s grasslands will be 440 feet long.What remains of the area will be three and a third miles long on the east and west sides. Its border will run along the border of the sacred share. Its crops will supply food for the city workers.They will farm the area. They will come from all the tribes of Israel.The entire area will be a square. Each of its four sides will be eight miles long. Set the sacred share apart as a special gift to me. Do the same thing with the property of the city.“ The area that remains on both sides will belong to the prince. So his land does not include the sacred share and the property of the city. The eastern part of his land will reach from the sacred share all the way to the eastern border. The western part will reach from the sacred share to the western border. The sacred share itself is eight miles long on its east and west sides. Both of those areas will be right next to the borders of the two tribes on the north and south sides. They will belong to the prince. The sacred share will be in the center of them. It will have the temple in it.The property of the Levites will lie in the center of the prince’s share. So will the property of the city. The prince’s land will lie between the borders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.“ Here is the land for the rest of the tribes.“ Benjamin will receive one share. It will reach from the eastern border to the western border.Simeon will receive one share. It will border the territory of Benjamin from east to west.Issachar will receive one share. It will border the territory of Simeon from east to west.Zebulun will receive one share. It will border the territory of Issachar from east to west.Gad will receive one share. It will border the territory of Zebulun from east to west.The southern border of Gad will run south from Tamar to the waters of Meribah Kadesh. It will continue along the Wadi of Egypt. It will end at the Mediterranean Sea.“ This is the land you must divide among the tribes of Israel. And these will be the shares they will receive,” announces the Lord and King.“ Here is a list of the gates of the city.“ Start with its north side. It will be a mile and a half long.The city gates will be named after the tribes of Israel. The north side will have three gates. They will be the gates of Reuben, Judah and Levi.The east side will be a mile and a half long. It will have three gates. They will be the gates of Joseph, Benjamin and Dan.The south side will be a mile and a half long. It will have three gates. They will be the gates of Simeon, Issachar and Zebulun.The west side will be a mile and a half long. It will have three gates. They will be the gates of Gad, Asher and Naphtali.“ The city will be six miles around.“ From that time on, its name will be‘ The Lord Is There.’ ”