After he had washed his face, he came out, and controlling himself, he ordered the meal to be served.

Joseph was no longer able to control his feelings in front of his servants, so he ordered them all to leave the room. No one else was with him when Joseph told his brothers who he was.

His anger lasts only a moment, his goodness for a lifetime. Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning.

They arrived at Jairus' house, where Jesus saw the confusion and heard all the loud crying and wailing.

He went in and said to them, "Why all this confusion? Why are you crying? The child is not dead---she is only sleeping!"

"Woman, why are you crying?" they asked her. She answered, "They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him!"

"Woman, why are you crying?" Jesus asked her. "Who is it that you are looking for?" She thought he was the gardener, so she said to him, "If you took him away, sir, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him."

We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will take back with Jesus those who have died believing in him.

May the LORD reward you for what you have done. May you have a full reward from the LORD God of Israel, to whom you have come for protection!"

But you must be strong and not be discouraged. The work that you do will be rewarded."

Go ahead---eat your food and be happy; drink your wine and be cheerful. It's all right with God.

God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians.

No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.

Once again I will rebuild you. Once again you will take up your tambourines and dance joyfully.

Once again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria, and those who plant them will eat what the vineyards produce.

I will gather the rest of my people from the countries where I have scattered them, and I will bring them back to their homeland. They will have many children and increase in number.

Yes, I say, you will find me, and I will restore you to your land. I will gather you from every country and from every place to which I have scattered you, and I will bring you back to the land from which I had sent you away into exile. I, the LORD, have spoken.'

because the time is coming when I will restore my people, Israel and Judah. I will bring them back to the land that I gave their ancestors, and they will take possession of it again. I, the LORD, have spoken."

The LORD says, "I will restore my people to their land and have mercy on every family; Jerusalem will be rebuilt, and its palace restored.

I will make Judah and Israel prosperous, and I will rebuild them as they were before.

the shouts of gladness and joy and the happy sounds of wedding feasts. You will hear people sing as they bring thank offerings to my Temple; they will say, 'Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, because he is good and his love is eternal.' I will make this land as prosperous as it was before. I, the LORD, have spoken."

Then the heads of the clans of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and Levites, and everyone else whose heart God had moved got ready to go and rebuild the LORD's Temple in Jerusalem.

Emperor Cyrus gave them back the bowls and cups that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem and had put in the temple of his gods.

as follows: gold bowls for offerings - 30; silver bowls for offerings - 1,000; other bowls - 29; small gold bowls - 30; small silver bowls - 410; other utensils - 1,000

In all there were 5,400 gold and silver bowls and other articles which Sheshbazzar took with him when he and the other exiles went from Babylon to Jerusalem.

"So tell them what I, the Sovereign LORD, am saying. I will gather them out of the countries where I scattered them, and will give the land of Israel back to them.

When they return, they are to get rid of all the filthy, disgusting idols they find.

After I bring you out of the countries where you have been scattered and gather you together, I will accept the sacrifices that you burn, and the nations will see that I am holy.

When I bring you back to Israel, the land that I promised I would give to your ancestors, then you will know that I am the LORD.

The people of Judah and the people of Israel will be reunited. They will choose for themselves a single leader, and once again they will grow and prosper in their land. Yes, the day of Jezreel will be a great day!