Today is August 9th. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is wonderful to be here with you today.

Global Cam Fire looks full.

It's burning nice.

See lots of cozy people.

How are you today?

I'm glad that we can be here together.

I'm glad that I'm not here alone. I'm glad that you're not here alone. I'm

glad that together we can take the next step forward. And that, of course, leads us to the place that we left off.

And at this point in time, we are in the Book of Ezra as we navigate the Old Testament.

And today, we will read chapter 8 verse 21 through 9 verse 15 There by the Ahava Canal I gave orders for us all to fast and humble ourselves before our God and to ask him to lead us on our journey

and protect us in our children and all our possessions.

I would have been ashamed to ask the Emperor for a troop of cavalry to guard us from any enemies during our journey

because I had told him that our God blesses everyone who trusts him, but that he is displeased with and punishes anyone who turns away from him.

So we fasted and prayed for God to protect us, and he answered our prayers.

From among the leading priests I chose Cheryl Bai. and he answered our prayers.

From among the leading priests I chose

Cherabaya, Haschabaya, and ten others.

Then I weighed out the silver, the gold, and the utensils which the emperor, his advisors and officials, and the people of Israel

had given to be used in the temple, and I gave it to the priests.

This is what I gave them. Silver, 25 tons.

100 silver utensils, 150 pounds.

Gold, 7,500 pounds. Gold,

...