TSK · Ezra 1:2

“God does not really live on the earth! Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built!

He said to him,“Take these vessels and go deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt in its proper location.”

so that they may be offering incense to the God of heaven and may be praying for the good fortune of the king and his family.

When I heard these things I sat down abruptly, crying and mourning for several days. I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

You pardoned the wrongdoing of your people; you forgave all their sin.(Selah)

Who stirs up this one from the east? Who officially commissions him for service? He hands nations over to him, and enables him to subdue kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, like windblown straw with his bow.

This is what the LORD says to his chosen one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold in order to subdue nations before him, and disarm kings, to open doors before him, so gates remain unclosed:

This is what the LORD says:“The heavens are my throne and the earth is my footstool. Where then is the house you will build for me? Where is the place where I will rest?

“I made the earth and the people and animals on it by my mighty power and great strength, and I give it to whomever I see fit.

“For the LORD says,‘Only when the seventy years of Babylonian rule are over will I again take up consideration for you. Then I will fulfill my gracious promise to you and restore you to your homeland.

He changes times and seasons, deposing some kings and establishing others. He gives wisdom to the wise; he imparts knowledge to those with understanding;

Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream“You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has granted you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor.

You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven periods of time will pass by for you before you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.”

Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You brought before you the vessels from his temple, and you and your nobles, together with your wives and concubines, drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone– gods that cannot see or hear or comprehend! But you have not glorified the God who has in his control your very breath and all your ways!