¹⁵ Now this ^[a]temple was completed ^[b]on the third day of the ^(A)month Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

¹⁶ And the sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the ^[c]exiles, ^(B)celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. ¹⁷ They offered for the dedication of this temple of God a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel ^(C)twelve male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. ¹⁸ Then they appointed the priests to ^(D)their divisions and the Levites in ^(E)their sections for the service of God in Jerusalem, ^(F)as it is written in the Book of Moses.

Dedication of the Wall

²⁷ Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they could celebrate the dedication with joy, with songs of thanksgiving and with songs ^(A)to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps, and lyres.