A Voice

Hananiah was a true prophet. Wise were we to heed his words, and not to hearken to those who declared that the temple would fall …

Another Voice

Who said that Ashur would lay Zion low …

A Third Voice

Who said that our maids would be ravished by the Chaldeans …

First Voice

To the temple, to the temple. Let us give thanks there to God, and to Hananiah, his prophet!

Voices

No, let us wait here, for the king will come soon.—Who said so?—Kings always appear in public after a victory.—The king will go to the temple.—The king must be the first to offer a sacrifice.—All right, let us stay here.—Let us send for drums and cymbals to celebrate the victory.—We will dance like David before the ark.—God is once more showing his love for Jerusalem.—Fetch the dancers.—Summon the women.—Call the trumpeters and the lute-players.—Let us make merry and give praise to the king of kings.