The World English Bible (WEB) Part 44

4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel; 4:2 then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers' houses, and said to them, Let us build with you; for we seek your G.o.d, as you do; and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of a.s.syria, who brought us up here. 4:3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers' houses of Israel, said to them, You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our G.o.d; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us. 4:4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 4:5 and hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 4:6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 4:7 In the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian character, and set forth in the Syrian language. 4:8 Rehum the chancellor and s.h.i.+mshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: 4:9 then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and s.h.i.+mshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites, 4:10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and n.o.ble Osnappar brought over, and set in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth. 4:11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent to Artaxerxes the king: Your servants the men beyond the River, and so forth. 4:12 Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from you are come to us to Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations. 4:13 Be it known now to the king that if this city is built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings. 4:14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and informed the king; 4:15 that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers: so you shall find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this city laid waste. 4:16 We inform the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means you shall have no portion beyond the River. 4:17 Then sent the king an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to s.h.i.+mshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. 4:18 The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. 4:19 I decreed, and search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. 4:20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them. 4:21 Make you now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built, until a decree shall be made by me. 4:22 Take heed that you not be slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? 4:23 Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and s.h.i.+mshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. 4:24 Then ceased the work of the house of G.o.d which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

5:1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the G.o.d of Israel prophesied they to them. 5:2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of G.o.d which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of G.o.d, helping them. 5:3 At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and their companions, and said thus to them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall? 5:4 Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were who were making this building. 5:5 But the eye of their G.o.d was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it. 5:6 The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king; 5:7 they sent a letter to him, in which was written thus: To Darius the king, all peace. 5:8 Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great G.o.d, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands. 5:9 Then asked we those elders, and said to them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall? 5:10 We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at the head of them. 5:11 Thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the G.o.d of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. 5:12 But after that our fathers had provoked the G.o.d of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. 5:13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of G.o.d. 5:14 The gold and silver vessels also of the house of G.o.d, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; 5:15 and he said to him, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of G.o.d be built in its place. 5:16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of the house of G.o.d which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not completed. 5:17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of G.o.d at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

6:1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 6:2 There was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll, and therein was thus written for a record: 6:3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of G.o.d at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid; its height sixty cubits, and its breadth sixty cubits; 6:4 with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house. 6:5 Also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of G.o.d, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everyone to its place; and you shall put them in the house of G.o.d. 6:6 Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, be you far from there: 6:7 let the work of this house of G.o.d alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of G.o.d in its place. 6:8 Moreover I make a decree what you shall do to these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of G.o.d: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be given with all diligence to these men, that they be not hindered. 6:9 That which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the G.o.d of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail; 6:10 that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the G.o.d of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 6:11 Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this: 6:12 and the G.o.d who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of G.o.d which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence. 6:13 Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and their companions, because that Darius the king had sent, did accordingly with all diligence. 6:14 The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the G.o.d of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 6:15 This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 6:16 The children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of G.o.d with joy. 6:17 They offered at the dedication of this house of G.o.d one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 6:18 They set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of G.o.d, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses. 6:19 The children of the captivity kept the Pa.s.sover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 6:20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the Pa.s.sover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves. 6:21 The children of Israel who had come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, ate, 6:22 and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of a.s.syria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of G.o.d, the G.o.d of Israel.

7:1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 7:2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 7:3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 7:4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 7:5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest; 7:6 this Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Yahweh his G.o.d on him. 7:7 There went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 7:8 He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 7:9 For on the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his G.o.d on him. 7:10 For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances. 7:11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Yahweh, and of his statutes to Israel: 7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the G.o.d of heaven, perfect and so forth. 7:13 I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you. 7:14 Because you are sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your G.o.d which is in your hand, 7:15 and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the G.o.d of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 7:16 and all the silver and gold that you shall find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their G.o.d which is in Jerusalem; 7:17 therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your G.o.d which is in Jerusalem. 7:18 Whatever shall seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do you after the will of your G.o.d. 7:19 The vessels that are given you for the service of the house of your G.o.d, deliver you before the G.o.d of Jerusalem. 7:20 Whatever more shall be needful for the house of your G.o.d, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house. 7:21 I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the G.o.d of heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence, 7:22 to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred measures of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 7:23 Whatever is commanded by the G.o.d of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the G.o.d of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? 7:24 Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of G.o.d, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them. 7:25 You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your G.o.d who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your G.o.d; and teach you him who doesn't know them. 7:26 Whoever will not do the law of your G.o.d, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. 7:27 Blessed be Yahweh, the G.o.d of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem; 7:28 and has extended loving kindness to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the hand of Yahweh my G.o.d on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

8:1 Now these are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king: 8:2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush. 8:3 Of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty. 8:4 Of the sons of Pahathmoab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah; and with him two hundred males. 8:5 Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel; and with him three hundred males. 8:6 Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males. 8:7 Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males. 8:8 Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him eighty males. 8:9 Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred and eighteen males. 8:10 Of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him one hundred sixty males. 8:11 Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty-eight males. 8:12 Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan; and with him one hundred ten males.

8:13 Of the sons of Adonikam, who were the last; and these are their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them sixty males. 8:14 Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud; and with them seventy males.

8:15 I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. 8:16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, who were teachers. 8:17 I sent them forth to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should tell Iddo, and his brothers the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our G.o.d. 8:18 According to the good hand of our G.o.d on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen; 8:19 and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty; 8:20 and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name. 8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our G.o.d, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. 8:22 For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and hors.e.m.e.n to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our G.o.d is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him. 8:23 So we fasted and begged our G.o.d for this: and he was entreated of us. 8:24 Then I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them, 8:25 and weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our G.o.d, which the king, and his counselors, and his princes, and all Israel there present, had offered: 8:26 I weighed into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels one hundred talents; of gold one hundred talents; 8:27 and twenty bowls of gold, of one thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright bra.s.s, precious as gold. 8:28 I said to them, You are holy to Yahweh, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to Yahweh, the G.o.d of your fathers. 8:29 Watch you, and keep them, until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the princes of the fathers' houses of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Yahweh. 8:30 So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our G.o.d. 8:31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem: and the hand of our G.o.d was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the bandit by the way. 8:32 We came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days. 8:33 On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our G.o.d into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levite; 8:34 the whole by number and by weight: and all the weight was written at that time. 8:35 The children of the captivity, who had come out of exile, offered burnt offerings to the G.o.d of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering to Yahweh. 8:36 They delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of G.o.d.

9:1 Now when these things were done, the princes drew near to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hitt.i.tes, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 9:2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands: yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespa.s.s. 9:3 When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded. 9:4 Then were a.s.sembled to me everyone who trembled at the words of the G.o.d of Israel, because of the trespa.s.s of them of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening offering. 9:5 At the evening offering I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my G.o.d; 9:6 and I said, my G.o.d, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my G.o.d; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up to the heavens. 9:7 Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty to this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. 9:8 Now for a little moment grace has been shown from Yahweh our G.o.d, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our G.o.d may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. 9:9 For we are bondservants; yet our G.o.d has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our G.o.d, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. 9:10 Now, our G.o.d, what shall we say after this?

for we have forsaken your commandments, 9:11 which you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, The land, to which you go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness: 9:12 now therefore don't give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever. 9:13 After all that is come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that you our G.o.d have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant, 9:14 shall we again break your commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? would not you be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? 9:15 Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that is escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before you in our guiltiness; for none can stand before you because of this.

10:1 Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of G.o.d, there was gathered together to him out of Israel a very great a.s.sembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very sore. 10:2 Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, We have trespa.s.sed against our G.o.d, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing. 10:3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our G.o.d to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our G.o.d; and let it be done according to the law.

10:4 Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you: be of good courage, and do it. 10:5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they swore. 10:6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of G.o.d, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Elias.h.i.+b: and when he came there, he ate no bread, nor drank water; for he mourned because of the trespa.s.s of them of the captivity. 10:7 They made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem; 10:8 and that whoever didn't come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the a.s.sembly of the captivity. 10:9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month: and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of G.o.d, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. 10:10 Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, You have trespa.s.sed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel. 10:11 Now therefore make confession to Yahweh, the G.o.d of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women. 10:12 Then all the a.s.sembly answered with a loud voice, As you have said concerning us, so must we do. 10:13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside: neither is this a work of one day or two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. 10:14 Let now our princes be appointed for all the a.s.sembly, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and its judges, until the fierce wrath of our G.o.d be turned from us, until this matter be dispatched. 10:15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. 10:16 The children of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers' houses, after their fathers'

houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. 10:17 They made an end with all the men who had married foreign women by the first day of the first month. 10:18 Among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women: namely, of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. 10:19 They gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt. 10:20 Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. 10:21 Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah. 10:22 Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. 10:23 Of the Levites: Jozabad, and s.h.i.+mei, and Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

10:24 Of the singers: Elias.h.i.+b. Of the porters: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri. 10:25 Of Israel: Of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, and Izziah, and Malchijah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah. 10:26 Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah. 10:27 Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Elias.h.i.+b, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza. 10:28 Of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai. 10:29 Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, Jeremoth. 10:30 Of the sons of Pahathmoab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Mana.s.seh. 10:31 of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Iss.h.i.+jah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, s.h.i.+meon, 10:32 Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah. 10:33 Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Mana.s.seh, s.h.i.+mei. 10:34 Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel, 10:35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 10:36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Elias.h.i.+b, 10:37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu, 10:38 and Bani, and Binnui, s.h.i.+mei, 10:39 and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah, 10:40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 10:41 Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah, 10:42 Shallum, Amariah, Joseph. 10:43 Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Matt.i.thiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, and Joel, Benaiah. 10:44 All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

Nehemiah

1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 1:2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 1:3 They said to me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire. 1:4 It happened, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the G.o.d of heaven, 1:5 and said, I beg you, Yahweh, the G.o.d of heaven, the great and awesome G.o.d, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments: 1:6 Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father's house have sinned: 1:7 we have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses.

1:8 Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, If you trespa.s.s, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples: 1:9 but if you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there. 1:10 Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand. 1:11 Lord, I beg you, let now your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cup bearer to the king.

2:1 It happened in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been before sad in his presence. 2:2 The king said to me, Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid. 2:3 I said to the king, Let the king live forever: why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates are consumed with fire? 2:4 Then the king said to me, For what do you make request? So I prayed to the G.o.d of heaven. 2:5 I said to the king, If it please the king, and if your servant have found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers'

tombs, that I may build it. 2:6 The king said to me (the queen also sitting by him), For how long shall your journey be? and when will you return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 2:7 Moreover I said to the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pa.s.s through until I come to Judah; 2:8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the castle which appertains to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. The king granted me, according to the good hand of my G.o.d on me. 2:9 Then I came to the governors beyond the River, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and hors.e.m.e.n. 2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. 2:11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. 2:12 I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my G.o.d put into my heart to do for Jerusalem; neither was there any animal with me, except the animal that I rode on. 2:13 I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the jackal's well, and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates were consumed with fire. 2:14 Then I went on to the spring gate and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the animal that was under me to pa.s.s. 2:15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned. 2:16 The rulers didn't know where I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the n.o.bles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work. 2:17 Then said I to them, You see the evil case that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. 2:18 I told them of the hand of my G.o.d which was good on me, as also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. They said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they ridiculed us, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that you do? will you rebel against the king? 2:20 Then answered I them, and said to them, The G.o.d of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

3:1 Then Elias.h.i.+b the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up its doors; even to the tower of Hammeah they sanctified it, to the tower of Hananel. 3:2 Next to him built the men of Jericho. Next to them built Zaccur the son of Imri. 3:3 The fish gate did the sons of Ha.s.senaah build; they laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 3:4 Next to them repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz. Next to them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel. Next to them repaired Zadok the son of Baana. 3:5 Next to them the Tekoites repaired; but their n.o.bles didn't put their necks to the work of their lord. 3:6 The old gate repaired Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid its beams, and set up its doors, and its bolts, and its bars. 3:7 Next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, that appertained to the throne of the governor beyond the River. 3:8 Next to him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths.

Next to him repaired Hananiah one of the perfumers, and they fortified Jerusalem even to the broad wall. 3:9 Next to them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem. 3:10 Next to them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, over against his house. Next to him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabneiah. 3:11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Ha.s.shub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired another portion, and the tower of the furnaces. 3:12 Next to him repaired Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters. 3:13 The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and one thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate. 3:14 The dung gate repaired Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth Haccherem; he built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

3:15 The spring gate repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king's garden, even to the stairs that go down from the city of David. 3:16 After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth Zur, to the place over against the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men. 3:17 After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, for his district. 3:18 After him repaired their brothers, Bavvai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah. 3:19 Next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another portion, over against the ascent to the armory at the turning of the wall. 3:20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Elias.h.i.+b the high priest. 3:21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz another portion, from the door of the house of Elias.h.i.+b even to the end of the house of Elias.h.i.+b. 3:22 After him repaired the priests, the men of the Plain. 3:23 After them repaired Benjamin and Ha.s.shub over against their house. After them repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah beside his own house. 3:24 After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another portion, from the house of Azariah to the turning of the wall, and to the corner. 3:25 Palal the son of Uzai repaired over against the turning of the wall, and the tower that stands out from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh repaired. 3:26 (Now the Nethinim lived in Ophel, to the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.) 3:27 After him the Tekoites repaired another portion, over against the great tower that stands out, and to the wall of Ophel. 3:28 Above the horse gate repaired the priests, everyone over against his own house. 3:29 After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his own house. After him repaired Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate.

3:30 After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another portion. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber. 3:31 After him repaired Malchijah one of the goldsmiths to the house of the Nethinim, and of the merchants, over against the gate of Hammiphkad, and to the ascent of the corner. 3:32 Between the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.

4:1 But it happened that when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 4:2 He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burned? 4:3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall. 4:4 Hear, our G.o.d; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach on their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity; 4:5 and don't cover their iniquity, and don't let their sin be blotted out from before you; for they have provoked you to anger before the builders. 4:6 So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half the height of it: for the people had a mind to work. 4:7 But it happened that when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very angry; 4:8 and they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein. 4:9 But we made our prayer to our G.o.d, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 4:10 Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. 4:11 Our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, until we come into the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease. 4:12 It happened that when the Jews who lived by them came, they said to us ten times from all places, You must return to us. 4:13 Therefore set I in the lowest parts of the s.p.a.ce behind the wall, in the open places, I set there the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 4:14 I looked, and rose up, and said to the n.o.bles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Don't be you afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

4:15 It happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and G.o.d had brought their counsel to nothing, that we returned all of us to the wall, everyone to his work. 4:16 It happened from that time forth, that half of my servants worked in the work, and half of them held the spears, the s.h.i.+elds, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. 4:17 They all built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands worked in the work, and with the other held his weapon; 4:18 and the builders, everyone had his sword girded by his side, and so built. He who sounded the trumpet was by me. 4:19 I said to the n.o.bles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated on the wall, one far from another: 4:20 in whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, resort you there to us; our G.o.d will fight for us. 4:21 So we worked in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared. 4:22 Likewise at the same time said I to the people, Let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day. 4:23 So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us put off our clothes, everyone went with his weapon to the water.

5:1 Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews. 5:2 For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live. 5:3 Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get grain, because of the dearth. 5:4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute on our fields and our vineyards. 5:5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children: and behold, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already: neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards. 5:6 I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

5:7 Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the n.o.bles and the rulers, and said to them, You exact usury, everyone of his brother. I held a great a.s.sembly against them. 5:8 I said to them, We after our ability have redeemed our brothers the Jews, that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us? Then held they their peace, and found never a word. 5:9 Also I said, The thing that you do is not good: ought you not to walk in the fear of our G.o.d, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?

5:10 I likewise, my brothers and my servants, do lend them money and grain. Please let us leave off this usury. 5:11 Please restore to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you exact of them. 5:12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as you say. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise. 5:13 Also I shook out my lap, and said, So G.o.d shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn't perform this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. All the a.s.sembly said, Amen, and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this promise. 5:14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor. 5:15 But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people: but I didn't do so, because of the fear of G.o.d. 5:16 Yes, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered there to the work. 5:17 Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, besides those who came to us from among the nations that were around us. 5:18 Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I didn't demand the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy on this people. 5:19 Remember to me, my G.o.d, for good, all that I have done for this people.

6:1 Now it happened, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates;) 6:2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. 6:3 I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I can't come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you? 6:4 They sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. 6:5 Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand, 6:6 in which was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause you are building the wall: and you would be their king, according to these words. 6:7 You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. 6:8 Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as you say, but you feign them out of your own heart. 6:9 For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it not be done. But now, G.o.d, strengthen you my hands. 6:10 I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of G.o.d, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to kill you; yes, in the night will they come to kill you. 6:11 I said, Should such a man as I flee?

and who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. 6:12 I discerned, and behold, G.o.d had not sent him; but he p.r.o.nounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 6:13 For this cause was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. 6:14 Remember, my G.o.d, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.

6:15 So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 6:16 It happened, when all our enemies heard of it, that all the nations that were about us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was worked of our G.o.d. 6:17 Moreover in those days the n.o.bles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them. 6:18 For there were many in Judah sworn to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife. 6:19 Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

7:1 Now it happened, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 7:2 that I put my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the castle, in charge of Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man, and feared G.o.d above many. 7:3 I said to them, Don't let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand on guard, let them shut the doors, and bar you them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and everyone to be over against his house. 7:4 Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built. 7:5 My G.o.d put into my heart to gather together the n.o.bles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written therein: 7:6 These are the children of the province, who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city; 7:7 who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.

The number of the men of the people of Israel: 7:8 The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two. 7:9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two. 7:10 The children of Arah, six hundred fifty-two. 7:11 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen. 7:12 The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. 7:13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty-five. 7:14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty. 7:15 The children of Binnui, six hundred forty-eight.

7:16 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-eight. 7:17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty-two. 7:18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-seven. 7:19 The children of Bigvai, two thousand sixty-seven. 7:20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty-five.

7:21 The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight. 7:22 The children of Hashum, three hundred Twenty-eight. 7:23 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty-four. 7:24 The children of Hariph, one hundred twelve.

7:25 The children of Gibeon, ninety-five. 7:26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred eighty-eight. 7:27 The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight. 7:28 The men of Beth Azmaveth, forty-two. 7:29 The men of Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty- three. 7:30 The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one. 7:31 The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two. 7:32 The men of Bethel and Ai, a hundred twenty-three. 7:33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two.

7:34 The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty- four. 7:35 The children of Harim, three hundred twenty. 7:36 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five. 7:37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-one. 7:38 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred thirty. 7:39 The priests: The children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three. 7:40 The children of Immer, one thousand fifty-two. 7:41 The children of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven. 7:42 The children of Harim, one thousand and seventeen. 7:43 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah, seventy-four. 7:44 The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred forty-eight. 7:45 The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hat.i.ta, the children of Shobai, one hundred thirty-eight. 7:46 The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 7:47 the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon, 7:48 the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai, 7:49 the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, 7:50 the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 7:51 the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah. 7:52 The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim, 7:53 the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 7:54 the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 7:55 the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah, 7:56 the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 7:57 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, 7:58 the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 7:59 the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, the children of Amon. 7:60 All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety-two. 7:61 These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers'

houses, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel: 7:62 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty-two. 7:63 Of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name. 7:64 These sought their register among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. 7:65 The governor said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, until there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim. 7:66 The whole a.s.sembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, 7:67 besides their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and they had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women. 7:68 Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five; 7:69 their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty. 7:70 Some from among the heads of fathers' houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred thirty priests'

garments. 7:71 Some of the heads of fathers' houses gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas of silver. 7:72 That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests' garments. 7:73 So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel, lived in their cities. When the seventh month was come, the children of Israel were in their cities.

8:1 All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded to Israel. 8:2 Ezra the priest brought the law before the a.s.sembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. 8:3 He read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

8:4 Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Matt.i.thiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 8:5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: 8:6 and Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great G.o.d. All the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and wors.h.i.+ped Yahweh with their faces to the ground. 8:7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. 8:8 They read in the book, in the law of G.o.d, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading. 8:9 Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to Yahweh your G.o.d; don't mourn, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 8:10 Then he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord.

Don't be grieved; for the joy of Yahweh is your strength. 8:11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be you grieved. 8:12 All the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. 8:13 On the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law. 8:14 They found written in the law, how that Yahweh had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month; 8:15 and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth to the mountain, and get olive branches, and branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written. 8:16 So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, everyone on the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of G.o.d, and in the broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim. 8:17 All the a.s.sembly of those who were come again out of the captivity made booths, and lived in the booths; for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the children of Israel had not done so. There was very great gladness. 8:18 Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of G.o.d. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn a.s.sembly, according to the ordinance.

9:1 Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were a.s.sembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth on them. 9:2 The seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. 9:3 They stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Yahweh their G.o.d a fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and wors.h.i.+ped Yahweh their G.o.d. 9:4 Then stood up on the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice to Yahweh their G.o.d. 9:5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless Yahweh your G.o.d from everlasting to everlasting; and blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. 9:6 You are Yahweh, even you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their army, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all; and the army of heaven wors.h.i.+ps you.

9:7 You are Yahweh the G.o.d, who did choose Abram, and brought him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham, 9:8 and found his heart faithful before you, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hitt.i.te, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgas.h.i.+te, to give it to his seed, and have performed your words; for you are righteous. 9:9 You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea, 9:10 and showed signs and wonders on Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land; for you knew that they dealt proudly against them, and did get you a name, as it is this day. 9:11 You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their pursuers you did cast into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters. 9:12 Moreover in a pillar of cloud you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go. 9:13 You came down also on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments, 9:14 and made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by Moses your servant, 9:15 and gave them bread from the sky for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commanded those who they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them. 9:16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and didn't listen to your commandments, 9:17 and refused to obey, neither were mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a G.o.d ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn't forsake them. 9:18 Yes, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is your G.o.d who brought you up out of Egypt, and had committed awful blasphemies; 9:19 yet you in your manifold mercies didn't forsake them in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud didn't depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go. 9:20 You gave also your good Spirit to instruct them, and didn't withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. 9:21 Yes, forty years did you sustain them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing; their clothes didn't grow old, and their feet didn't swell. 9:22 Moreover you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you did allot after their portions: so they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan. 9:23 Their children also multiplied you