
Ezra

   {1:1} Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word
of [1>]Yahweh[<1] by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished,
Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a
proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing,
saying, {1:2} "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'Yahweh, the [2>]God[<2]
of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he has
commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
{1:3} Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his God be with
him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the
house of Yahweh, the God of Israel (he is God), which is in Jerusalem.
{1:4} Whoever is left, in any place where he lives, let the men of his
place help him with silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals,
besides the freewill offering for God's house which is in Jerusalem.'"

   {1:5} Then the heads of fathers' households of Judah and Benjamin,
and the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred
to go up rose up to build the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem.
{1:6} All those who were around them strengthened their hands with
vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, and with
precious things, besides all that was willingly offered. {1:7} Also
Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of Yahweh, which
Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house
of his gods; {1:8} even those, Cyrus king of Persia brought out by the
hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the
prince of Judah. {1:9} This is the number of them: thirty platters of
gold, one thousand platters of silver, twenty-nine knives, {1:10}
thirty bowls of gold, silver bowls of a second sort four hundred and
ten, and other vessels one thousand. {1:11} All the vessels of gold and
of silver were five thousand and four hundred. Sheshbazzar brought all
these up, when the captives were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

    {2:1} Now 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 to Babylon, and who
returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city; {2:2} who came
with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai,
Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the
people of Israel: {2:3} The children of Parosh, two thousand one
hundred seventy-two. {2:4} The children of Shephatiah, three hundred
seventy-two. {2:5} The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy-five.
{2:6} The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab,
two thousand eight hundred twelve. {2:7} The children of Elam, one
thousand two hundred fifty-four. {2:8} The children of Zattu, nine
hundred forty-five. {2:9} The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty.
{2:10} The children of Bani, six hundred forty-two. {2:11} The children
of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three. {2:12} The children of Azgad, one
thousand two hundred twenty-two. {2:13} The children of Adonikam, six
hundred sixty-six. {2:14} The children of Bigvai, two thousand
fifty-six. {2:15} The children of Adin, four hundred fifty-four. {2:16}
The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight. {2:17} The children of
Bezai, three hundred twenty-three. {2:18} The children of Jorah, one
hundred twelve. {2:19} The children of Hashum, two hundred
twenty-three. {2:20} The children of Gibbar, ninety-five. {2:21} The
children of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty-three. {2:22} The men of
Netophah, fifty-six. {2:23} The men of Anathoth, one hundred
twenty-eight. {2:24} The children of Azmaveth, forty-two. {2:25} The
children of Kiriath Arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred
forty-three. {2:26} The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred
twenty-one. {2:27} The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two. {2:28}
The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three. {2:29} The children
of Nebo, fifty-two. {2:30} The children of Magbish, one hundred
fifty-six. {2:31} The children of the other Elam, one thousand two
hundred fifty-four. {2:32} The children of Harim, three hundred twenty.
{2:33} The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five.
{2:34} The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five. {2:35} The
children of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty. {2:36} The
priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred
seventy-three. {2:37} The children of Immer, one thousand fifty-two.
{2:38} The children of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
{2:39} The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen. {2:40} The
Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of
Hodaviah, seventy-four. {2:41} The singers: the children of Asaph, one
hundred twenty-eight. {2:42} The children of the porters: the children
of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children
of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all one
hundred thirty-nine. {2:43} The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the
children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, {2:44} the children of
Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon, {2:45} the
children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
{2:46} the children of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children of
Hanan, {2:47} the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the
children of Reaiah, {2:48} the children of Rezin, the children of
Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, {2:49} the children of Uzza, the
children of Paseah, the children of Besai, {2:50} the children of
Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephisim, {2:51} the
children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
{2:52} the children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of
Harsha, {2:53} the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the
children of Temah, {2:54} the children of Neziah, the children of
Hatipha. {2:55} The children of Solomon's servants: the children of
Sotai, the children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda, {2:56} the
children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
{2:57} the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children
of Pochereth Hazzebaim, the children of Ami. {2:58} All the Nethinim,
and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety-two.
{2:59} These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub,
Addan, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers' houses, and
their seed, whether they were of Israel: {2:60} the children of
Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred
fifty-two. {2:61} Of the children of the priests: the children of
Habaiah, 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. {2:62} These sought their place among those who were
registered by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they
deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. {2:63} The governor said
to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, until there
stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim. {2:64} The whole assembly
together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, {2:65} besides
their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven
thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and they had two hundred singing
men and singing women. {2:66} Their horses were seven hundred
thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five; {2:67} their camels,
four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred and
twenty. {2:68} Some of the heads of fathers' households, when they came
to the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for
God's house to set it up in its place: {2:69} they gave after their
ability into the treasury of the work sixty-one thousand darics of
gold, and five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests'
garments. {2:70} So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the
people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, lived in
their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

   {3:1} When the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel
were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man
to Jerusalem. {3:2} Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up with his
brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his
brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt
offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
{3:3} In spite of their fear because of the peoples of the surrounding
lands, they set the altar on its base; and they offered burnt offerings
on it to Yahweh, even burnt offerings morning and evening. {3:4} They
kept the feast of tents, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt
offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every
day required; {3:5} and afterward the continual burnt offering, the
offerings of the new moons, of all the set feasts of Yahweh that were
consecrated, and of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering
to Yahweh. {3:6} From the first day of the seventh month, they began to
offer burnt offerings to Yahweh; but the foundation of Yahweh's temple
was not yet laid. {3:7} They also gave money to the masons, and to the
carpenters. They also gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon
and Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa,
according to the grant that they had from Cyrus King of Persia.

   {3:8} Now in the second year of their coming to God's house at
Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and
Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests
and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to
Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites, from twenty years
old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of Yahweh's house.
{3:9} Then Jeshua stood with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his
sons, the sons of Judah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen
in God's house: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers
the Levites. {3:10} When the builders laid the foundation of Yahweh's
temple, they set the priests in their clothing with trumpets, with the
Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Yahweh, according to
the directions of David king of Israel. {3:11} They sang to one another
in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, "For he is good, for his
loving kindness endures forever toward Israel." All the people shouted
with a great shout, when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of
the house of Yahweh had been laid.

   {3:12} But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers'
households, the old men who had seen the first house, when the
foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud
voice. Many also shouted aloud for joy, {3:13} so that the people could
not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping
of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise
was heard far away.

    {4:1} Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the
children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of
Israel; {4:2} then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of
fathers' households, and said to them, "Let us build with you; for we
seek your God, as you do; and we sacrifice to him since the days of
Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here."

   {4:3} But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of
fathers' households of Israel, said to them, "You have nothing to do
with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will
build to Yahweh, the God 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 Syrian, and set forth in the Syrian language.
{4:8} Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter
against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: {4:9} then Rehum
the chancellor, and Shimshai 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 noble Osnappar brought over, and set in the city of Samaria,
and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth, wrote.
{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 have 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 the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to
Shimshai 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 a decree now 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 Shimshai 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 God's house 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 God of Israel they prophesied to them. {5:2} Then rose up
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and
began to build God's house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were
the prophets of God, 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 in this way,
what the names of the men were who were making this building. {5:5} But
the eye of their God 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 God, 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 we asked 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 their head. {5:11} Thus they
returned us answer, saying, "We are the servants of the God 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 God 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 God. {5:14} The gold and silver vessels
also of God's house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that
was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus
the king took 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 God's house be built in its place.' {5:16} Then
the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundations of God's house
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 a search be 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 God 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 God's house 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 God's house, 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 God's house. {6:6} Now
therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and
your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, you must
stay far from there. {6:7} Leave the work of this house of God alone;
let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this
house of God 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
God: 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 God 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 God 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 God 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
God 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 Darius the king
had sent a decree, 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 God 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 God with joy. {6:17} They offered at the dedication of this
house of God 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
God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
{6:19} The children of the captivity kept the Passover 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 Passover 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 God 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 Assyria to them, to
strengthen their hands in the work of God's house, the God 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 God of
Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according
to the hand of Yahweh his God 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 God 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 God 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 God 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 God 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 God 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 God 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, do that after the will of your
God. {7:19} The vessels that are given to you for the service of the
house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem. {7:20} Whatever
more shall be needful for the house of your God, 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 God 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 God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of
the God 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 God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or
toll, on them. {7:25} You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God 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 God; and
teach him who doesn't know them. {7:26} Whoever will not do the law of
your God, 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 God 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 God 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' households, 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 God. {8:18} According to the good hand of our God 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 God, 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 horsemen to
help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the
king, saying, "The hand of our God 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 God 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 God, 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 brass, 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 God of your
fathers. {8:29} Watch, and keep them, until you weigh them before the
chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the princes of the fathers'
households of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the rooms 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 God. {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 God 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 stayed there
three days. {8:33} On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the
vessels were weighed in the house of our God 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
God 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 God's house.

   {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, following their
abominations, even those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, 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 trespass."

   {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 assembled to me everyone who trembled at
the words of the God of Israel, because of their trespass 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 God; {9:6} and I said, "My God, I am ashamed and
blush to lift up my face to you, my God; for our iniquities have
increased over our head, and our guiltiness has 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 we, our kings, and our
priests, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands,
to the sword, to captivity, 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 God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail
in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a
little reviving in our bondage. {9:9} For we are bondservants; yet our
God 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 God, and to repair its ruins, and
to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

   {9:10} "Now, our God, 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 has come on us for our evil deeds, and for
our great guilt, since you, our God, 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? Wouldn't 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 God of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a
remnant that has 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 God's house, there was gathered together to
him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children;
for the people wept very bitterly. {10:2} Shecaniah the son of Jehiel,
one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, "We have trespassed against our
God, 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 God 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 God. Let it be done according to
the law. {10:4} Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with
you. Be courageous, and do it."

   {10:5} Then Ezra arose, 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 God's house,
and went into the room of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and when he
came there, he ate no bread, nor drank water; for he mourned because of
their trespass 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 assembly 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 God's
house, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.

   {10:10} Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, "You have
trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of
Israel. {10:11} Now therefore make confession to Yahweh, the God 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 assembly 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 assembly, 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 God be
turned from us, until this matter is resolved."

   {10:15} Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of
Tikvah stood up against this; 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' households, 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: 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 Shimei, and Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah,
Judah, and Eliezer. {10:24} Of the singers: Eliashib. 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, Eliashib, 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 Manasseh. {10:31} Of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah,
Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, {10:32} Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah.
{10:33} Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet,
Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei. {10:34} Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram,
and Uel, {10:35} Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, {10:36} Vaniah, Meremoth,
Eliashib, {10:37} Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu, {10:38} and Bani, and
Binnui, Shimei, {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,
Mattithiah, 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.





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Footnotes:
[1] {1:1} "Yahweh" is God's proper Name, sometimes rendered "LORD" (all
caps) in other translations.

[2] {1:2} The Hebrew word rendered "God" is "Elohim."

