
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 [1>]God[<1] of heaven, {1:5}
and said, "I beg you, [2>]Yahweh,[<2] the God of heaven, the great and
awesome God, 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 trespass, 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}
[3>]Lord[<3], I beg you, let your ear be attentive now 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 sad before in his presence.
{2:2} The king said to me, "Why is your face sad, since you are not
sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart."

   Then I was very much afraid. {2:3} I said to the king, "Let the king
live forever! Why shouldn't my face be sad, when the city, the place of
my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been consumed with
fire?"

   {2:4} Then the king said to me, "For what do you make request?"

   So I prayed to the God of heaven. {2:5} I said to the king, "If it
pleases the king, and if your servant has 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 was 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 pleases the king, let letters be
given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass
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 citadel by the temple, for the wall of the city, and for
the house that I shall enter into."

   The king granted my requests, because of the good hand of my God 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 horsemen. {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 God 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 pass. {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 nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who
did the work. {2:17} Then I said to them, "You see the evil case that
we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with
fire. Come, let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we won't be
disgraced." {2:18} I told them of the hand of my God which was good on
me, as also of the king's words that he had spoken to me.

   They said, "Let's 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 are doing? Will you
rebel against the king?"

   {2:20} Then answered I them, and said to them, "The God of heaven
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 Eliashib 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 sons of Hassenaah built
the fish gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts,
and its bars. {3:4} Next to them, Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of
Hakkoz made repairs. Next to them, Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the
son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them, Zadok the son of Baana
made repairs. {3:5} Next to them, the Tekoites made repairs; but their
nobles didn't put their necks to the work of their lord. {3:6} Joiada
the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the old
gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, and its bolts, and its
bars. {3:7} Next to them, Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the
Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, repaired the residence
of the governor beyond the River. {3:8} Next to him, Uzziel the son of
Harhaiah, goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him, Hananiah one of the
perfumers made repairs, and they fortified Jerusalem even to the broad
wall. {3:9} Next to them, Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half
the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. {3:10} Next to them, Jedaiah
the son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to him,
Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs. {3:11} Malchijah the son
of Harim, and Hasshub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired another portion,
and the tower of the furnaces. {3:12} Next to him, Shallum the son of
Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his
daughters, made repairs. {3:13} Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah
repaired the valley gate. 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} Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of
Beth Haccherem repaired the dung gate. He built it, and set up its
doors, its bolts, and its bars. {3:15} Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the
ruler of the district of Mizpah repaired the spring gate. 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, Nehemiah the son
of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth Zur, made repairs to
the place opposite the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made,
and to the house of the mighty men. {3:17} After him, the Levites,
Rehum the son of Bani made repairs. Next to him, Hashabiah, the ruler
of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district. {3:18}
After him, their brothers, Bavvai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half
the district of Keilah made repairs. {3:19} Next to him, Ezer the son
of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired another portion, across from
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 Eliashib the high
priest. {3:21} After him, Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz
repaired another portion, from the door of the house of Eliashib even
to the end of the house of Eliashib. {3:22} After him, the priests, the
men of the Plain made repairs. {3:23} After them, Benjamin and Hasshub
made repairs across from their house. After them, Azariah the son of
Maaseiah the son of Ananiah made repairs beside his own house. {3:24}
After him, Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another portion, from the
house of Azariah to the turning of the wall, and to the corner. {3:25}
Palal the son of Uzai made repairs opposite 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 made
repairs. {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, the priests made repairs, everyone across from his own
house. {3:29} After them, Zadok the son of Immer made repairs across
from his own house. After him, Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the
keeper of the east gate made repairs. {3:30} After him, Hananiah the
son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another
portion. After him, Meshullam the son of Berechiah made repairs across
from his room. {3:31} After him, Malchijah one of the goldsmiths to the
house of the Nethinim, and of the merchants, made repairs 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, the goldsmiths and the
merchants made repairs.

   {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 finish in a day? Will they
revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, since they are burned?"
{4:3} Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, "What they are
building, if a fox climbed up it, he would break down their stone wall."

   {4:4} "Hear, our God; for we are despised; and turn back their
reproach on their own head, give them up for a spoil in a land of
captivity; {4:5} don't cover their iniquity, and don't let their sin be
blotted out from before you; for they have insulted the builders."

   {4:6} So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to
half its height: 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 filled, 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 God, and set a watch against them day and night,
because of them. {4:10} Judah said, "The strength of the bearers of
burdens is fading, 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 their midst, 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, "Wherever you turn, they will
attack us." {4:13} Therefore set I in the lowest parts of the space
behind the wall, in the open places, I set the people after their
families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. {4:14} I
looked, and rose up, and said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to
the rest of the people, "Don't be 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 God 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 shields, 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 wore his sword at his side,
and so built. He who sounded the trumpet was by me. {4:19} I said to
the nobles, 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} Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally there
to us. Our God 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
took off our clothes. Everyone took 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 famine." {5:4} There were also some who said, "We have borrowed
money for the king's tribute using our fields and our vineyards as
collateral. {5:5} Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers,
our children as their children. Behold, we bring into bondage our sons
and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters have been
brought into bondage. 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 nobles and the
rulers, and said to them, "You exact usury, everyone of his brother." I
held a great assembly 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 they held 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 God, because of the reproach of the nations our
enemies? {5:10} I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them
money and grain. Please let us stop 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 are charging them."

   {5:12} Then they said, "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 may God 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 assembly 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 God. {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 God, 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
the villages in the plain of Ono." But they intended to harm me.

   {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 the same way. {6:5} Then Sanballat sent his
servant to me the same way 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 intend to rebel. Because of
that, you are building the wall. 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!' Now it will 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 imagine them out of your own heart." {6:9} For they
all would have made us afraid, saying, "Their hands will be weakened
from the work, that it not be done. But now, strengthen my hands."

   {6:10} I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of
Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home; and he said, "Let us meet
together in God's house, 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? 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, God had not sent him; but he
pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired
him. {6:13} He hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, and
that they might have material for an evil report, that they might
reproach me. {6:14} "Remember, my God, 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 Elul, in
fifty-two days. {6:16} It happened, when all our enemies heard of it,
that all the nations that were about us were afraid, and were much cast
down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was worked of
our God. {6:17} Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many
letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters 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
God above many. {7:3} I said to them, "Don't let the gates of Jerusalem
be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them
shut the doors, and you bar them: and appoint watches of the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, with everyone near 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 God put into my heart
to gather together the nobles, 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 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 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 Hatita, 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 searched for their geneological
records, but couldn't find them. 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 assembly 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' households 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' households 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
had 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
assembly, 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 Mattithiah, 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 God. All the
people answered, "Amen, Amen," with the lifting up of their hands. They
bowed their heads, and worshiped 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 stayed
in their place. {8:8} They read in the book, in the law of God,
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 God. 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, 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 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' households 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 out 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 out, and brought them, and made themselves
booths, everyone on the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in
the courts of God's house, and in the broad place of the water gate,
and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim. {8:17} All the assembly
of those who had 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 God. They kept the feast seven days; and on the
eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.

   {9:1} Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of
Israel were assembled 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 God a fourth part of the day; and a fourth
part they confessed, and worshiped Yahweh their God. {9:4} Then Jeshua,
and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani of
the Levites stood up on the stairs, and cried with a loud voice to
Yahweh their God. {9:5} Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani,
Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, "Stand
up and bless Yahweh your God from everlasting to everlasting! Bessed 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 on
it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all. The
army of heaven worships you. {9:7} You are Yahweh, the God who chose
Abram, and brought him 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 Hittite, the
Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, 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 [4>]Red Sea[<4], {9:10} and showed signs and wonders
against Pharaoh, and against all his servants, and against all the
people of his land; for you knew that they dealt proudly against them,
and made a name for yourself, 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 you cast their pursuers 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 them that 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, didn't listen to your commandments, {9:17} and refused to obey,
neither were they 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 God 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 God 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 you sustained them in the wilderness. 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
allotted according to 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} You also multiplied their children as the stars of the
sky, and brought them into the land concerning which you said to their
fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

   {9:24} "So the children went in and possessed the land, and you
subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and
gave them into their hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the
land, that they might do with them as they pleased. {9:25} They took
fortified cities, and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all
good things, cisterns dug out, vineyards, and olive groves, and fruit
trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled, became fat, and delighted
themselves in your great goodness.

   {9:26} "Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against
you, and cast your law behind their back, and killed your prophets that
testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed
awful blasphemies. {9:27} Therefore you delivered them into the hand of
their adversaries, who distressed them. In the time of their trouble,
when they cried to you, you heard from heaven; and according to your
manifold mercies you gave them saviors who saved them out of the hand
of their adversaries. {9:28} But after they had rest, they did evil
again before you; therefore left you them in the hand of their enemies,
so that they had the dominion over them; yet when they returned, and
cried to you, you heard from heaven; and many times you delivered them
according to your mercies, {9:29} and testified against them, that you
might bring them again to your law. Yet they dealt proudly, and didn't
listen to your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances, (which
if a man does, he shall live in them), turned their backs, stiffened
their neck, and would not hear. {9:30} Yet many years you put up with
them, and testified against them by your Spirit through your prophets.
Yet would they not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of
the peoples of the lands.

   {9:31} "Nevertheless in your manifold mercies you did not make a
full end of them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful
God. {9:32} Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the
awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness, don't let all the
travail seem little before you, that has come on us, on our kings, on
our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our
fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria
to this day. {9:33} However you are just in all that has come on us;
for you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly; {9:34} neither
have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept your
law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies with which
you testified against them. {9:35} For they have not served you in
their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in
the large and rich land which you gave before them, neither did they
turn from their wicked works.

   {9:36} "Behold, we are servants this day, and as for the land that
you gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its good, behold, we are
servants in it. {9:37} It yields much increase to the kings whom you
have set over us because of our sins: also they have power over our
bodies, and over our livestock, at their pleasure, and we are in great
distress. {9:38} Yet for all this, we make a sure covenant, and write
it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, seal it."

   {10:1} Now those who sealed were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of
Hacaliah, and Zedekiah, {10:2} Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, {10:3}
Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, {10:4} Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, {10:5}
Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, {10:6} Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, {10:7}
Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, {10:8} Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these
were the priests. {10:9} The Levites: namely, Jeshua the son of
Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; {10:10} and their
brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, {10:11} Mica,
Rehob, Hashabiah, {10:12} Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, {10:13} Hodiah,
Bani, Beninu. {10:14} The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahathmoab,
Elam, Zattu, Bani, {10:15} Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, {10:16} Adonijah,
Bigvai, Adin, {10:17} Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, {10:18} Hodiah, Hashum,
Bezai, {10:19} Hariph, Anathoth, Nobai, {10:20} Magpiash, Meshullam,
Hezir, {10:21} Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, {10:22} Pelatiah, Hanan,
Anaiah, {10:23} Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, {10:24} Hallohesh, Pilha,
Shobek, {10:25} Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, {10:26} and Ahiah, Hanan,
Anan, {10:27} Malluch, Harim, Baanah. {10:28} The rest of the people,
the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and
all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to
the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone
who had knowledge, and understanding-- {10:29} they joined with their
brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to
walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to
observe and do all the commandments of Yahweh our Lord, and his
ordinances and his statutes; {10:30} and that we would not give our
daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our
sons; {10:31} and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain
on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the
Sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year,
and the exaction of every debt. {10:32} Also we made ordinances for
ourselves, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel
for the service of the house of our God; {10:33} for the show bread,
and for the continual meal offering, and for the continual burnt
offering, for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, and
for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make atonement for
Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. {10:34} We cast
lots, the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering,
to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers'
houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of
Yahweh our God, as it is written in the law; {10:35} and to bring the
first fruits of our ground, and the first fruits of all fruit of all
kinds of trees, year by year, to the house of Yahweh; {10:36} also the
firstborn of our sons, and of our livestock, as it is written in the
law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the
house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God;
{10:37} and that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, and our
wave offerings, and the fruit of all kinds of trees, the new wine and
the oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our God; and the
tithes of our ground to the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the
tithes in all the cities of our tillage. {10:38} The priest the son of
Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the
Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God,
to the rooms, into the treasure house. {10:39} For the children of
Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the wave offering of the
grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, to the rooms, where are the
vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests who minister, and the
porters, and the singers. We will not forsake the house of our God.

   {11:1} The princes of the people lived in Jerusalem: the rest of the
people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the
holy city, and nine parts in the other cities. {11:2} The people
blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in
Jerusalem. {11:3} Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in
Jerusalem; but in the cities of Judah everyone lived in his possession
in their cities: Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the
Nethinim, and the children of Solomon's servants. {11:4} In Jerusalem
lived certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of
Benjamin. Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son
of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of
Mahalalel, of the children of Perez; {11:5} and Maaseiah the son of
Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the
son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite. {11:6}
All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred
sixty-eight valiant men. {11:7} These are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu
the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of
Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah.
{11:8} After him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty-eight. {11:9} Joel
the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah
was second over the city. {11:10} Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of
Joiarib, Jachin, {11:11} Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of
Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub,
the ruler of God's house, {11:12} and their brothers who did the work
of the house, eight hundred twenty-two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham,
the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of
Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, {11:13} and his brothers, chiefs of
fathers' households, two hundred forty-two; and Amashsai the son of
Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
{11:14} and their brothers, mighty men of valor, one hundred
twenty-eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.
{11:15} Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of
Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; {11:16} and Shabbethai
and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the
outward business of God's house; {11:17} and Mattaniah the son of Mica,
the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the
thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers;
and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
{11:18} All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four.
{11:19} Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, who
kept watch at the gates, were one hundred seventy-two. {11:20} The
residue of Israel, of the priests, the Levites, were in all the cities
of Judah, everyone in his inheritance. {11:21} But the Nethinim lived
in Ophel: and Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim. {11:22} The
overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the
son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, of the sons of
Asaph, the singers, over the business of God's house. {11:23} For there
was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled
provision for the singers, as every day required. {11:24} Pethahiah the
son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at
the king's hand in all matters concerning the people. {11:25} As for
the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah lived in
Kiriath Arba and its towns, and in Dibon and its towns, and in
Jekabzeel and its villages, {11:26} and in Jeshua, and in Moladah, and
Beth Pelet, {11:27} and in Hazar Shual, and in Beersheba and its towns,
{11:28} and in Ziklag, and in Meconah and in its towns, {11:29} and in
En Rimmon, and in Zorah, and in Jarmuth, {11:30} Zanoah, Adullam, and
their villages, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its towns. So they
encamped from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom. {11:31} The children
of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, and at
Bethel and its towns, {11:32} at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, {11:33} Hazor,
Ramah, Gittaim, {11:34} Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, {11:35} Lod, and Ono,
the valley of craftsmen. {11:36} Of the Levites, certain divisions in
Judah settled in Benjamin's territory.

   {12:1} Now these are the priests and the Levites who went up with
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
{12:2} Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, {12:3} Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
{12:4} Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, {12:5} Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, {12:6}
Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah. {12:7} Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah.
These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days
of Jeshua. {12:8} Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel,
Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and
his brothers. {12:9} Also Bakbukiah and Unno, their brothers, were over
against them according to their offices. {12:10} Jeshua became the
father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and
Eliashib became the father of Joiada, {12:11} and Joiada became the
father of Jonathan, and Jonathan became the father of Jaddua. {12:12}
In the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers' households: of
Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; {12:13} of Ezra, Meshullam; of
Amariah, Jehohanan; {12:14} of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah,
Joseph; {12:15} of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; {12:16} of Iddo,
Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; {12:17} of Abijah, Zichri; of
Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; {12:18} of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah,
Jehonathan; {12:19} and of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; {12:20}
of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; {12:21} of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of
Jedaiah, Nethanel. {12:22} As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib,
Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, there were recorded the heads of
fathers' households; also the priests, in the reign of Darius the
Persian. {12:23} The sons of Levi, heads of fathers' households, were
written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan
the son of Eliashib. {12:24} The chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah,
Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers over
against them, to praise and give thanks, according to the commandment
of David the man of God, watch next to watch. {12:25} Mattaniah, and
Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the
watch at the storehouses of the gates. {12:26} These were in the days
of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of
Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest the scribe. {12:27} At
the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of
all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication
with gladness, both with giving thanks, and with singing, with cymbals,
stringed instruments, and with harps. {12:28} The sons of the singers
gathered themselves together, both out of the plain around Jerusalem,
and from the villages of the Netophathites; {12:29} also from Beth
Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had
built them villages around Jerusalem. {12:30} The priests and the
Levites purified themselves; and they purified the people, and the
gates, and the wall. {12:31} Then I brought up the princes of Judah on
the wall, and appointed two great companies who gave thanks and went in
procession. One went on the right hand on the wall toward the dung
gate; {12:32} and after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of
Judah, {12:33} and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, {12:34} Judah, and
Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, {12:35} and certain of the
priests' sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of
Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur,
the son of Asaph; {12:36} and his brothers, Shemaiah, and Azarel,
Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical
instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe was before
them. {12:37} By the spring gate, and straight before them, they went
up by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above
the house of David, even to the water gate eastward. {12:38} The other
company of those who gave thanks went to meet them, and I after them,
with the half of the people, on the wall, above the tower of the
furnaces, even to the broad wall, {12:39} and above the gate of
Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, and the tower of
Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate: and they
stood still in the gate of the guard. {12:40} So stood the two
companies of those who gave thanks in God's house, and I, and the half
of the rulers with me; {12:41} and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah,
Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
{12:42} and Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and
Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang loud,
with Jezrahiah their overseer. {12:43} They offered great sacrifices
that day, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy;
and the women also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of
Jerusalem was heard even afar off. {12:44} On that day were men
appointed over the rooms for the treasures, for the wave offerings, for
the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, according to
the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law for the
priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the
Levites who waited. {12:45} They performed the duty of their God, and
the duty of the purification, and so did the singers and the porters,
according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. {12:46}
For in the days of David and Asaph of old there was a chief of the
singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. {12:47} All
Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the
portions of the singers and the porters, as every day required: and
they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set
apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

   {13:1} On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of
the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a
Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever, {13:2}
because they didn't meet the children of Israel with bread and with
water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: however our God
turned the curse into a blessing. {13:3} It came to pass, when they had
heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
{13:4} Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the
rooms of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah, {13:5} had
prepared for him a great room, where before they laid the meal
offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the
grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to
the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the wave offerings
for the priests. {13:6} But in all this, I was not at Jerusalem; for in
the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the
king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king, {13:7} and I
came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for
Tobiah, in preparing him a room in the courts of God's house. {13:8} It
grieved me severely: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of
Tobiah out of the room. {13:9} Then I commanded, and they cleansed the
rooms: and there brought I again the vessels of God's house, with the
meal offerings and the frankincense. {13:10} I perceived that the
portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites
and the singers, who did the work, had fled everyone to his field.
{13:11} Then I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why is God's house
forsaken?" I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
{13:12} Then brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine
and the oil to the treasuries. {13:13} I made treasurers over the
treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the
Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son
of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their business was to
distribute to their brothers. {13:14} Remember me, my God, concerning
this, and don't wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house
of my God, and for its observances. {13:15} In those days saw I in
Judah some men treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in
sheaves, and loading donkeys; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all
kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day:
and I testified against them in the day in which they sold food.
{13:16} There lived men of Tyre also therein, who brought in fish, and
all kinds of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah,
and in Jerusalem. {13:17} Then I contended with the nobles of Judah,
and said to them, "What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the
Sabbath day? {13:18} Didn't your fathers do thus, and didn't our God
bring all this evil on us, and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath
on Israel by profaning the Sabbath."

   {13:19} It came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to
be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut,
and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I
set some of my servants over the gates, that no burden should be
brought in on the Sabbath day. {13:20} So the merchants and sellers of
all kinds of wares lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice. {13:21}
Then I testified against them, and said to them, "Why do you stay
around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you." From
that time on, they didn't come on the Sabbath. {13:22} I commanded the
Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come
and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember to me, my
God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your loving
kindness. {13:23} In those days also saw I the Jews who had married
women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: {13:24} and their children
spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews'
language, but according to the language of each people. {13:25} I
contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and
plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, "You shall not give
your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons,
or for yourselves. {13:26} Didn't Solomon king of Israel sin by these
things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was
beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless
foreign women caused even him to sin. {13:27} Shall we then listen to
you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying
foreign women?"

   {13:28} One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high
priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased
him from me. {13:29} Remember them, my God, because they have defiled
the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
{13:30} Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners, and appointed duties
for the priests and for the Levites, everyone in his work; {13:31} and
for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits.
Remember me, my God, for good.





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Footnotes:
[1] {1:4} The Hebrew word rendered "God" is "Elohim."

[2] {1:5} "Yahweh" is God's proper Name, sometimes rendered "LORD" (all
caps) in other translations.

[3] {1:11} The word translated "Lord" is "Adonai."

[4] {9:9} or, Sea of Reeds

