Restored King James Version Book of Nehemiah
Based on the Authorised Version (King James) with the words "God" and "LORD"
restored to their original words, and various words
(thee, thine, shouldest, crieth, didst, etc) and
constructions (them that, etc) modernized.
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to
pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the
palace,
2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of
Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, who were left
of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said unto me, The
remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great
affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the
gates thereof are burned with fire.
4 And it came to pass, when I heard
these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted,
and prayed before the Elohim of heaven,
5 And said, I beseech you, O YHWH Elohim
of heaven, the great and terrible El, who keeps covenant and mercy for
those who love him and observe his commandments:
6 Let your ear now be
attentive, and your eyes open, that you may hear the prayer of your
servant, which I pray before you now, day and night, for the children of
Israel your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we
have sinned against you: both I and my father's house have sinned.
7 We
have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments,
nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which you commanded your servant Moses.
8 Remember, I beseech you, the word that you commanded your servant
Moses, saying, If you transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
9 But if you turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though
there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I
gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen
to set my name there.
10 Now these are your servants and your people, whom
you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand.
11 O Adonai, I
beseech you, let now your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and
to the prayer of your servants, who desire to fear your name: and prosper, I
pray you, your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.
For I was the king's cupbearer.
1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan,
in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I
took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad
in his presence.
2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is your countenance
sad, seeing you are not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then
I was very sore afraid,
3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for
ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my
fathers' sepulchres, lies waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with
fire?
4 Then the king said unto me, For what do you make request? So I
prayed to the Elohim of heaven.
5 And I said unto the king, If it please the
king, and if your servant have found favour in your sight, that you would
send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build
it.
6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how
long shall your journey be? and when will you return? So it pleased the king
to send me; and I set him a time.
7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it
please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river,
that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;
8 And a letter unto
Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make
beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the
wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king
granted me, according to the good hand of my Elohim upon me.
9 Then I came to
the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king
had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.
10 When Sanballat the
Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them
exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of
Israel.
11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
12 And I
arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my
Elohim had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with
me, save the beast that I rode upon.
13 And I went out by night by the gate
of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed
the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were
consumed with fire.
14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to
the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to
pass.
15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and
turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
16 And
the rulers knew not 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 that did the work.
17 Then said I unto them, You see the distress
that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and the gates thereof are burned
with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more
a reproach.
18 Then I told them of the hand of my Elohim which was good upon
me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us
rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite,
and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us,
and said, What is this thing that you do? Will you rebel against the king?
20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The Elohim of heaven, he will
prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but you have no
portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
1 Then Eliashib the high
priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they built the sheep gate;
they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah
they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.
2 And next unto him built
the men of Jericho. And next to them built Zaccur the son of Imri.
3 But
the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams
thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars
thereof.
4 And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son
of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of
Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.
5 And next
unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the
work of their Adon.
6 Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of
Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and
set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
7 And
next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the
men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the
river.
8 Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the
goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the
apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.
9 And next
unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of
Jerusalem.
10 And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even
over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of
Hashabniah.
11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab,
repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
12 And next unto
him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of
Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
13 The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the
inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks
thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung
gate.
14 But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of
part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks
thereof, and the bars thereof.
15 But the gate of the fountain repaired
Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and
covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars
thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the
stairs that go down from the city of David.
16 After him repaired Nehemiah
the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Bethzur, unto the place over
against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the
house of the mighty.
17 After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of
Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah,
in his part.
18 After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad,
the ruler of the half part of Keilah.
19 And next to him repaired Ezer the
son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to
the armoury at the turning of the wall.
20 After him Baruch the son of
Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto
the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21 After him repaired
Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the
house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
22 And after him
repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
23 After him repaired Benjamin
and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of
Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house.
24 After him repaired Binnui the
son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of
the wall, even unto the corner.
25 Palal the son of Uzai, over against the
turning of the wall, and the tower which lies out from the king's high house,
that was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.
26 Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the
water gate toward the east, and the tower that lies out.
27 After them the
Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lies out,
even unto the wall of Ophel.
28 From above the horse gate repaired the
priests, every one over against his house.
29 After them repaired Zadok the
son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son
of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.
30 After him repaired Hananiah
the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After
him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.
31 After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the
Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the
going up of the corner.
32 And between the going up of the corner unto the
sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
1 But it came to
pass, that when Sanballat heard that we built the wall, he was wroth, and
took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
2 And he spoke before his
brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will
they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day?
will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they
build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
4 Hear, O
our Elohim; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and
give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
5 And cover not their
iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before you: for they have
provoked you to anger before the builders.
6 So built we the wall; and all
the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind
to work.
7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the
Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of
Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they
were very wroth,
8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight
against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto
our Elohim, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
10 And
Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is
much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
11 And our
adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst
among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
12 And it came to
pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten
times, From all places whence you shall return unto us they will be upon you.
13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher
places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their
spears, and their bows.
14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the
nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not afraid of
them: remember the Adonai, who is great and terrible, and fight for your
brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
15 And
it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and Elohim had
brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every
one unto his work.
16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the
half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both
the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were
behind all the house of Judah.
17 Those who built on the wall, and those who bare burdens, with those that loaded, every one with one of his hands
wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
18 For the
builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so built. And he
that sounded the trumpet was by me.
19 And I said unto the nobles, and to
the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we
are separated upon the wall, one far from another.
20 In what place
therefore you hear the sound of the trumpet, resort you there unto us: our Elohim
shall fight for us.
21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the
spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
22 Likewise
at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge
within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on
the day.
23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of
the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every
one put them off for washing.
1 And there was a great cry of the people
and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2 For there were that
said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for
them, that we may eat, and live.
3 Some also there were that said, We have
mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of
the dearth.
4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the
king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5 Yet now our flesh
is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we
bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our
daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to
redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6 And I was very
angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7 Then I consulted with
myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, You exact
usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the
Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will you even sell your brethren?
or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing
to answer.
9 Also I said, It is not good that you do: ought you not to walk in
the fear of our Elohim because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
10 I
likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and
corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11 Restore, I pray you, to
them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their
houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and
the oil, that you exact of them.
12 Then said they, We will restore them, and
will require nothing of them; so will we do as you say. Then I called the
priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this
promise.
13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So Elohim shake out every man from
his house, and from his labour, that performs not this promise, even thus be
he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised
YHWH. And the people did according to this promise.
14 Moreover from the
time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the
twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king,
that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the
governor.
15 But the former governors that had been before me were
chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty
shekels of silver; yes, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so
did not I, because of the fear of Elohim.
16 Yes, also I continued in the work
of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered
there unto the work.
17 Moreover there were at my table a hundred and
fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the
heathen that are about us.
18 Now that which was prepared for me daily 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 required not I the bread of
the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
19 Think upon
me, my Elohim, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
1 Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian,
and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there
was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors
upon the gates;)
2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let
us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they
thought to do me mischief.
3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am
doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease,
whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
4 Yet they sent unto me four times
after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
5 Then sent
Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open
letter in his hand;
6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen,
and Gashmu said it, that you and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause
you build the wall, that you may be their king, according to these
words.
7 And you have also appointed prophets to preach of you at
Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to
the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel
together.
8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as
you say, but you feign them out of your own heart.
9 For they all
made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it
be not done. Now therefore, O Elohim, strengthen my hands.
10 Afterward I came
unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was
shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of Elohim, within the
temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay
you; yes, in the night will they come to slay you.
11 And I said, Should
such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the
temple to save his life? I will not go in.
12 And, lo, I perceived that Elohim
had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah
and Sanballat had hired him.
13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be
afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil
report, that they might reproach me.
14 My Elohim, think you upon Tobiah and
Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and
the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
15 So the wall was
finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the
heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their
own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our Elohim.
17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah,
and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.
18 For there were many in Judah
sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah;
and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him.
And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
1 Now it came to pass, when the
wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers
and the Levites were appointed,
2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and
Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful
man, and feared Elohim above many.
3 And I said unto them, Let not the gates of
Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them
shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.
4 Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the
houses were not built.
5 And my Elohim put into my heart to gather together
the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by
genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who came up at
the first, and found written therein,
6 These are the children of the
province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried
away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again
to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;
7 Who came with
Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan,
Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people
of Israel was this;
8 The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and
seventy two.
9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy
two.
10 The children of Arah, six hundred and fifty two.
11 The children
of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight
hundred and eighteen.
12 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred and fifty
four.
13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred and forty five.
14 The
children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
15 The children of Binnui,
six hundred and forty eight.
16 The children of Bebai, six hundred and twenty
eight.
17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty
two.
18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.
19 The
children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.
20 The children of
Adin, six hundred and fifty five.
21 The children of Ater of Hezekiah,
ninety eight.
22 The children of Hashum, three hundred and twenty eight.
23 The children of Bezai, three hundred and twenty four.
24 The children
of Hariph, one hundred and twelve.
25 The children of Gibeon, ninety
five.
26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred fourscore and eight.
27 The men of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty eight.
28 The men of
Bethazmaveth, forty two.
29 The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and
Beeroth, seven hundred and forty three.
30 The men of Ramah and Gaba, six
hundred and twenty one.
31 The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty
two.
32 The men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred and twenty three.
33 The men
of the other Nebo, fifty two.
34 The children of the other Elam, a
thousand two hundred and fifty four.
35 The children of Harim, three hundred
and twenty.
36 The children of Jericho, three hundred and forty five.
37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty one.
38 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
39 The
priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy
three.
40 The children of Immer, a thousand and fifty two.
41 The
children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred and forty seven.
42 The children
of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
43 The Levites: the children of Jeshua,
of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy four.
44 The
singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred and forty eight.
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, a hundred
and thirty eight.
46 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of
Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
47 The children of Keros, the children
of Sia, the children of Padon,
48 The children of Lebana, the children of
Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,
49 The children of Hanan, the children of
Giddel, the children of Gahar,
50 The children of Reaiah, the children of
Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
51 The children of Gazzam, the children of
Uzza, the children of Phaseah,
52 The children of Besai, the children of
Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,
53 The children of Bakbuk, the children
of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
54 The children of Bazlith, the children
of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55 The children of Barkos, the children
of Sisera, the children of Tamah,
56 The children of Neziah, the children of
Hatipha.
57 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the
children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,
58 The children of Jaala, the
children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
59 The children of Shephatiah,
the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of
Amon.
60 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were
three hundred and ninety two.
61 And these were those who went up also from
Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not show their
father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.
62 The children
of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred and forty
two.
63 And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of
Koz, the children of Barzillai, who took one of the daughters of Barzillai
the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.
64 These sought
their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not
found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.
65 And the
Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things,
till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.
66 The whole
congregation together was forty two thousand three hundred and threescore,
67 Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven
thousand three hundred and thirty seven: and they had two hundred and forty
five singing men and singing women.
68 Their horses, seven hundred and thirty
six: their mules, two hundred and forty five:
69 Their camels, four
hundred and thirty five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.
70 And
some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the
treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty
priests' garments.
71 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the
treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand two
hundred pound of silver.
72 And that which the rest of the people gave was
twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and
threescore and seven priests' garments.
73 So the priests, and the Levites,
and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims,
and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the
children of Israel were in their cities.
1 And all the people gathered
themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate;
and they spoke unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses,
which YHWH had commanded to Israel.
2 And Ezra the priest brought the
law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear
with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
3 And he read
therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning
until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand;
and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for
the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and
Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand,
Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and
Meshullam.
5 And 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:
6 And Ezra blessed YHWH, the great Elohim. And all the people answered,
Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and
worshipped YHWH with their faces to the ground.
7 Also Jeshua, and Bani,
and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah,
Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the
law: and the people stood in their place.
8 So they read in the book in the
law of Elohim distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the
reading.
9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the
scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This
day is holy unto YHWH your Elohim; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people
wept, when they heard the words of the law.
10 Then he said unto them, Go
your way, eat the best, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for
whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Adon: neither be you
sorry; for the joy of YHWH is your strength.
11 So the Levites stilled
all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be you
grieved.
12 And 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 unto them.
13 And on the second day were gathered
together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the
Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.
14 And they found written in the law which YHWH had commanded by Moses,
that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh
month:
15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and
in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and
pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick
trees, to make booths, as it is written.
16 So the people went forth, and
brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his
house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of Elohim, and in the
street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
17 And
all the congregation of those who were come again out of the captivity made
booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun
unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great
gladness.
18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read
in the book of the law of Elohim. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the
eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.
1 Now in the
twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with
fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.
2 And the seed of Israel
separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins,
and the iniquities of their fathers.
3 And they stood up in their place, and
read in the book of the law of YHWH their Elohim one fourth part of the day;
and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped YHWH their Elohim.
4 Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel,
Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice
unto YHWH their Elohim.
5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani,
Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and
bless YHWH your Elohim for ever and ever: and blessed be your glorious name,
which is exalted above all blessing and praise.
6 You, even you, are YHWH
alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the
earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and
you preserve them all; and the host of heaven worships you.
7 You
are YHWH the Elohim, who did choose Abram, and brought him forth out of
Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham;
8 And found his
heart faithful before you, and made a covenant with him to give the land of
the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the
Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and have
performed your words; for you are righteous:
9 And did see the affliction
of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea;
10 And
showed signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all
the people of his land: for you knew that they dealt proudly against them.
So did you get yourself a name, as it is this day.
11 And you did divide
the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry
land; and their persecutors you threw into the deeps, as a stone into the
mighty waters.
12 Moreover you led them in the day by a cloudy pillar;
and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein
they should go.
13 You came down also upon mount Sinai, and spoke with
them from heaven, and gave them right judgments, and true laws, good
statutes and commandments:
14 And made known unto them your holy sabbath,
and commanded them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses your
servant:
15 And gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and
brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and
promised those who they should go in to possess the land which you had
sworn to give them.
16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened
their necks, and hearkened not to your commandments,
17 And refused to obey,
neither were mindful of your wonders that you did among them; but hardened
their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their
bondage: but you are an Eloah ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to
anger, and of great kindness, and forsook them not.
18 Yes, when they had
made them a molten calf, and said, This is your Elohim that brought you up out of
Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;
19 Yet you in your manifold
mercies forsook them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud
departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of
fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.
20 You gave also your good spirit to instruct them, and withheld not
your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.
21 Yes,
forty years did you sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked
nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
22 Moreover you gave them kingdoms and nations, and did divide them
into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of
Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
23 Their children also
multiplied you as the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land,
concerning which you had promised to their fathers, that they should go in
to possess it.
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 people of the land, that they
might do with them as they would.
25 And they took strong cities, and a fat
land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells dug, vineyards, and
oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled,
and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, and cast
your law behind their backs, and slew your prophets who testified against them
to turn them to you, and they wrought great provocations.
27 Therefore you
delivered them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the
time of their trouble, when they cried unto you, you heard them from
heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviours, who
saved them out of the hand of their enemies.
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 unto you, you heard them from heaven; and many times
did you deliver them according to your mercies;
29 And testified against
them, that you might bring them again unto your law: yet they dealt
proudly, and hearkened not unto your commandments, but sinned against your
judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the
shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
30 Yet many years
did you forbear them, and testified against them by your spirit in your
prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gave you them into the
hand of the people of the lands.
31 Nevertheless for your great mercies' sake
you did not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious
and merciful El.
32 Now therefore, our Elohim, the great, the mighty, and the
terrible El, who keeps covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem
little before you, that has come upon 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 unto this day.
33 Howbeit
you are just in all that is brought upon us; for you have done right, but we
have done wickedly:
34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor
our fathers, kept your law, nor hearkened unto your commandments and your
testimonies, wherewith you did testify against them.
35 For they have not
served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them,
and in the large and fat land which you gave before them, neither turned
they from their wicked works.
36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for
the land that you gave unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the
good thereof, behold, we are servants in it:
37 And it yields much
increase unto the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins: also
they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure,
and we are in great distress.
38 And because of all this we make a sure
covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.
1 Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of
Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3 Pashur, Amariah,
Malchijah,
4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8 Maaziah,
Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.
9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the
son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
10 And their
brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 Micha, Rehob,
Hashabiah,
12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
14 The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 Ater, Hizkijah,
Azzur,
18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
24 Hallohesh,
Pileha, Shobek,
25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the
Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all those who had
separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of Elohim, their
wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having
understanding;
29 They chopped to their brethren, their nobles, and entered
into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in Elohim's law, which was given by Moses
the servant of Elohim, and to observe and do all the commandments of YHWH our
Adon, and his judgments and his statutes;
30 And that we would not give our
daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:
31 And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath
day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy
day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third
part of a shekel for the service of the house of our Elohim;
33 For the
showbread, and for the continual food offering, and for the continual burnt
offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the
holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and
for all the work of the house of our Elohim.
34 And we cast the lots among the
priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into
the house of our Elohim, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year
by year, to burn upon the altar of YHWH our Elohim, as it is written in the
law:
35 And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of
all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of YHWH:
36 Also
the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and
the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our
Elohim, unto the priests that minister in the house of our Elohim:
37 And that we
should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of
all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of
the house of our Elohim; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the
same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
38 And
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 unto the house
of our Elohim, to the chambers, into the treasure house.
39 For the children of
Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the
new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the
sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers:
and we will not forsake the house of our Elohim.
1 And the rulers of the
people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one
of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other
cities.
2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered
themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.
3 Now these are the chief of the province
that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his
possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and
the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.
4 And at Jerusalem
dwelt 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 Mahalaleel, of the children
of Perez;
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 Shiloni.
6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four
hundred threescore and eight valiant men.
7 And 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 Jesaiah.
8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred and twenty eight.
9 And Joel
the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was second
over the city.
10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.
11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the
son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of Elohim.
12 And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred
twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of
Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah,
13 And
his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the
son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
14 And their brethren, mighty men of valour, a hundred and twenty eight:
and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.
15 Also of
the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of
Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of
the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of Elohim.
17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was
the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second
among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of
Jeduthun.
18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and
four.
19 Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept
the gates, were a hundred and seventy two.
20 And the residue of Israel, of
the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in
his inheritance.
21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa
were over the Nethinims.
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 Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the
house of Elohim.
23 For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a
certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.
24 And
Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah,
was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.
25 And for the
villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at
Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages
thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof,
26 And at Jeshua,
and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,
27 And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba,
and in the villages thereof,
28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the
villages thereof,
29 And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,
30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields
thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beersheba
unto the valley of Hinnom.
31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt
at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages,
32 And at
Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Hadid, Zeboim,
Neballat,
35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
36 And of the Levites
were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.
1 Now these are the priests and
the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua:
Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
3 Shechaniah, Rehum,
Meremoth,
4 Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,
5 Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These
were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
8 Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and
Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
9 Also
Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches.
10 And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat
Joiada,
11 And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.
12 And in
the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah,
Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
13 Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah,
Jehohanan;
14 Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
15 Of Harim,
Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;
16 Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
17 Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;
18 Of Bilgah,
Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
19 And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah,
Uzzi;
20 Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;
21 Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of
Jedaiah, Nethaneel.
22 The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and
Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to
the reign of Darius the Persian.
23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the
fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of
Johanan the son of Eliashib.
24 And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah,
Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against
them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the
man of Elohim, ward over against ward.
25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah,
Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of
the gates.
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.
27 And 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 thanksgivings, and with singing, with
cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.
28 And the sons of the singers gathered
themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and
from the villages of Netophathi;
29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out
of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had built them villages
round about Jerusalem.
30 And the priests and the Levites purified
themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
31 Then I
brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great
companies of those who gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon
the wall toward the dung gate:
32 And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of
the princes of Judah,
33 And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
34 Judah, and
Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,
35 And certain of the priests' sons
with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the
son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph:
36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai,
Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of
Elohim, and Ezra the scribe before them.
37 And at the fountain gate, which was
over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the
going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate
eastward.
38 And the other company of those who gave thanks went over
against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from
beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;
39 And from above
the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the
tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they
stood still in the prison gate.
40 So stood the two companies of those who
gave thanks in the house of Elohim, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:
41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai,
Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and
Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the
singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.
43 Also that day they
offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for Elohim had made them rejoice with
great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of
Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
44 And at that time were some appointed
over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits,
and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the
portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the
priests and for the Levites that waited.
45 And both the singers and the
porters kept the ward of their Elohim, and the ward of the purification,
according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.
46 For in the
days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of
praise and thanksgiving unto Elohim.
47 And all Israel in the days of
Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and
the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the
Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.
1 On
that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and
therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come
into the congregation of Elohim for ever;
2 Because they met not the children
of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he
should curse them: howbeit our Elohim turned the curse into a blessing.
3 Now
it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel
all the mixed multitude.
4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the
oversight of the chamber of the house of our Elohim, was allied unto Tobiah:
5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the
food offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn,
the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and
the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
6 But in all
this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of
Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days
obtained I leave of the king:
7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of
the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the
courts of the house of Elohim.
8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth
all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9 Then I commanded,
and they cleansed the chambers: and there brought I again the vessels of the
house of Elohim, with the food offering and the frankincense.
10 And I
perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the
Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of Elohim
forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
12 Then
brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the
treasuries.
13 And 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 office was to distribute unto their brethren.
14 Remember me, O my Elohim, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds
that I have done for the house of my Elohim, and for the offices thereof.
15 In
those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and
bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all
manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I
testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
16 There dwelt
men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold
on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17 Then I
contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is
this that you do, and profane the sabbath day?
18 Did not your fathers thus,
and did not our Elohim bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet you
bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.
19 And it came to
pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I
commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be
opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates,
that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.
20 So the
merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or
twice.
21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge you
about the wall? if you do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time
forth came they no more on the sabbath.
22 And I commanded the Levites that
they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates,
to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my Elohim, concerning this also, and
spare me according to the greatness of your mercy.
23 In those days also saw
I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
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.
25 And I contended
with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their
hair, and made them swear by Elohim, saying, You shall not give your daughters
unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.
26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many
nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his Elohim, and Elohim made
him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to
sin.
27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to
transgress against our Elohim in marrying strange wives?
28 And 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.
29 Remember them, O my Elohim,
because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood,
and of the Levites.
30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and
appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits.
Remember me, O my Elohim, for good.
Where this translation came from
Latest update: January 2008
(C) Selwyn Russell 2005
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