APDL Eductation Resources/APDL Eductation Resources.iso/text/bible/old_test/EZRA

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  EZRA:


                            CHAPTER 1


  1. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word
of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD
stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a
proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in
writing, saying,

  2. Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath
given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to
build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

  3. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with
him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build
the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in
Jerusalem.

  4. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let
the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with
goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house
of God that is in Jerusalem.

  5. Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin,
and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God
had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in
Jerusalem.

  6. And all they that were about them strengthened their hands
with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts,
and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.

  7. Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of
the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem,
and had put them in the house of his gods;

  8. Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand
of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar,
the prince of Judah.

  9. And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a
thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,

  10. Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four
hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.

  11. All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and
four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the
captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.


                            CHAPTER 2


  1. Now these are the children of the province that went up out
of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom
Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon,
and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;

  2. Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah,
Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The
number of the men of the people of Israel:

  3. The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and
two.

  4. The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.

  5. The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.

  6. The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and
Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.

  7. The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

  8. The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.

  9. The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.

  10. The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.

  11. The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.

  12. The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and
two.

  13. The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.

  14. The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.

  15. The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.

  16. The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

  17. The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.

  18. The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve.

  19. The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.

  20. The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.

  21. The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three.

  22. The men of Netophah, fifty and six.

  23. The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.

  24. The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.

  25. The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven
hundred and forty and three.

  26. The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.

  27. The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.

  28. The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.

  29. The children of Nebo, fifty and two.

  30. The children of Magbish, an hundred fifty and six.

  31. The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty
and four.

  32. The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

  33. The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty
and five.

  34. The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.

  35. The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and
thirty.

  36. The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of
Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.

  37. The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.

  38. The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and
seven.

  39. The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

  40. The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the
children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.

  41. The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and
eight.

  42. The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the
children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub,
the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred
thirty and nine.

  43. The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of
Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

  44. The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children
of Padon,

  45. The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the
children of Akkub,

  46. The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children
of Hanan,

  47. The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children
of Reaiah,

  48. The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children
of Gazzam,

  49. The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children
of Besai,

  50. The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children
of Nephusim,

  51. The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the
children of Harhur,

  52. The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the
children of Harsha,

  53. The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children
of Thamah,

  54. The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.

  55. The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai,
the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,

  56. The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children
of Giddel,

  57. The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the
children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.

  58. All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants,
were three hundred ninety and two.

  59. And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa,
Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's
house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel:

  60. The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the
children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.

  61. And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah,
the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife
of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after
their name:

  62. These sought their register among those that were reckoned
by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as
polluted, put from the priesthood.

  63. 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 with Thummim.

  64. The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand
three hundred and threescore,

  65. Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were
seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were
among them two hundred singing men and singing women.

  66. Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules,
two hundred forty and five;

  67. Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six
thousand seven hundred and twenty.

  68. And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the
house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the
house of God to set it up in his place:

  69. They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work
threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound
of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.

  70. So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and
the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their
cities, and all Israel in their cities.


                            CHAPTER 3


  1. And when the seventh month was come, and the children of
Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together
as one man to Jerusalem.

  2. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the
priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren,
and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt
offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of
God.

  3. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them
because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt
offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and
evening.

  4. They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written,
and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the
custom, as the duty of every day required;

  5. And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of
the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were
consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill
offering unto the LORD.

  6. From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer
burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of
the LORD was not yet laid.

  7. They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters;
and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of
Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa,
according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.

  8. Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God
at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of
Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their
brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come
out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites,
from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the
house of the LORD.

  9. Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and
his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen
in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and
their brethren the Levites.

  10. And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of
the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and
the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD,
after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

  11. And they sang together by course in praising and giving
thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth
for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great
shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the
house of the LORD was laid.

  12. But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the
fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when
the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with
a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

  13. So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout
of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people
shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.


                            CHAPTER 4


  1. Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the
children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of
Israel;

  2. Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the
fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek
your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of
Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

  3. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the
fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us
to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will
build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of
Persia hath commanded us.

  4. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people
of Judah, and troubled them in building,

  5. And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their
purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the
reign of Darius king of Persia.

  6. And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign,
wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah
and Jerusalem.

  7. And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath,
Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of
Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian
tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.

  8. Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter
against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:

  9. Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and
the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites,
the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians,
the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,

  10. And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble
Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the
rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.

  11. This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even
unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the
river, and at such a time.

  12. Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from
thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and
the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the
foundations.

  13. Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be
builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll,
tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the
kings.

  14. Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and
it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have
we sent and certified the king;

  15. That search may be made in the book of the records of thy
fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know
that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and
provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of
old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.

  16. We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and
the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion
on this side the river.

  17. Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and
to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that
dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and
at such a time.

  18. The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read
before me.

  19. And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found
that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings,
and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.

  20. There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have
ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and
custom, was paid unto them.

  21. Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and
that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be
given from me.

  22. Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage
grow to the hurt of the kings?

  23. Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before
Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up
in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by
force and power.

  24. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at
Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of
Darius king of Persia.


                            CHAPTER 5


  1. Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son
of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem
in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.

  2. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the
son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at
Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

  3. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side
the river, and Shetharboznai and their companions, and said thus
unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make
up this wall?

  4. Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names
of the men that make this building?

  5. But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews,
that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to
Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this
matter.

  6. The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the
river, and Shetharboznai and his companions the Apharsachites,
which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:

  7. They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto
Darius the king, all peace.

  8. Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of
Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great
stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast
on, and prospereth in their hands.

  9. Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who
commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

  10. We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might
write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

  11. And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the
servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that
was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel
builded and set up.

  12. But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven
unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king
of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried
the people away into Babylon.

  13. But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same
king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

  14. And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God,
which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem,
and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the
king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered
unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;

  15. And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into
the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be
builded in his place.

  16. Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of
the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even
until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.

  17. Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be
search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at
Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the
king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king
send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.


                            CHAPTER 6


  1. Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in
the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in
Babylon.

  2. And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the
province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus
written:

  3. In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king
made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the
house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let
the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof
threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

  4. With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and
let the expenses be given out of the king's house:

  5. And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of
God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at
Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought
again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his
place, and place them in the house of God.

  6. Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river,
Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are
beyond the river, be ye far from thence:

  7. Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of
the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his
place.

  8. Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of
these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the
king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith
expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.

  9. And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and
rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven,
wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the
priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day
without fail:

  10. That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God
of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

  11. Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this
word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up,
let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill
for this.

  12. And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy
all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to
destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have
made a decree; let it be done with speed.

  13. Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai,
and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had
sent, so they did speedily.

  14. And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered
through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the
son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the
commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment
of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

  15. And this house was finished on the third day of the month
Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

  16. And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites,
and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication
of this house of God with joy.

  17. And offered at the dedication of this house of God an
hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a
sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the
number of the tribes of Israel.

  18. And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites
in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem;
as it is written in the book of Moses.

  19. And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the
fourteenth day of the first month.

  20. For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all
of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of
the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for
themselves.

  21. And the children of Israel, which were come again out of
captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from
the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of
Israel, did eat,

  22. And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy:
for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the
king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work
of the house of God, the God of Israel.


                            CHAPTER 7


  1. Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of
Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of
Hilkiah,

  2. The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

  3. The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

  4. The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

  5. The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar,
the son of Aaron the chief priest:

  6. This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in
the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the
king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the
LORD his God upon him.

  7. And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the
priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and
the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes
the king.

  8. And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the
seventh year of the king.

  9. For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up
from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to
Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

  10. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD,
and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

  11. Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes
gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words
of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.

  12. Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of
the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

  13. I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and
of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their
own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

  14. Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven
counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according
to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;

  15. And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his
counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose
habitation is in Jerusalem,

  16. And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the
province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and
of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God
which is in Jerusalem:

  17. That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks,
rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings,
and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in
Jerusalem.

  18. And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren,
to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the
will of your God.

  19. The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the
house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.

  20. And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy
God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of
the king's treasure house.

  21. And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all
the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra
the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall
require of you, it be done speedily,

  22. Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred
measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an
hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

  23. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be
diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should
there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

  24. Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and
Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house
of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom,
upon them.

  25. And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in
thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the
people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy
God; and teach ye them that know them not.

  26. And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of
the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it
be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or
to imprisonment.

  27. Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such
a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the
LORD which is in Jerusalem:

  28. And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his
counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was
strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I
gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.


                            CHAPTER 8


  1. These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the
genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign
of Artaxerxes the king.

  2. Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar;
Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.

  3. Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah:
and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred
and fifty.

  4. Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and
with him two hundred males.

  5. Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him
three hundred males.

  6. Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with
him fifty males.

  7. And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and
with him seventy males.

  8. And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael,
and with him fourscore males.

  9. Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him
two hundred and eighteen males.

  10. And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with
him an hundred and threescore males.

  11. And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and
with him twenty and eight males.

  12. And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and
with him an hundred and ten males.

  13. And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these,
Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.

  14. Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them
seventy males.

  15. And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to
Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the
people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

  16. Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for
Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for
Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for
Elnathan, men of understanding.

  17. And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the
place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo,
and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that
they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.

  18. And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a
man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the
son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren,
eighteen;

  19. And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari,
his brethren and their sons, twenty;

  20. Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had
appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty
Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.

  21. Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that
we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right
way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

  22. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers
and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we
had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all
them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is
against all them that forsake him.

  23. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was
intreated of us.

  24. Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests,
Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,

  25. And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the
vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the
king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there
present, had offered:

  26. I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents
of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an
hundred talents;

  27. Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two
vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.

  28. And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels
are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering
unto the LORD God of your fathers.

  29. Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the
chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of
Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.

  30. So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the
silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem
unto the house of our God.

  31. Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day
of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God
was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and
of such as lay in wait by the way.

  32. And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.

  33. Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the
vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth
the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of
Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah
the son of Binnui, Levites;

  34. By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was
written at that time.

  35. Also the children of those that had been carried away, which
were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the
God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six
rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering:
all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.

  36. And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's
lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they
furthered the people, and the house of God.


                            CHAPTER 9


  1. Now when these things were done, the princes came to me,
saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites,
have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing
according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the
Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the
Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

  2. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and
for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with
the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers
hath been chief in this trespass.

  3. And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle,
and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down
astonied.

  4. Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the
words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those
that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening
sacrifice.

  5. And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness;
and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees,
and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,

  6. And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face
to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head,
and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

  7. Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great
trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings,
and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the
lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to
confusion of face, as it is this day.

  8. And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the
LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a
nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and
give us a little reviving in our bondage.

  9. For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our
bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings
of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God,
and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in
Judah and in Jerusalem.

  10. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we
have forsaken thy commandments,

  11. Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets,
saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean
land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their
abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with
their uncleanness.

  12. Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons,
neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace
or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good
of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for
ever.

  13. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and
for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us
less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such
deliverance as this;

  14. Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity
with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry
with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no
remnant nor escaping?

  15. O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet
escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our
trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.


                            CHAPTER 10


  1. Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping
and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled
unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women
and children: for the people wept very sore.

  2. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam,
answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God,
and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now
there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

  3. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away
all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the
counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment
of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

  4. Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be
with thee: be of good courage, and do it.

  5. Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and
all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word.
And they sware.

  6. Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into
the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came
thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned
because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.

  7. And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem
unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather
themselves together unto Jerusalem;

  8. And that whosoever would not come within three days,
according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his
substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the
congregation of those that had been carried away.

  9. Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves
together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month,
on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the
street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and
for the great rain.

  10. And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have
transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the
trespass of Israel.

  11. Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your
fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the
people of the land, and from the strange wives.

  12. Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud
voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.

  13. But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and
we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one
day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.

  14. Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let
all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at
appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the
judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter
be turned from us.

  15. Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of
Tikvah were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and
Shabbethai the Levite helped them.

  16. And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the
priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of
their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and
sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the
matter.

  17. And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange
wives by the first day of the first month.

  18. And among the sons of the priests there were found that had
taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of
Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and
Gedaliah.

  19. And they gave their hands that they would put away their
wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their
trespass.

  20. And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.

  21. And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and
Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.

  22. And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael,
Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

  23. Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the
same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

  24. Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum,
and Telem, and Uri.

  25. Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and
Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and
Benaiah.

  26. And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel,
and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.

  27. And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and
Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.

  28. Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and
Athlai.

  29. And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah,
Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth.

  30. And of the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah,
Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.

  31. And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah,
Shemaiah, Shimeon,

  32. Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.

  33. Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad,
Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

  34. Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,

  35. Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,

  36. Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

  37. Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,

  38. And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,

  39. And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,

  40. Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

  41. Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

  42. Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.

  43. Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina,
Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.

  44. All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had
wives by whom they had children.