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

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  NEHEMIAH:


                            CHAPTER 1


  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,
which 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 God of heaven,

  5. And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and
terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love
him and observe his commandments:

  6. Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that
thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before
thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants,
and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have
sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

  7. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept
the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou
commandedst thy servant Moses.

  8. Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy
servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad
among the nations:

  9. But if ye 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 thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast
redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

  11. O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to
the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who
desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant
this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was
the king's cupbearer.


                            CHAPTER 2


  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 thy countenance sad,
seeing thou art 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, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are
consumed with fire?

  4. Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request?
So I prayed to the God of heaven.

  5. And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy
servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest 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 thy journey be? and when wilt thou 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 God 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 God 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 whither 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, Ye see the distress that we are in,
how Jerusalem lieth 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 God 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 ye do?
will ye rebel against the king?

  20. Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven,
he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and
build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in
Jerusalem.


                            CHAPTER 3


  1. Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the
priests, and they builded 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 builded the men of Jericho. And next to
them builded 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 LORD.

  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 lieth 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 lieth
out.

  27. After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against
the great tower that lieth 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.


                            CHAPTER 4


  1. But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we
builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and
mocked the Jews.

  2. And he spake 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 God; 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 thee: for they have provoked thee 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 God, 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 ye 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 ye afraid of
them: remember the LORD, which 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 God 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. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens,
with those that laded, 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 builded. 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 ye hear the sound of the trumpet,
resort ye thither unto us: our God 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.


                            CHAPTER 5


  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, Ye 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 ye
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 ye do: ought ye not to walk
in the fear of our God 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 ye exact of them.

  12. Then said they, We will restore them, and will require
nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. 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 God shake out every man
from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this
promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the
congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. 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; yea, even their servants bare rule
over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

  16. Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither
bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto
the work.

  17. Moreover there were at my table an 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 God, for good, according to all that I
have done for this people.


                            CHAPTER 6


  1. Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem
the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded
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 saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which
cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king,
according to these words.

  7. And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee 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 thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine 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 God,
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 God, within the temple, and let
us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee;
yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.

  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 God 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 God, think thou 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 God.

  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.


                            CHAPTER 7


  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 God 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 builded.

  5. And my God put into mine 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 them which
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 an hundred seventy and
two.

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

  10. The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and 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 fifty and four.

  13. The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.

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

  15. The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.

  16. The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.

  17. The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and
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 fifty and five.

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

  22. The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.

  23. The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.

  24. The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.

  25. The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.

  26. The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and
eight.

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

  28. The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two.

  29. The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven
hundred forty and three.

  30. The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.

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

  32. The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.

  33. The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.

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

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

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

  37. The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty
and 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 seventy and three.

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

  41. The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and
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 and four.

  44. The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and
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, an hundred thirty and 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 ninety and two.

  61. And these were they which went up also from Telmelah,
Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew
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 forty and two.

  63. And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of
Koz, the children of Barzillai, which 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 and two thousand
three hundred and threescore,

  67. Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom
there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they
had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.

  68. Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two
hundred forty and five:

  69. Their camels, four hundred thirty and 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
basons, 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 and 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.


                            CHAPTER 8


  1. And all the people gathered themselves together as one man
into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake
unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which
the LORD 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 the LORD, the great God. And all the people
answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed
their heads, and worshipped the LORD 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 God 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 the LORD your God; 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 fat, and drink
the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is
prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry;
for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

  11. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your
peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye 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 the LORD 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 God, and in the
street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of
Ephraim.

  17. And all the congregation of them that 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 God. And they kept the feast seven
days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto
the manner.


                            CHAPTER 9


  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 the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another
fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.

  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 the LORD their God.

  5. Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah,
Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and
bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy
glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

  6. Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast 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 thou
preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

  7. Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and
broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the
name of Abraham;

  8. And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest 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 hast
performed thy words; for thou art righteous:

  9. And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and
heardest their cry by the Red sea;

  10. And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his
servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that
they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as
it is this day.

  11. And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went
through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their
persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the
mighty waters.

  12. Moreover thou leddest 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. Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with
them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws,
good statutes and commandments:

  14. And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst
them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy
servant:

  15. And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and
broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst,
and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land
which thou hadst sworn to give them.

  16. But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their
necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

  17. And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders
that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their
rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou
art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger,
and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

  18. Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This
is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought
great provocations;

  19. Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest 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
shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.

  20. Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and
withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water
for their thirst.

  21. Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness,
so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and
their feet swelled not.

  22. Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst
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 multipliedst thou as the stars of
heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou
hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess
it.

  24. So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou
subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites,
and gavest 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 digged, vineyards, and oliveyards,
and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled,
and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

  26. Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against
thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets
which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they
wrought great provocations.

  27. Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their
enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when
they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and
according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who
saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

  28. But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee:
therefore leftest thou them in the land of their enemies, so that
they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried
unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst
thou deliver them according to thy mercies;

  29. And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them
again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto
thy commandments, but sinned against thy 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 didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst
against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not
give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people
of the lands.

  31. Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not
utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious
and merciful God.

  32. Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the
terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the
trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our
kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets,
and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the
kings of Assyria unto this day.

  33. Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for
thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:

  34. Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our
fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy
testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them.

  35. For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy
great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat
land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their
wicked works.

  36. Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou
gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good
thereof, behold, we are servants in it:

  37. And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast
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.


                            CHAPTER 10


  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 they that had
separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of
God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one
having knowledge, and having understanding;

  29. They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into
a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given
by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the
commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his
statutes;

  30. And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of
the land, not 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 God;

  33. For the shewbread, and for the continual meat 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 God.

  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
God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by
year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, 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 the LORD:

  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 God, unto the priests that
minister in the house of our God:

  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 God;
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 God, 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 God.


                            CHAPTER 11


  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 twenty and 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 God.

  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, an hundred twenty
and 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 God.

  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 an hundred seventy and 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 God.

  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.


                            CHAPTER 12


  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 God, 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 builded 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 them that 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 God, 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 them that 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 them that gave thanks in the
house of God, 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 God 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
God, 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 God.

  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.


                            CHAPTER 13


  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 God 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 God 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 God, was allied unto Tobiah:

  5. And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime
they laid the meat 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 God.

  8. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the
household stuff to Tobiah out of the chamber.

  9. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither
brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat
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 God 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 God, concerning this, and wipe not out my
good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, 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 ye do, and profane the sabbath
day?

  18. Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all
this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye 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
ye about the wall? if ye 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 God, concerning this
also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

  23. In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of
Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

  24. And their children spake 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 God, saying, Ye 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 God, and God 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 God 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 God, 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 God, for good.