Shareware Overload Trio 2/Shareware Overload Trio Volume 2 (Chestnut CD-ROM).ISO/dir32/bib-msp.zip/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 basins of gold, silver basins 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 Pahath moab, 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 pounds 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 inquire 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 three-score 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 entreated 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 basins 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.