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ISA-11:9 ...for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD,

as the waters cover the sea.

Copyright (c) 1985-2007

11 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 .

12 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 .

13 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 .

14 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 .

15 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 .

16 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 .

17 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 .

18 Remember I beseech thee the word that thou commandedst thy

servant Moses saying If ye transgress I will scatter you abroad

among the nations .

19 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 .

110 Now these are thy servants and thy people whom thou hast

redeemed by thy great power and by thy strong hand .

111 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 .

* 21 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 .

22 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 .

23 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 .

24 Then the king said unto me For what dost thou make request

So I prayed to the God of heaven .

25 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 .

26 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 .

27 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 .

28 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 .

29 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 .

210 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 .

211 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days .

212 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 .

213 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 .

214 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 .

215 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 .

216 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 .

217 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 .

218 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 .

219 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 .

220 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

* 31 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 .

32 And next unto him builded the men of Jericho And next to

them builded Zaccur the son of Imri .

33 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 .

34 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 .

35 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired but their nobles

put not their necks to the work of their Lord .

36 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 .

37 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 .

38 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 .

39 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur the

ruler of the half part of Jerusalem .

310 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 .

311 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hashub the son of

Pahathmoab repaired the other piece and the tower of the

furnaces .

312 And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh the

ruler of the half part of Jerusalem he and his daughters .

313 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 .

314 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 .

315 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 .

316 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 .

317 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 .

318 After him repaired their brethren Bavai the son of Henadad

the ruler of the half part of Keilah .

319 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 .

320 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 .

321 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 .

322 And after him repaired the priests the men of the plain .

323 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 .

324 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 .

325 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 .

326 Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel unto the place over

against the water gate toward the east and the tower that lieth

out .

327 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece over

against the great tower that lieth out even unto the wall of

Ophel .

328 From above the horse gate repaired the priests every one

over against his house .

329 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 .

330 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 .

331 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 .

332 And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate

repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants .

* 41 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 .

42 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 .

43 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 .

44 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 .

45 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 .

46 So built we the wall and all the wall was joined together

unto the half thereof for the people had a mind to work .

47 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 .

48 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight

against Jerusalem and to hinder it .

49 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God and set a

watch against them day and night because of them .

410 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 .

411 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 .

412 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 .

413 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 .

414 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 .

415 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 .

416 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 .

417 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 .

418 For the builders every one had his sword girded by his

side and so builded And he that sounded the trumpet was by me .

419 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 .

420 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet

resort ye thither unto us our God shall fight for us .

421 So we laboured in the work and half of them held the

spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared .

422 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 .

423 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 .

* 51 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives

against their brethren the Jews .

52 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

53 Some also there were that said We have mortgaged our lands

vineyards and houses that we might buy corn because of the

dearth .

54 There were also that said We have borrowed money for the

king's tribute and that upon our lands and vineyards .

55 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 .

56 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words

57 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 .

58 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 .

59 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 .

510 I likewise and my brethren and my servants might exact of

them money and corn I pray you let us leave off this usury .

511 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 .

512 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 .

513 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 .

514 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

515 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 .

516 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 .

517 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 .

518 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 .

519 Think upon me my God for good according to all that I have

done for this people .

* 61 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 .

62 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 .

63 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 .

64 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort and I

answered them after the same manner .

65 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the

fifth time with an open letter in his hand .

66 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 .

67 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 .

68 Then I sent unto him saying There are no such things done

as thou sayest but thou feignest them out of thine own heart .

69 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 .

610 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 .

611 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 .

612 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 .

613 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 .

614 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 .

615 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of

the month Elul in fifty and two days .

616 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 .

617 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many

letters unto Tobiah and the letters of Tobiah came unto them .

618 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 .

619 Also they reported his good deeds before me and uttered my

words to him And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear .

* 71 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 .

72 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 .

73 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 .

74 Now the city was large and great but the people were few

therein and the houses were not builded .

75 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 .

76 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 .

77 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 .

78 The children of Parosh two thousand an hundred seventy and

two .

79 The children of Shephatiah three hundred seventy and two .

710 The children of Arah six hundred fifty and two .

711 The children of Pahathmoab of the children of Jeshua and

Joab two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen .

712 The children of Elam a thousand two hundred fifty and four

713 The children of Zattu eight hundred forty and five .

714 The children of Zaccai seven hundred and threescore .

715 The children of Binnui six hundred forty and eight .

716 The children of Bebai six hundred twenty and eight .

717 The children of Azgad two thousand three hundred twenty

and two .

718 The children of Adonikam six hundred threescore and seven .

719 The children of Bigvai two thousand threescore and seven .

720 The children of Adin six hundred fifty and five .

721 The children of Ater of Hezekiah ninety and eight .

722 The children of Hashum three hundred twenty and eight .

723 The children of Bezai three hundred twenty and four .

724 The children of Hariph an hundred and twelve .

725 The children of Gibeon ninety and five .

726 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah an hundred fourscore and

eight .

727 The men of Anathoth an hundred twenty and eight .

728 The men of Bethazmaveth forty and two .

729 The men of Kirjathjearim Chephirah and Beeroth seven

hundred forty and three .

730 The men of Ramah and Gaba six hundred twenty and one .

731 The men of Michmas an hundred and twenty and two .

732 The men of Bethel and Ai an hundred twenty and three .

733 The men of the other Nebo fifty and two .

734 The children of the other Elam a thousand two hundred

fifty and four .

735 The children of Harim three hundred and twenty .

736 The children of Jericho three hundred forty and five .

737 The children of Lod Hadid and Ono seven hundred twenty and

one .

738 The children of Senaah three thousand nine hundred and

thirty .

739 The priests the children of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua

nine hundred seventy and three .

740 The children of Immer a thousand fifty and two .

741 The children of Pashur a thousand two hundred forty and

seven .

742 The children of Harim a thousand and seventeen .

743 The Levites the children of Jeshua of Kadmiel and of the

children of Hodevah seventy and four .

744 The singers the children of Asaph an hundred forty and

eight .

745 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 .

746 The Nethinims the children of Ziha the children of

Hashupha the children of Tabbaoth .

747 The children of Keros the children of Sia the children of

Padon .

748 The children of Lebana the children of Hagaba the children

of Shalmai .

749 The children of Hanan the children of Giddel the children

of Gahar .

750 The children of Reaiah the children of Rezin the children

of Nekoda .

751 The children of Gazzam the children of Uzza the children

of Phaseah .

752 The children of Besai the children of Meunim the children

of Nephishesim .

753 The children of Bakbuk the children of Hakupha the

children of Harhur .

754 The children of Bazlith the children of Mehida the

children of Harsha .

755 The children of Barkos the children of Sisera the children

of Tamah .

756 The children of Neziah the children of Hatipha .

757 The children of Solomon's servants the children of Sotai

the children of Sophereth the children of Perida .

758 The children of Jaala the children of Darkon the children

of Giddel .

759 The children of Shephatiah the children of Hattil the

children of Pochereth of Zebaim the children of Amon .

760 All the Nethinims and the children of Solomon's servants

were three hundred ninety and two .

761 And these were they which went up also from Telmelah

Telharesha Cherub Addon and Immer but they could not show their

father's house nor their seed whether they were of Israel .

762 The children of Delaiah the children of Tobiah the

children of Nekoda six hundred forty and two .

763 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 .

764 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 .

765 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 .

766 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand

three hundred and threescore .

767 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 .

768 Their horses seven hundred thirty and six their mules two

hundred forty and five .

769 Their camels four hundred thirty and five six thousand

seven hundred and twenty asses .

770 And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work

The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold

fifty basins five hundred and thirty priests' garments .

771 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 .

772 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 .

773 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 .

* 81 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 .

82 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 .

83 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 .

84 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 .

85 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 .

86 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 .

87 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 .

88 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly and

gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading .

89 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 .

810 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 .

811 So the Levites stilled all the people saying Hold your

peace for the day is holy neither be ye grieved .

812 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 .

813 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 .

814 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 .

815 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 .

816 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 .

817 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 .

818 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 .

* 91 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 .

92 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all

strangers and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities

of their fathers .

93 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 .

94 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 .

95 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 .

96 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 .

97 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 .

98 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 .

99 And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and

heardest their cry by the Red sea .

910 And showedst 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 .

911 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 .

912 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 .

913 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 .

914 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath and

commandedst them precepts statutes and laws by the hand of Moses

thy servant .

915 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 .

916 But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their

necks and hearkened not to thy commandments .

917 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 .

918 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 .

919 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 show them light and the way wherein they should go .

920 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them and

withheldest not thy manna from their mouth and gavest them water

for their thirst .

921 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 .

922 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 .

923 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 .

924 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 .

925 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 .

926 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 .

927 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 .

928 But after they had rest they did evil again before thee

therefore leftest thou them in the hand 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 .

929 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 .

930 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 .

931 Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not

utterly consume them nor forsake them for thou art a gracious

and merciful God .

932 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 .

933 Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us for

thou hast done right but we have done wickedly .

934 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 .

935 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 .

936 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 .

937 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 .

938 And because of all this we make a sure covenant and write

it and our princes Levites and priests seal unto it .

* 101 Now those that sealed were Nehemiah the Tirshatha the son

of Hachaliah and Zidkijah .

102 Seraiah Azariah Jeremiah .

103 Pashur Amariah Malchijah .

104 Hattush Shebaniah Malluch .

105 Harim Meremoth Obadiah .

106 Daniel Ginnethon Baruch .

107 Meshullam Abijah Mijamin .

108 Maaziah Bilgai Shemaiah these were the priests .

109 And the Levites both Jeshua the son of Azaniah Binnui of

the sons of Henadad Kadmiel .

1010 And their brethren Shebaniah Hodijah Kelita Pelaiah Hanan

1011 Micha Rehob Hashabiah .

1012 Zaccur Sherebiah Shebaniah .

1013 Hodijah Bani Beninu .

1014 The chief of the people Parosh Pahathmoab Elam Zatthu

Bani .

1015 Bunni Azgad Bebai .

1016 Adonijah Bigvai Adin .

1017 Ater Hizkijah Azzur .

1018 Hodijah Hashum Bezai .

1019 Hariph Anathoth Nebai .

1020 Magpiash Meshullam Hezir .

1021 Meshezabeel Zadok Jaddua .

1022 Pelatiah Hanan Anaiah .

1023 Hoshea Hananiah Hashub .

1024 Hallohesh Pileha Shobek .

1025 Rehum Hashabnah Maaseiah .

1026 And Ahijah Hanan Anan .

1027 Malluch Harim Baanah .

1028 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 .

1029 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 .

1030 And that we would not give our daughters unto the people

of the land nor take their daughters for our sons .

1031 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 .

1032 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 .

1033 For the showbread 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 .

1034 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 .

1035 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 .

1036 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 .

1037 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 .

1038 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 .

1039 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 .

* 111 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 .

112 And the people blessed all the men that willingly offered

themselves to dwell at Jerusalem .

113 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

114 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

115 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 .

116 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four

hundred threescore and eight valiant men .

117 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 .

118 And after him Gabbai Sallai nine hundred twenty and eight .

119 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer and Judah

the son of Senuah was second over the city .

1110 Of the priests Jedaiah the son of Joiarib Jachin .

1111 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 .

1112 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 .

1113 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 .

1114 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 .

1115 Also of the Levites Shemaiah the son of Hashub the son of

Azrikam the son of Hashabiah the son of Bunni .

1116 And Shabbethai and Jozabad of the chief of the Levites

had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God .

1117 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 .

1118 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred

fourscore and four .

1119 Moreover the porters Akkub Talmon and their brethren that

kept the gates were an hundred seventy and two .

1120 And the residue of Israel of the priests and the Levites

were in all the cities of Judah every one in his inheritance .

1121 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel and Ziha and Gispa were

over the Nethinims .

1122 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 .

1123 For it was the king's commandment concerning them that a

certain portion should be for the singers due for every day .

1124 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 .

1125 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 .

1126 And at Jeshua and at Moladah and at Bethphelet .

1127 And at Hazarshual and at Beersheba and in the villages

thereof .

1128 And at Ziklag and at Mekonah and in the villages thereof .

1129 And at Enrimmon and at Zareah and at Jarmuth .

1130 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 .

1131 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash

and Aija and Bethel and in their villages .

1132 And at Anathoth Nob Ananiah .

1133 Hazor Ramah Gittaim .

1134 Hadid Zeboim Neballat .

1135 Lod and Ono the valley of craftsmen .

1136 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah and in

Benjamin .

* 121 Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up

with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua Seraiah Jeremiah

Ezra .

122 Amariah Malluch Hattush .

123 Shechaniah Rehum Meremoth .

124 Iddo Ginnetho Abijah .

125 Miamin Maadiah Bilgah .

126 Shemaiah and Joiarib Jedaiah .

127 Sallu Amok Hilkiah Jedaiah These were the chief of the

priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua .

128 Moreover the Levites Jeshua Binnui Kadmiel Sherebiah Judah

and Mattaniah which was over the thanksgiving he and his

brethren .

129 Also Bakbukiah and Unni their brethren were over against

them in the watches .

1210 And Jeshua begat Joiakim Joiakim also begat Eliashib and

Eliashib begat Joiada .

1211 And Joiada begat Jonathan and Jonathan begat Jaddua .

1212 And in the days of Joiakim were priests the chief of the

fathers of Seraiah Meraiah of Jeremiah Hananiah .

1213 Of Ezra Meshullam of Amariah Jehohanan .

1214 Of Melicu Jonathan of Shebaniah Joseph .

1215 Of Harim Adna of Meraioth Helkai .

1216 Of Iddo Zechariah of Ginnethon Meshullam .

1217 Of Abijah Zichri of Miniamin of Moadiah Piltai .

1218 Of Bilgah Shammua of Shemaiah Jehonathan .

1219 And of Joiarib Mattenai of Jedaiah Uzzi .

1220 Of Sallai Kallai of Amok Eber .

1221 Of Hilkiah Hashabiah of Jedaiah Nethaneel .

1222 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 .

1223 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 .

1224 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 .

1225 Mattaniah and Bakbukiah Obadiah Meshullam Talmon Akkub

were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates .

1226 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 .

1227 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 .

1228 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together

both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem and from the

villages of Netophathi .

1229 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 .

1230 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves and

purified the people and the gates and the wall .

1231 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 .

1232 And after them went Hoshaiah and half of the princes of

Judah .

1233 And Azariah Ezra and Meshullam .

1234 Judah and Benjamin and Shemaiah and Jeremiah .

1235 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

1236 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 .

1237 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 .

1238 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 .

1239 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 .

1240 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 .

1241 And the priests Eliakim Maaseiah Miniamin Michaiah

Elioenai Zechariah and Hananiah with trumpets .

1242 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 .

1243 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 .

1244 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 .

1245 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 .

1246 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were

chief of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto

God .

1247 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 .

* 131 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 .

132 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 .

133 Now it came to pass when they had heard the law that they

separated from Israel all the mixed multitude .

134 And before this Eliashib the priest having the oversight

of the chamber of the house of our God was allied unto Tobiah .

135 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 .

136 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 .

137 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 .

138 And it grieved me sore therefore I cast forth all the

household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber .

139 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 .

1310 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 .

1311 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 .

1312 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new

wine and the oil unto the treasuries .

1313 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 .

1314 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 .

1315 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 .

1316 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 .

1317 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 .

1318 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 .

1319 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 .

1320 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged

without Jerusalem once or twice .

1321 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 .

1322 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 .

1323 In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of

Ashdod of Ammon and of Moab .

1324 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 .

1325 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 .

1326 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 .

1327 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil

to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives .

1328 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 .

1329 Remember them O my God because they have defiled the

priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites

1330 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers and appointed the

wards of the priests and the Levites every one in his business .

1331 And for the wood offering at times appointed and for the

firstfruits Remember me O my God for good .