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 .

  

 

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