AB - Ezra

Chapter 1

1:1  Now in the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians, and he issued a proclamation through all his kingdom, and that in writing, saying,

1:2  Thus said Cyrus king of the Persians: The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has given me a command to build Him a house in Jerusalem that is in Judea.

1:3  Who is there among you of all His people? For his God shall be with him, and he shall go up to Jerusalem that is in Judea, and let him build the house of the God of Israel: He is the God that is in Jerusalem.

1:4  And let every Jew that is left go from every place where he sojourns, and the men of his place shall help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, together with the voluntary offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.

1:5  Then the chiefs of the families of Judah and Benjamin arose, and the priests, and the Levites, all whose spirit the Lord stirred up to go up to build the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem.

1:6  And all that were round about strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with livestock, and with presents, besides the voluntary offerings.

1:7  And King Cyrus brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem, and put in the house of his god.

1:8  And Cyrus king of the Persians brought them out by the hand of Mithradath the treasurer, and he numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the chief man of Judah.

1:9  And this is their number: thirty gold platters, and a thousand silver platters, twenty-nine knives, thirty golden goblets,

1:10  four hundred and ten double silver vessels, and a thousand other vessels.

1:11  All the gold and silver vessels were five thousand four hundred, even all that went up with Sheshbazzar from the place of transportation, from Babylon to Jerusalem.

Chapter 2

2:1  And these are the people of the land that went up, of the number of prisoners who were removed, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon carried away to Babylon, and they returned to Judah and Jerusalem, every man to his city.

2:2  Those who came with Zerubbabel were: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the people of Israel:

2:3  the children of Phares, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two;

2:4  the children of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two;

2:5  the children of Arah, seven hundred and seventy-five;

2:6  the children of Pahath-Moab, belonging to the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve;

2:7  the children of Elam, a thousand two hundred and fifty-four;

2:8  the children of Zatthu, nine hundred and forty-five;

2:9  the children of Zacchai, seven hundred and sixty;

2:10  the children of Banui, six hundred and forty-two;

2:11  the children of Babai, six hundred and twenty-three;

2:12  the children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred and twenty-two;

2:13  the children of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-six;

2:14  the children of Bigvai, two thousand and fifty-six;

2:15  the children of Adin, four hundred and fifty-four;

2:16  the children of Ater the son of Hezekiah, ninety eight;

2:17  the children of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-three;

2:18  the children of Jorah, a hundred and twelve;

2:19  the children of Hashum, two hundred and twenty-three;

2:20  the children of Gibbar, ninety-five;

2:21  the children of Bethlehem, a hundred and twenty-three;

2:22  the children of Netophah, fifty-six;

2:23  the children of Anathoth, a hundred and twenty-eight;

2:24  the children of Azmaveth, forty-three;

2:25  the children of Kirjath Arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three;

2:26  the children of Ramah and Gibeah, six hundred and twenty-one;

2:27  the men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty-two;

2:28  the men of Bethel and Ai, four hundred and twenty-three;

2:29  the children of Nebo, fifty-two;

2:30  the children of Magbish, a hundred and fifty-six;

2:31  the children of Elamar, a thousand two hundred and fifty-four;

2:32  the children of Elam, three hundred and twenty;

2:33  the children of Lod and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-five;

2:34  the children of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five.

2:35  the children of Senaah, three thousand six hundred and thirty.

2:36  And the priests, the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three;

2:37  the children of Immer, a thousand and fifty-two;

2:38  the children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred and forty-seven;

2:39  the children of Harim, a thousand and seven.

2:40  And the Levites, the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, belonging to the sons of Hodaviah, seventy-four.

2:41  The sons of Asaph, the singers: a hundred and twenty-eight.

2:42  The children of the gatekeepers, the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred and thirty-nine in all.

2:43  The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

2:44  the children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,

2:45  the children of Labanah, the children of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub,

2:46  the children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,

2:47  the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,

2:48  the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,

2:49  the children of Uzzo, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,

2:50  the children of Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephusim,

2:51  the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,

2:52  the children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,

2:53  the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,

2:54  the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.

2:55  The children of the servants of Solomon: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,

2:56  the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,

2:57  the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth, the children of Zebaim, the children of Ami.

2:58  All the Nethinim, and the sons of Abdeselma were three hundred and ninety-two.

2:59  And these are they that went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they were not able to identify the house of their fathers, and their seed, whether they were of Israel;

2:60  the children of Delaiah, the children of Bua, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred and fifty-two.

2:61  And of the children of the priests, the children of Labeia, the children of Akkus, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name.

2:62  These sought their genealogy as though they had been reckoned, but they were not found; and they were removed from the priesthood, as defiled.

2:63  And the Tirshatha told them that they should not eat of the most holy things, until a priest should arise with the Urim and Thummim.

2:64  And all the congregation together were about forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty;

2:65  besides their male and female servants, and these were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. And among these were two hundred men and women singers.

2:66  Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules, two hundred and forty-five.

2:67  Their camels, four hundred and thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

2:68  And some of the chiefs of families, when they went into the house of the Lord that was in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God, to establish it on its prepared place.

2:69  According to their ability they gave into the treasury of the work pure gold, sixty-one thousand pieces, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.

2:70  So the priests, the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

Chapter 3

3:1  And the seventh month came on, and the children of Israel were in their cities, and the people assembled as one man at Jerusalem.

3:2  Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer upon it whole burnt offerings, according to the things that were written in the law of Moses the man of God.

3:3  And they set up the altar on its place, for there was a fear upon them because of the people of the land. And the whole burnt offerings was offered up upon it to the Lord morning and evening.

3:4  And they kept the Feast of Tabernacles, according to that which was written, and offered whole burnt offerings daily, in number according to the ordinance, the exact daily rate.

3:5  And after this the perpetual whole burnt offering, and offering for the season of new moon, and for all the hallowed feasts to the Lord, and for everyone that offered a freewill offering to the Lord.

3:6  On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer whole burnt offerings to the Lord, but the foundation of the house of the Lord was not laid.

3:7  And they gave money to the stone masons and carpenters, and food and drink, and oil, to the Sidonians, and Tyrians, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant of Cyrus king of the Persians to them.

3:8  And in the second year of their coming to the house of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, and they appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, over the workmen in the house of the Lord.

3:9  And Jeshua and his sons and brothers stood, with Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, over them that performed the works in the house of God; the sons of Henadad with their sons and their brothers the Levites.

3:10  And they laid a foundation for building the house of the Lord; and the priests in their robes stood with trumpets and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the order of David king of Israel.

3:11  And they answered each other with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, saying, For it is good, for His mercy to Israel endures forever. And all the people shouted with a loud voice to praise the Lord at the laying the foundation of the house of the Lord.

3:12  But many of the priests and the Levites, and the elder men, heads of families, who had seen the former house on its foundation, and who saw this house with their eyes, wept with a loud voice; but the multitude shouted with joy to raise a song.

3:13  And the people did not distinguish the voice of the glad shout from the voice of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud voice, and the voice was heard even from afar off.

Chapter 4

4:1  And they that afflicted Judah and Benjamin heard, that the children of the captivity were building a house to the Lord God of Israel.

4:2  And they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of families, and said to them, We will build with you; for as you do, we seek to serve our God, and we do sacrifice to Him from the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.

4:3  Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel said to them, It is not for us and you to build a house to our God, for we ourselves will build together to the Lord our God, as Cyrus the king of the Persians commanded us.

4:4  And the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and hindered them in building,

4:5  and continued hiring people against them, plotting to frustrate their counsel, all the days of Cyrus king of the Persians, and until the reign of Darius king of the Persians.

4:6  And in the reign of Ahasuerus, even in the beginning of his reign, they wrote a letter against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

4:7  And in the days of Artaxerxes, Tabel wrote peaceably to Mithradath and to the rest of his fellow servants: the tax collector wrote to Artaxerxes king of the Persians a writing in the Syrian tongue, and the same interpreted.

4:8  Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote an epistle against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes, saying,

4:9  Thus has judged Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of our fellow servants, the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the people of Persia, the Erech, the Babylonians, the Shushan, the Dehavites,

4:10  and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapper removed, and settled them in the cities of Samaria, and the rest of them beyond the river.

4:11  This is the contents of the letter which they sent to him: To King Artaxerxes from your servants the men of the region beyond the river:

4:12  Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up to us from you, have come to Jerusalem, the rebellious and wicked city which they are building, and its walls are set in order, and they have established the foundations of it.

4:13  Now then let it be known to the king, that if that city be built up, and its walls completed, you shall have no tribute, neither will they pay any tribute, and this injures kings.

4:14  And it is not lawful for us to see the dishonor of the king. Therefore have we sent and made known the matter to the king,

4:15  that examination may be made in your fathers' book of record. And you shall find, and you shall know that this city is rebellious, and does harm to kings and countries, and there are in the midst of it from very old time refuges for runaway slaves. Therefore this city has been made desolate.

4:16  We therefore declare to the king, that if this city is rebuilt, and its walls are set up, you shall have no peace.

4:17  Then the king sent to Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their fellow servants who dwelt in Samaria, and the rest beyond the river, saying, Peace; and he said,

4:18  The tax collector whom you sent to us has been called before me.

4:19  And a decree has been made by me, and we have examined, and found that city of old time exalts itself against kings, and that rebellions and desertions take place within it.

4:20  And there were powerful kings in Jerusalem, and they ruled over all the country beyond the river, and abundant revenues and tribute were given to them.

4:21  Now therefore make a decree to stop the work of those men, and that city shall no more be built.

4:22  See that you be careful of the decree, not to be remiss concerning this matter, lest at any time destruction should abound to the harm of kings.

4:23  Then the tax collector of King Artaxerxes read the letter before Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and his fellow servants. And they went in haste to Jerusalem and through Judah, and caused them to cease with horses and an armed force.

4:24  Thus the work of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it was at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.

Chapter 5

5:1  And Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied a prophesy to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even to them.

5:2  Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jehozadak rose up, and began to build the house of God that was in Jerusalem, and with them were the prophets of God assisting them.

5:3  At the same time Tattenai the governor on this side the river, and Shethar-Boznai, and their fellow servants came to them, and spoke thus to them: Who has ordained a decree for you to build this house, and to provide this preparation?

5:4  Then they spoke thus to them, What are the names of the men that build this city?

5:5  But the eyes of God were upon the captivity of Judah, and they did not cause them to cease till the decree was brought to Darius; and then was sent by the tax collector concerning this.

5:6  This is the copy of a letter which Tattenai, the governor of the part on this side the river, and Shethar-Boznai, and their fellow servants the Apharsachaeans, who were on this side of the river, sent to King Darius.

5:7  They sent an account to him, and thus it was written in it: All peace to King Darius.

5:8  Be it known to the king, that we went into the land of Judea, to the house of the great God; and it is building with choice stones, and they are laying timbers in the walls, and that work is prospering, and goes on favorably in their hands.

5:9  Then we asked those elders, and thus we said to them, Who gave you the order to build this house, and to provide this preparation?

5:10  And we asked them their names, in order to declare them to you, so as to write to you the names of their leading men.

5:11  And they answered us thus, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are building the house which had been built many years before this, and a great king of Israel built it, and established it for them.

5:12  But after that our fathers provoked the God of heaven, and He gave them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, and he destroyed this house, and carried the people away captive to Babylon.

5:13  And in the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be built.

5:14  And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar brought out from the house that was in Jerusalem, and carried them into the temple of the king, those King Cyrus brought out from the temple of the king, and gave to Sheshbazzar the treasurer, who was over the treasury,

5:15  and said to him, Take all the vessels, and go, put them in the house that is in Jerusalem in their place.

5:16  Then that Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. And from that time even until now it has been building, and has not been finished.

5:17  And now, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the treasure house of the king at Babylon, that you may know whether it is so, that a decree was made by King Cyrus to build that house of God that was in Jerusalem, and let the king send to us when he has learned concerning this matter.

Chapter 6

6:1  Then Darius the king made a decree, and caused a search to be made in the record offices, where the treasure is stored in Babylon.

6:2  And there was found in the city, in the palace, a volume, and this was the record written in it:

6:3  In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the holy house of God that was in Jerusalem, saying, Let the house be built, and the place where they offer the sacrifices (Also he appointed its elevation, in height sixty cubits; its breadth was of sixty cubits).

6:4  And let there be three strong layers of stone, and one layer of timber; and the expense shall be paid out of the house of the king.

6:5  And the silver and the gold vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar carried off from the house that was in Jerusalem, and carried to Babylon, let them also be given, and be carried to the temple that is in Jerusalem, and put in the place where they were set in the house of God.

6:6  Now, you rulers beyond the river, Shethar-Boznai, and their fellow servants the Apharsachaeans, who are on the other side of the river, give these things, keeping far from that place.

6:7  Now let alone the work of the house of God; let the rulers of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build that house of God on its place.

6:8  Also a decree has been made by me, if haply you may do somewhat in concert with the elders of the Jews for the building of that house of God: to wit, out of the king's property, even the tributes beyond the river, let there be money to defray the expenses carefully granted to those men, so that they be not hindered.

6:9  And whatever need there may be, you shall give both the young of bulls and rams, and lambs for whole burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and oil-let it be given them according to the word of the priests that are in Jerusalem, day by day whatsoever they shall ask;

6:10  that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and that they may pray for the life of the king and his sons.

6:11  And a decree has been made by me, that every man who shall alter this word, timber shall be pulled down from his house, and let him be lifted up and slain upon it, and his house shall be confiscated.

6:12  And may the God whose name dwells there, overthrow every king and people who shall stretch out his hand to alter or destroy the house of God which is in Jerusalem. I, Darius have made a decree; let it be diligently attended to.

6:13  Then Tattenai the governor on this side beyond the river, Shethar-Boznai, and his fellow servants, according to that which King Darius sent, so they did diligently.

6:14  And the elders of the Jews and the Levites built, at the prophecy of Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo; and they built up, and finished it, by the decree of the God of Israel, and by the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of the Persians.

6:15  And they finished this house by the third day of the month of Adar, which is the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

6:16  And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity kept the dedication of the house of God with gladness.

6:17  And they offered for the dedication of the house of God a hundred calves, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, twelve kids of the goats for a sin offering for all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

6:18  And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their separate orders, for the services of God in Jerusalem, according to the writing of the Book of Moses

6:19  And the children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

6:20  For the priests and Levites were purified, all were clean to a man, and they slaughtered the Passover lambs for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.

6:21  And the children of Israel ate the Passover, even they that were of the captivity, and everyone who separated himself to them from the uncleanness of the nations of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel.

6:22  And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with gladness, because the Lord made them glad, and He turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the works of the house of the God of Israel.

Chapter 7

7:1  Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, came up Ezra, the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

7:2  the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

7:3  the son of Amariah, the son of Azaria, the son of Maraioth,

7:4  the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

7:5  the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the first priest-

7:6  this Ezra came up out of Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. And the king granted him leave, for the hand of the Lord his God was upon him in all things which he sought.

7:7  And some of the children of Israel, and some of the priests, and of the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, came up to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

7:8  And they came to Jerusalem in the fifth month (this was the seventh year of the king).

7:9  For in the first day of the first month he began the going up from Babylon, and in the first day of the fifth month, they came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was upon him.

7:10  For Ezra had determined in his heart to seek the law, and to do and teach the ordinances and judgments in Israel.

7:11  And this is the copy of the order which Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, of the book of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of His ordinances to Israel.

7:12  Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra, the scribe of the law of the Lord God of heaven, Let the order and the answer be accomplished.

7:13  A decree is made by me, that everyone who is willing in my kingdom of the people of Israel, and of the priests and Levites, to go to Jerusalem, be permitted to go with you.

7:14  One has been sent from the king and his seven counselors, to visit Judea and Jerusalem, according to the law of their God which is in your hand.

7:15  And for the house of the Lord there has been sent silver and gold, which the king and the counselors have freely given to the God of Israel, who dwells in Jerusalem.

7:16  And all the silver and gold, whatsoever you shall find in all the land of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and the priests that offer freely for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.

7:17  And as for everyone that arrives there, speedily order him by this letter to bring calves, rams, lambs, and their grain offerings, and their drink offerings; and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

7:18  And whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do as it is pleasing to your God.

7:19  And deliver the vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of God, before God in Jerusalem.

7:20  And as to the rest of the needs of the house of your God, you shall give from the king's treasure houses,

7:21  and from me, whatever seems good to you to give. I, King Artaxerxes have made a decree for all the treasuries that are in the country beyond the river, that whatever Ezra the priest and scribe of the God of heaven may require of you, let it be done diligently,

7:22  to the amount of a hundred talents of silver, and a hundred measures of wheat, and a hundred baths of wine, and a hundred baths of oil, and salt without reckoning.

7:23  Let whatever is in the decree of the God of heaven be done. Take heed lest anyone make an attack against the house of the God of heaven, lest at any time there shall be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons.

7:24  Also this has been declared to you, with respect to all the priests, and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim and ministers of the house of God, let no tribute be paid to you; you shall not have power to oppress them.

7:25  And you, Ezra, as the wisdom of God is in your hand, appoint scribes and judges, that they may judge for all the people beyond the river, all that know the law of the Lord your God; and you shall make it known to him that knows not.

7:26  And whosoever shall not do the law of God, and the law of the king readily, judgment shall be taken upon him, whether for death or for chastisement, or for a fine of his property, or casting into prison.

7:27  Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put it thus into the heart of the king, to glorify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem;

7:28  and has given me favor in the eyes of the king, and of his counselors, and all the rulers of the king, the exalted ones. And I was strengthened according to the good hand of God upon me, and I gathered chief men of Israel to go up with me.

Chapter 8

8:1  And these are the heads of their families, the leaders that went up with me in the reign of Artaxerxes the king of Babylon:

8:2  Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David; Hattush.

8:3  Of the sons of Shecaniah, and the sons of Parosh; Zechariah; and with him a company of a hundred and fifty men.

8:4  Of the sons of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.

8:5  And of the sons of Zatho, Shechaniah the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.

8:6  And of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.

8:7  And of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.

8:8  And of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him eighty males.

8:9  And of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.

8:10  And of the sons of Banni, Shelomith the son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred and sixty males.

8:11  And of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight males.

8:12  And of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him a hundred and ten males.

8:13  And of the sons of Adonikam were the last, and these were their names, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males.

8:14  And of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud, and with him seventy males.

8:15  And I gathered them to the river that comes to Ahava, and we encamped there three days. And I reviewed the people and the priests, and found none of the sons of Levi there.

8:16  And I sent men of understanding to Eliezar, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, Meshullam, Joiarib, and to Elnathan.

8:17  And I forwarded them to the rulers with the money of the place, and I put words in their mouth to speak to their brothers the Nethinim with the money of the place, that they should bring us singers for the house of our God.

8:18  And they came to us, as the good hand of our God was upon us, even a man of understanding of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, and at the commencement came his sons and his brothers, eighteen men.

8:19  And Hashabiah, and Jeshaiah, of the sons of Merari, his brothers and his sons, twenty men.

8:20  And of the Nethinim; whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, there were two hundred and twenty Nethinim; all were gathered by their names.

8:21  And I proclaimed there a fast, at the River Ahava, that we should humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us, and for our children, and for all our property.

8:22  For I was ashamed to ask of the king a guard and horsemen to save us from the enemy in the way; for we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all that seek Him, for good; but His power and His wrath are upon all that forsake Him.

8:23  So we fasted, and asked of our God concerning this; and He hearkened to us.

8:24  And I gave charge to twelve of the chiefs of the priests, to Sherebiah, to Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them.

8:25  And I weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of the firstfruits of the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his princes, and all Israel that were found, had dedicated.

8:26  I even weighed into their hands six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and a hundred silver vessels, and a hundred talents of gold;

8:27  and twenty golden bowls, weighing about a thousand drachmas, and superior vessels of fine shining brass, precious as gold.

8:28  And I said to them, You are holy to the Lord; and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are freewill offerings to the Lord God of our fathers.

8:29  Be watchful and keep them, until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites, and the chiefs of families in Jerusalem, at the chambers of the house of the Lord.

8:30  So the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring to Jerusalem into the house of our God.

8:31  And we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to come to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and adversary in the way.

8:32  And we came to Jerusalem, and stayed there three days.

8:33  And it came to pass on the fourth day that we weighed the silver and the gold and the vessels in the house of our God, into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levites.

8:34  All things were reckoned by number and weight, and the whole weight was written down.

8:35  At that time the children of the banishment that came from the captivity offered whole burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve calves for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, twelve goats for a sin offering; all whole burnt offerings to the Lord.

8:36  And they gave the king's mandate to the king's lieutenants, and the governors beyond the river: and they honored the people and the house of God.

Chapter 9

9:1  And when these things were finished, the princes drew near to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands in their abominations, even the Cannanite, the Hittites, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, the Ammonite, the Moabite, and the Moserite and the Amorite.

9:2  For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and their sons, and the holy seed has passed among the nations of the lands, and the hand of the rulers has been first in this transgression.

9:3  And when I heard this thing, I tore my clothes, and trembled, and plucked some of the hairs of my head and of my beard, and sat down mourning.

9:4  Then there assembled to me all that followed the word of the God of Israel, on account of the transgression of the captivity; and I remained mourning until the evening sacrifice.

9:5  And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my humiliation; and when I had tore my clothes, then I trembled, and I bowed myself on my knees, and spread out my hands to the Lord God,

9:6  and I said, O Lord, I am ashamed and confounded, O my God, to lift up my face to You; for our transgressions have abounded over our head, and our trespasses have increased even to heaven.

9:7  From the days of our fathers we have been in a great trespass until this day; and because of our iniquities we, and our kings, and our children, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the Gentiles by the sword, by captivity, by spoil, and with shame of our face, as at this day.

9:8  And now our God has dealt mercifully with us, so as to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us an establishment in the place of His sanctuary, to enlighten our eyes, and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.

9:9  For we are slaves, yet in our bondage the Lord our God has not deserted us; and He has extended favor to us in the sight of the kings of the Persians, to revive us, that they should raise up the house of our God, and restore the desolate places of it, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

9:10  What shall we say, O our God, after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments,

9:11  which You have given us by the hand of Your servants the prophets, saying, The land, into which you go to inherit it, is a land subject to disturbance by the removal of the people of the nations for their abominations, wherewith they have filled it from one end to the other by their impurity.

9:12  And now give not your daughters to their sons, and take not of their daughters for your sons, neither shall you ever seek their peace or their goods, that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and transmit it as an inheritance to your children forever.

9:13  And after all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds, and our great trespass, it is clear that there is none such as our God, for You have lightly visited our iniquities, and given us deliverance;

9:14  whereas we have repeatedly broken Your commandments, and intermarried with the people of the lands. Be not very angry with us to our utter destruction, so that there should be no remnant or survivor.

9:15  O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it is this day. Behold, we are before You in our trespasses, for we cannot stand before You on this account.

Chapter 10

10:1  So when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and praying before the house of God, a very great assembly of Israel came together to him, men and women and youths; for the people wept, and wept aloud.

10:2  And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have broken covenant with our God, and have taken strange wives of the nations of the land. Yet now there is patience of hope to Israel concerning this thing.

10:3  Now then let us make a covenant with our God, to put away all the wives, and their offspring, as you advise:

10:4  arise, and alarm them with the commands of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Rise up, for the matter is upon you; and we are with you. Be strong and do.

10:5  Then Ezra arose, and caused the rulers, the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. And they swore.

10:6  And Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went to the treasury of Johanan the son of Eliashib. And when he came there, he ate no bread, and drank no water, for he mourned over the unfaithfulness of those of the captivity.

10:7  And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should assemble at Jerusalem, saying,

10:8  Everyone who shall not arrive within three days, as is the counsel of the rulers and the elders, all his substance shall be forfeited, and he shall be separated from the congregation of the captivity.

10:9  So all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. This was the ninth month. On the twentieth day of the month all the people sat down in the street of the house of the Lord, because of their alarm concerning the word, and because of the storm.

10:10  And Ezrah the priest arose, and said to them, You have broken covenant, and have taken strange wives, to add to the trespass of Israel.

10:11  Now therefore give praise to the Lord God of our fathers, and do that which is pleasing in His sight, and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the strange wives.

10:12  Then all the congregation answered and said, This your word is powerful upon us to do it.

10:13  But the people are numerous, and the season is stormy, and there is no power to stand without, and the work is more than enough for one day or for two; for we have greatly sinned in this matter.

10:14  Let now our rulers stand, and for all those in our cities who have taken strange wives, let them come at appointed times, and with them elders from every city, and judges, to turn away the fierce wrath of our God from us concerning this matter.

10:15  Only Jonathan the son of Asahel, and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were with me concerning this; and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.

10:16  And the children of the captivity did thus. And Ezra the priest, and heads of families according to their house were separated, and all by their names, for they returned in the first day of the tenth month to search out the matter.

10:17  And they made an end with all the men who had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.

10:18  And there were found some of the sons of the priests who had taken strange wives: of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadek, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.

10:19  And they pledged themselves to put away their wives, and offered a ram of the flock for a trespass offering because of their trespass.

10:20  And of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.

10:21  And of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.

10:22  And of the sons of Pashur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

10:23  And of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (he is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

10:24  And of the singers: Eliashib; and of the porters: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

10:25  Also of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Jeziah, Malchiah, Mejamin, Eleazar, Asabia, and Benaiah.

10:26  And of the sons of Elam: Matthaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Eliah.

10:27  And of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Matthaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.

10:28  And of the sons of Babai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.

10:29  And of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Ramoth.

10:30  And of the sons of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.

10:31  And of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

10:32  Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.

10:33  And of the sons of Hashum: Matthenai, Matthattah, Zadab, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

10:34  And of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,

10:35  Banaia, Bedeiah, Cheluh,

10:36  Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

10:37  Matthaniah, and Matthenai.

10:38  And so did the children of Binnui, and the children of Shimei,

10:39  and Shelemiah, Nathan, and Adaiah,

10:40  Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

10:41  Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

10:42  Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.

10:43  Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.

10:44  All these had taken strange wives, and had begotten sons of them.