AFV2020 - Nehemiah

Chapter 1

1:1  The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,

1:2  Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

1:3  And they said to me, "The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. And the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire."

1:4  Now it came to pass when I heard these words, I sat down and wept. And I mourned for days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.

1:5  And I said, "I pray You, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God Who keeps covenant and mercy for those who love Him and keep His commandments;

1:6  Let Your ear now be attentive, and Your eyes open, so that You may hear the prayer of Your servant, which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confessing the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both I and my father's house have sinned.

1:7  We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments nor the statutes nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.

1:8  Remember, I beseech You, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you deal treacherously, I will scatter you among the nations;

1:9  But if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though your dispersed were cast out to the outermost part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place that I have chosen to cause My name to dwell there.'

1:10  Now these are Your servants and Your people whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.

1:11  O LORD, I beseech You, let now Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who delight to fear Your name. And I pray You, make Your servant successful today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man" (for I was the king's cupbearer).

Chapter 2

2:1  And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence before,

2:2  And the king said to me, "Why is your countenance sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart." Then I was very much afraid.

2:3  And I said to the king, "Let the king live forever. Why should not my countenance be sad when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates are destroyed by fire?"

2:4  And the king said to me, "For what do you ask?" So I prayed to the God of heaven,

2:5  And I said to the king, "If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, so that I may build it."

2:6  And the king said to me (the queen also sitting by him), "For how long shall your journey be? And when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time.

2:7  And I said to the king, "If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, so that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah,

2:8  And a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, so that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which belong to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house into which I shall enter." And the king granted me what I asked, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

2:9  And I came to the governors of the province beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.

2:10  And when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard, it grieved them very much that there had come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

2:11  And I came to Jerusalem and was there three days.

2:12  And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I did not tell it to anyone what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem. And there was no animal with me except the one that I rode upon.

2:13  And I went out by night by the Valley Gate, even towards the Dragon's Well, and to the Dung Gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down, and its gates which were burned by fire.

2:14  And I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no place for the animal that was under me to pass.

2:15  Then I went up in the night by the valley and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the Valley Gate, and returned.

2:16  And the rulers did not know where I had gone, nor what I was doing. Nor had I told it to the Jews as yet, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest doing the work.

2:17  Then I said to them, "You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and the gates of it are burned by fire. Come and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may no more be a reproach."

2:18  And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, and also the king's words that he had spoken to me. And they said, "Let us rise up to build." So they made their hands strong for the good.

2:19  But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us. And they said, "What is this that you do? Will you rebel against the king?"

2:20  Then I answered them and said to them, "The God of heaven, He will prosper us, and we, His servants, will arise and build. But you have no portion or right or memorial in Jerusalem."

Chapter 3

3:1  Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They sanctified it and set up its doors, even to the Tower of the Hundred they sanctified it, and to the Tower of Hananeel.

3:2  And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.

3:3  Then the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate, laid its beams and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars.

3:4  And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired.

3:5  And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles did not put their necks to the work of their Lord.

3:6  And the Old Gate was repaired by Jehoiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and set up its doors and its locks and its bars.

3:7  And next to them Melatiah of Gibeon repaired, and Jadon of Meron, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, to the throne of the governor beyond the River.

3:8  Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths, repaired. And next to him Hananiah, the son of one of the perfumers, repaired. And they restored Jerusalem even unto the Broad Wall.

3:9  And next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, repaired.

3:10  Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired, even across from his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabniah repaired.

3:11  Malchijah the son of Harim and Hashub the son of Pahath-Moab, repaired another section, and the Tower of the Furnaces.

3:12  And next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters repaired.

3:13  Hanun, and the people of Zanoah, repaired the Valley Gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars, and a thousand cubits on the wall to the Dung Gate.

3:14  But the Dung Gate was repaired by Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Beth-Haccerem. He built it and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars.

3:15  And the Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallum the son of Col-Hozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah. He built it and covered it, and set up its doors, its locks and its bars, and the wall of the Pool of Shelah by the king's garden, and to the stairs that go down from the City of David.

3:16  After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Beth-Zur, repaired the place across from the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men.

3:17  After him the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani, repaired. Next to him Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, repaired in his part.

3:18  After him their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, repaired.

3:19  And next to him, Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section across from the ascent to the armory at the corner of the wall.

3:20  After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another section from the corner of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

3:21  After him Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.

3:22  And after him the priests, the men of the plain, repaired.

3:23  After him Benjamin and Hashub repaired across from their house. After him Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah repaired beside his house.

3:24  After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section from the house of Azariah to the corner of the wall even to the tower.

3:25  Palal the son of Uzai repaired across from the corner of the wall and the tower projecting from the king's upper house by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh repaired.

3:26  And the temple servants who lived in Ophel repaired across from the Water Gate toward the east and the tower that projected out.

3:27  After them the Tekoites repaired another section, opposite the great tower that projected out, even to the wall of Ophel.

3:28  The priests repaired from above the Horse Gate, every one across from his house.

3:29  After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired across from his house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired.

3:30  After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired across from his room.

3:31  After him Malchijah the goldsmith's son repaired to the place of the temple servants and of the merchants, across from the Miphkad Gate, and to the going up of the corner.

3:32  And between the going up of the corner to the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired.

Chapter 4

4:1  But it came to pass when Sanballat heard that we built the wall, he was angry and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

4:2  And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will they bring to life the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?"

4:3  And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Even that which they build, if a fox goes up, he shall even break down their stone wall."

4:4  Then Nehemiah prayed, "Hear, Oh 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."

4:5  And do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.

4:6  So we built the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

4:7  But it came to pass when Sanballat and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem had gone up, and that the breaks were being filled, they were very angry.

4:8  And all of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to hinder it.

4:9  But we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

4:10  And Judah said, "The strength of the carriers of burdens is weakening, and there is much rubbish, so that we are not able to build the wall."

4:11  And our foes have said, "They shall not know, or see, until we come in the middle of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease."

4:12  And it came to pass when the Jews who lived near them came in, they said to us ten times, "At any of the places that you turn to, they will attack us."

4:13  Therefore I stationed myself in the lower places behind the wall and on the higher places. I even set the people according to their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

4:14  And I looked and rose up, and said to the nobles and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the LORD, Who is great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses."

4:15  Then it came to pass when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their counsel to nothing, all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.

4:16  And it was from that time forth that half of my servants built on the wall, and the other half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the scale armor. And the rulers were behind all the house of Judah,

4:17  The ones who built on the wall, and the ones who carried burdens; with those who were lifting, with one hand they did their work, and with the other they held a weapon.

4:18  As for the builders, each one had his sword tied by his side and continued building. And he who sounded the trumpet was beside me.

4:19  And I said to 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, far from one another.

4:20  In whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather there to us. Our God will fight for us."

4:21  So we labored in the work. And half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared.

4:22  Also at the same time I said to the people, "Let everyone with his assistant stay inside Jerusalem, so that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labor in the day."

4:23  And neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us put off our clothes—even everyone who went to the water took his weapon.

Chapter 5

5:1  And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews,

5:2  For certain ones said, "We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain for them, so that we may eat and live."

5:3  There were also some who said, "We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses. Let us buy grain because of the famine."

5:4  There were also some who said, "We have borrowed money on our lands and vineyards for the king's tax.

5:5  Yet now our flesh is like the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children. And, lo, we bring our sons and our daughters into bondage, to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already. And there is no power for our hand to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards."

5:6  And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

5:7  And I considered this within my heart, and I rebuked the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, "You exact interest, each one from his brother!" And I held a great assembly against them.

5:8  And I said to them, "According to our ability we have redeemed our brethren, the Jews who were sold to the nations. And will you even sell your brethren? Or shall they be sold to us?" And they were silent because they had nothing to say.

5:9  And I said, "What you do is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

5:10  And also I, my brethren and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please let us stop this lending with usury.

5:11  Please, even today, give back to them their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses—also the percent charged on the money and on the grain, the wine, and the oil that you have taken from them."

5:12  And they said, "We will restore and will require nothing from them. So we will do as you say." Then I called the priests and took an oath from them that they should do according to this promise.

5:13  Also I shook out the fold in my robe, and said, "So let God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, who does not keep this promise, even may he be shaken out this way and emptied." And all the congregation said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

5:14  Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

5:15  But the former governors that had been before me laid burdens upon the people, and had taken bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver. Yea, even their servants bore rule over the people. But I did not do this because of the fear of God.

5:16  And I also continued in the work of this wall. Nor did we buy any land. And all my servants were gathered there to the work.

5:17  Moreover, at my table were a hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from among the nations that are around us.

5:18  And that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep; and birds were prepared; and once in ten days an abundance of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this I did not demand the bread of the governor because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

5:19  Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Chapter 6

6:1  Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though at that time I had not set the doors on the gates),

6:2  That Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono." But they thought to do me harm.

6:3  And I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, so I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?"

6:4  And they sent to me this word four times. And I answered them in the same way.

6:5  Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand, in which was written,

6:6  "It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews are thinking of rebelling, for this reason you build the wall, so that you may be their king, according to these words.

6:7  And you have also set up prophets to proclaim of you at Jerusalem, saying, 'There is a king in Judah.' And now it shall be reported to the king according to these words. And now come and let us talk it over together."

6:8  And I sent to him saying, "There are no such things done as you say, but you are inventing them in your own mind,"

6:9  For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, "Their hands shall be weakened from the work so that it may not be done." Now therefore, O God, make my hands strong.

6:10  And I came to the house of Shemaiah, the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up. And he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they will come to kill you. Yea, in the night they will come to kill you."

6:11  And I said, "Should such a man as I flee? And who, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in."

6:12  And, behold, I discerned that God had not sent him, but that he said this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

6:13  Therefore he was hired that I should be made afraid, and do so, and I should sin, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.

6:14  Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets who would have put me in fear.

6:15  And the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.

6:16  And it came to pass when all our enemies heard, and all the nations around us saw these things, they lost confidence in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

6:17  And in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah; and Tobiah's letters came to them,

6:18  For many in Judah were sworn to him because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.

6:19  Also they spoke of his good deeds before me and told my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

Chapter 7

7:1  Now it came to pass when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed,

7:2  I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.

7:3  And I said to them, "Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they stand on guard, let them shut and bar the doors. And set guards from the people of Jerusalem, each one in his watch, and each one to be across from his house."

7:4  And the city was large and great, but the people in it were few, and the houses not built.

7:5  And my God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, so that they might be counted by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who came up at the first. And I found written in it:

7:6  These are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. And they came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one to his city,

7:7  And came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel was this:

7:8  The sons of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two.

7:9  The sons of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two.

7:10  The sons of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two.

7:11  The sons of Pahath-Moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand, eight hundred and eighteen.

7:12  The sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred and fifty-four.

7:13  The sons of Zattu, eight hundred and forty-five.

7:14  The sons of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty.

7:15  The sons of Binnui, six hundred and forty-eight.

7:16  The sons of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-eight.

7:17  The sons of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two.

7:18  The sons of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-seven.

7:19  The sons of Bigvai, two thousand and sixty-seven.

7:20  The sons of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five.

7:21  The sons of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.

7:22  The sons of Hashum, three hundred and twenty-eight.

7:23  The sons of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-four.

7:24  The sons of Hariph, a hundred and twelve.

7:25  The sons of Gibeon, ninety-five.

7:26  The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, a hundred and eighty-eight.

7:27  The men of Anathoth, a hundred and twenty-eight.

7:28  The men of Beth-Azmaveth, forty-two.

7:29  The men of Kirjath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three.

7:30  The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one.

7:31  The men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty-two.

7:32  The men of Bethel and Ai, a hundred and twenty-three.

7:33  The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two.

7:34  The sons of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred and fifty-four.

7:35  The sons of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

7:36  The sons of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five.

7:37  The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one.

7:38  The sons of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.

7:39  The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three.

7:40  The sons of Immer, a thousand and fifty-two.

7:41  The sons of Pashhur, a thousand two hundred and forty-seven.

7:42  The sons of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

7:43  The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the sons of Hodevah, seventy-four.

7:44  The singers: the sons of Asaph, a hundred and forty-eight.

7:45  The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, a hundred and thirty-eight.

7:46  The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,

7:47  The sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon,

7:48  The sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Salmai,

7:49  The sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar,

7:50  The sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda,

7:51  The sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah,

7:52  The sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephishesim,

7:53  The sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,

7:54  The sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,

7:55  The sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Tamah,

7:56  The sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.

7:57  The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida,

7:58  The sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,

7:59  The sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, the sons of Amon.

7:60  All the temple servants, and the sons of Solomon's servants, three hundred and ninety-two.

7:61  And these were they who went up from Tel-Melah, Tel-Haresha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer. But they could not show their father's house nor their seed, whether they were of Israel:

7:62  The sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two.

7:63  And of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.

7:64  These sought their register among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found. Therefore they were excluded, as defiled, from the priesthood.

7:65  And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the holy things until there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.

7:66  All the congregation together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty,

7:67  Besides their manservants and their maidservants; these were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. And they had two hundred and forty-five singing men and singing women.

7:68  Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six; their mules, two hundred and forty-five;

7:69  Their camels, four hundred and thirty -five; and six thousand seven hundred and twenty donkeys.

7:70  And some of the chiefs of the fathers gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury a thousand drams of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred and thirty priestly garments.

7:71  And some of the chiefs of the fathers gave to the treasury of the work twenty thousand drams of gold and two thousand two hundred minas of silver.

7:72  And what the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold and two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priestly garments.

7:73  And the priests, and the Levites, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and some of the people, and the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their cities. And when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

Chapter 8

8:1  Then all the people gathered themselves as one man into the street before the Water Gate. And they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

8:2  And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation, both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

8:3  And he read from it in the open square in front of the Water Gate from daybreak until noon in front of the men and the women, and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

8:4  And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

8:5  And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people. And when he opened it, all the people stood up.

8:6  And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen. Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

8:7  And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, namely the Levites caused the people to understand the law. And the people stood in their place.

8:8  And they read distinctly from the Book of the Law of God. And they expounded the meaning and caused them to understand the reading.

8:9  And Nehemiah, the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep," for all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.

8:10  Then he said to them, "Go, eat the fat and drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be sorry, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

8:11  And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy. And do not be grieved."

8:12  And all the people went to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to celebrate with great joy, because they had understood the words which had been declared to them.

8:13  And on the second day the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.

8:14  And they found written in the law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month,

8:15  And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go forth to the mountain and bring olive branches and oil tree branches and myrtle branches and palm branches, and branches of thick trees to make booths, as it is written."

8:16  And the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one upon his roof, 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.

8:17  And all the congregation of those who had come again out of the captivity made booths and dwelt in the booths, for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day, the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.

8:18  Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read in the Book of the Law of God. And they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth was an assembly, according to the ordinance.

Chapter 9

9:1  And on the twenty-fourth day of this month, the children of Israel were gathered with fasting and with sackcloth, and with earth upon them.

9:2  And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.

9:3  And they stood up in their place and read in the Book of the Law of the LORD their God a fourth part of the day. And another fourth part they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.

9:4  And Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Chenani stood upon the stairs of the Levites and cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God.

9:5  And the Levites: Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, they said: "Stand up and bless the LORD your God forever and ever. And blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

9:6  You, even You, are LORD alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of the heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things upon it, the seas and all in them, and You preserve them all. And the host of heaven worships You.

9:7  You are the LORD, the God Who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham,

9:8  And found his heart faithful before You, and made 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 to his seed. And You have performed Your words, for You are righteous.

9:9  And You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea,

9:10  And performed signs and wonders upon Pharaoh and upon all his servants and upon all the people of his land, for You knew that they were acting arrogantly against them. So You made a name for Yourself, as it is this day.

9:11  And You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea upon the dry land. And their pursuers You hurled into the deep, like a stone into the mighty waters.

9:12  And You led them in the day by a pillar of cloud, and in the night by a pillar of fire to give them light in the way in which they should go.

9:13  And You came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them just ordinances and laws of truth, good statutes and commandments.

9:14  And You made known to them Your holy Sabbath and provided them commandments, statutes, and a law, by the hand of Moses Your servant.

9:15  And You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst. And You told them that they should go in to possess the land which You had lifted up Your hand to give them.

9:16  But they and our fathers acted proudly and hardened their necks, and did not hearken to Your commandments.

9:17  And they refused to obey; neither were they mindful of Your wonders which You did among them. But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But You are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and did not forsake them.

9:18  Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, 'This is your god who brought you up out of Egypt,' and had worked great provocations,

9:19  Yet You in Your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud did not depart from before them by day to lead them in the way, nor the pillar of fire by night to show them light and the way in which they should go.

9:20  You also gave Your good spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.

9:21  Yea, forty years You sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing; their clothes did not become old, and their feet did not swell.

9:22  And You gave them kingdoms and people, and divided them into districts. And they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og, king of Bashan.

9:23  And You multiplied their children like the stars of the heavens and brought them into the land concerning which You said to their fathers that they should go in to possess it.

9:24  And the children went in and possessed the land, and You subdued the people of the land before them, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings and the people of the land, so that they might do with them as they would.

9:25  And they took strong cities and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards and olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. And they ate and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in Your great goodness.

9:26  But they were disobedient and rebelled against You, and cast Your law behind their backs. And they killed Your prophets who testified against them to turn them to You, and they worked great provocations.

9:27  Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their enemies, who troubled them. And in the time of their trouble, they cried to You, and You heard from heaven. And according to Your manifold mercies, You gave them deliverers, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

9:28  But after they had rest, they did evil again before You. Therefore, You left them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had rule over them. Yet when they returned and cried to You, You heard from heaven. And many times You delivered them according to Your mercies,

9:29  And testified against them that You might bring them back to Your law. Yet they acted arrogantly and did not hearken to Your commandments, but sinned against Your ordinances (which if a man do, he shall live in them), and presented a stubborn shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

9:30  Yet for many years You had patience with them, and admonished them by Your spirit, through Your prophets, but they would not give ear. And You gave them into the hand of the people of the lands.

9:31  But in Your great mercies, You did not completely destroy them nor forsake them, for You are a gracious and merciful God.

9:32  Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, Who keeps covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before You that has come upon us, on our kings, on our rulers, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all Your people since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.

9:33  But You are just in all that is brought upon us, for You have dealt truthfully, but we have done wickedly.

9:34  And our kings, our rulers, our priests, and our fathers have not kept Your law, nor hearkened to Your commandments and Your warnings with which You testified against them.

9:35  They have not served You in their kingdom, and in Your great goodness which You gave them, and in the large and rich land which You gave before them, neither did they turn from their evil ways.

9:36  Behold, we are servants this day. And the land that You gave to our fathers to eat its fruit, and its goodness, behold, we are servants in it.

9:37  And it yields much increase to the kings whom You have set over us because of our sins. And they are ruling over our bodies and over our livestock at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

9:38  And because of all this we are making a sure covenant and writing it, and our princes, Levites, and priests are sealing it."

Chapter 10

10:1  And those who sealed it were, Nehemiah, the governor, the son of Hachaliah, and Zedekiah,

10:2  Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

10:3  Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,

10:4  Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

10:5  Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

10:6  Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

10:7  Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

10:8  Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.

10:9  And the Levites were both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,

10:10  And their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

10:11  Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,

10:12  Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

10:13  Hodijah, Bani, and Beninu.

10:14  The chief of the people were Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,

10:15  Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

10:16  Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

10:17  Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

10:18  Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,

10:19  Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

10:20  Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

10:21  Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

10:22  Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

10:23  Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,

10:24  Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

10:25  Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

10:26  Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,

10:27  Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

10:28  And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all those who had separated from the people of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters (everyone who had knowledge, and who had understanding),

10:29  They have joined with their brethren, their nobles, and have 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 to do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes;

10:30  And that we would not give our daughters to the people of the land nor take their daughters for our sons.

10:31  And if the people of the land should bring goods or any food on the Sabbath day to sell it, that we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day, and that we would forego the seventh year's produce and the exacting of every debt.

10:32  Also we put commands upon ourselves to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God,

10:33  For the showbread, and for the continual grain offering, and for the continual burnt offering, for the Sabbaths, for 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.

10:34  And we cast lots among the priests, and the Levites, and the people for the wood offering to bring it into the house of our God, according to 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;

10:35  And to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the LORD;

10:36  And to bring the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock, 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, to the priests who minister in the house of our God;

10:37  And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all kinds of trees, of wine and of oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground to the Levites for the Levites are they who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work.

10:38  And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms, into the treasure house,

10:39  For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, of the new wine, and the oil to the rooms where the vessels of the sanctuary are, and the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. And we will not forsake the house of our God.

Chapter 11

11:1  And the rulers of the people lived at Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine parts in other cities.

11:2  And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to live at Jerusalem.

11:3  And these are the rulers of the province who lived in Jerusalem. But in the cities of Judah everyone lived on his property in their cities: Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the temple servants, and the children of Solomon's servants.

11:4  And at Jerusalem lived certain of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin. From the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez,

11:5  And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.

11:6  All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight mighty men.

11:7  And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu, the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah;

11:8  And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred and twenty-eight.

11:9  And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer. And Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.

11:10  From the priests were Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin,

11:11  Seraiah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God.

11:12  And their brethren who did the work of the house were eight hundred and twenty-two. And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,

11:13  And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred and forty-two. And Amashai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,

11:14  And their brethren, mighty men of valor, were a hundred and twenty-eight. And their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.

11:15  And from the Levites were Shemaiah the son of Hashhub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni.

11:16  And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God.

11:17  And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the leader to begin the thanksgiving in prayer. And Bakbukiah was second among his brothers, and then Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

11:18  All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four.

11:19  And the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren who kept watch at the gates, were a hundred and seventy-two.

11:20  And the rest of Israel, of the priests and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each one in his inheritance.

11:21  But the temple servants lived in Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.

11:22  And the overseer 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,

11:23  For it was the king's commandment concerning them and a firm ordinance that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.

11:24  And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.

11:25  And for the villages with their fields, some of the children of Judah lived at Kirjath-Arba and in its villages, and at Dibon and in its villages, and at Jekabzeel and its villages,

11:26  And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Beth-Phelet,

11:27  And at Hazar-Shual, and at Beersheba and in its villages,

11:28  And at Ziklag, and at Meconah and in its villages,

11:29  And at En-Rimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,

11:30  Zanoah, Adullam and their villages, at Lachish and the fields of it, at Azekah and in its villages. And they lived from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.

11:31  And the children of Benjamin from Geba lived at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and their villages,

11:32  At Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

11:33  Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

11:34  Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

11:35  Lod, and Ono, the Valley of Craftsmen.

11:36  And of the divisions of the Levites that were in Judah some settled in Benjamin.

Chapter 12

12:1  And these are the priests and the Levites who went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

12:2  Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,

12:3  Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

12:4  Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,

12:5  Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,

12:6  Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,

12:7  Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.

12:8  And the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.

12:9  And Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were opposite them in the service divisions.

12:10  And Jeshua begat Joiakim, and Joiakim begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,

12:11  And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.

12:12  And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: from the house of Seraiah was Meraiah; from Jeremiah, Hananiah;

12:13  From Ezra, Meshullam; from Amariah, Jehohanan;

12:14  From Melichu, Jonathan; from Shebaniah, Joseph;

12:15  From Harim, Adna; from Meraioth, Helkai;

12:16  From Iddo, Zechariah; from Ginnethon, Meshullam;

12:17  From Abijah, Zichri; from Minjamin of Moadiah, Piltai;

12:18  From Bilgah, Shammua; from Shemaiah, Jehonathan;

12:19  And from Joiarib, Mattenai; from Jedaiah, Uzzi;

12:20  From Sallai, Kallai; from Amok, Eber;

12:21  From Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and from Jedaiah, Nethanel.

12:22  The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers and the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian.

12:23  The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.

12:24  And the chief of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers next to them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the command of David the man of God, section corresponding to section.

12:25  Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were guarding the gates at the thresholds of the gates.

12:26  These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.

12:27  And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites out of all their places to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, and with thanksgiving, and with singing, with cymbals, harps and with lyres.

12:28  And the sons of the singers gathered themselves, both out of the plain country around Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathi;

12:29  And from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth (for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem).

12:30  And the priests and the Levites purified themselves. And they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

12:31  Then I brought up the rulers of Judah onto the wall, and also chose two great choirs that gave thanks and went in procession to the right upon the wall toward the Dung Gate.

12:32  And after them went Hoshaiah and half the rulers of Judah,

12:33  And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,

12:34  Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,

12:35  And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets: 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,

12:36  And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and with Ezra the scribe before them.

12:37  And at the Fountain Gate, across from 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 to the Water Gate eastward.

12:38  And the second choir went in the opposite direction, and I after them, with half of the people upon the wall, past the Tower of the Furnaces even to the Broad Wall,

12:39  And from above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Old Gate, and by the Fish Gate, and the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of Meah, even to the Sheep Gate. And they stood still in the Prison Gate.

12:40  So stood the two praise choirs to give thanks in the house of God, and I and half of the rulers with me.

12:41  And the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Minjamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah were with trumpets;

12:42  And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loudly with Jezrahiah their overseer.

12:43  And that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy. And the women and the children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.

12:44  And at that time some were chosen over the rooms for the treasuries, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Levites, for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites who served.

12:45  And they kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification along with the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and of Solomon his son,

12:46  For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

12:47  And all Israel gave the portions of the singers and the gatekeepers, every day its portion, in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah. And they set the holy things apart for the Levites, and the Levites set them apart for the children of Aaron.

Chapter 13

13:1  On that day they read in the book of Moses in the ears of the people. And in it was found written that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God forever,

13:2  Because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them so that he should curse them. But our God turned the curse into a blessing.

13:3  Now it came to pass when they had heard the law, they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.

13:4  And before this, Eliashib the priest, who was set over the storerooms of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah.

13:5  And he had prepared for himself a large room where they formerly laid the grain offering, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the offerings of the priests.

13:6  But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon, I came to the king. And after some days I asked permission to leave the king.

13:7  And I came to Jerusalem and understood the evil which Eliashib did for Tobiah in preparing him a room in the courts of the house of God.

13:8  And it grieved me very much. And I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room.

13:9  Then I commanded, and they cleansed the rooms. And there I brought again the vessels of the house of God with the grain offering and the frankincense.

13:10  And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them; for the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had gone back, each one to his field.

13:11  And I contended with the rulers and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their place.

13:12  And all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil into the treasuries.

13:13  And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah. And next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute to their brethren.

13:14  Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds which I have done for the house of my God and for the offices of it.

13:15  In those days I saw in Judah some treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sacks of grain, and loading donkeys and also wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I admonished them on the day in which they sold food.

13:16  And men of Tyre dwelt therein, who brought fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah and in Jerusalem.

13:17  And I contended with the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What evil thing is this that you do and defile the Sabbath day?

13:18  Did not your fathers do this, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city? Yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by defiling the Sabbath."

13:19  And it came to pass when the evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut and that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I set some of my servants at the gates, so that there should be no burden brought in on the Sabbath day.

13:20  And the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods stayed the night outside Jerusalem once or twice.

13:21  And I warned them and said to them, "Why do you stay around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you." From that time on they did not come any more on the Sabbath.

13:22  And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy.

13:23  In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and from Moab.

13:24  And their children spoke half Ashdod's language and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

13:25  And I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair. And I made them swear by the name of God, saying, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters to your sons, or for yourselves.

13:26  Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Yet even him did foreign women cause to sin.

13:27  Shall we then hearken to you, to do all this great evil, to sin against our God in marrying foreign women?"

13:28  And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was sonin- law to Sanballat the Horonite; and I chased him from me.

13:29  Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

13:30  So I cleansed them from everything foreign, and appointed duties for the priests and the Levites, every one in his task,

13:31  And for the wood offering, at chosen times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good!