THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH.

1 The story of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah,—and it came to pass in the month Chislev in the twentieth year, when I was in Shusan the fortress

2 that Hanani one of my brethren came, he and certain men out of Judah,—so I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

3 And they said unto me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great misfortune and reproach, the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

4 And it came to pass when I heard these words that I sat down and wept, and I mourned certain days,—and continued fasting and praying, before the God of the heavens;

5 and said, I beseech thee, O Yahweh God of the heavens, the great and fearful God,—keeping the covenant and lovingkindness for them who love him and keep his commandments:

6 Let, I pray thee, thine ears be attentive and thine eyes open—to hearken unto the prayer of thy servant—which I am praying before thee now, day and night, for the sons of Israel thy servants,—and making confession concerning the sins of the sons of Israel which we have committed against thee, both I and the house of my father have sinned.

7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee,—and have not kept the commandments nor the statutes nor the regulations, which thou didst command Moses thy servant.

8 Remember, I pray thee, the word, which thou didst command Moses thy servant, saying,—If ye are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples:

9 When ye return unto me and keep my commandments and do them though it should be that ye have been driven out unto the uttermost part of the heavens from thence will I gather them, and bring them into the place that I have chosen to make a habitation for my Name there.

10 They therefore are thy servants and thy people,—whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy firm hand.

11 I beseech thee, O My Lord, let—I pray thee—thine ear be attentive unto the prayer of thy servant and unto the prayer of thy servants who delight to revere thy Name, and oh prosper, I pray thee, thy servant to-day, and grant him compassion before this man. Now I was cup-bearer unto the king.

2 And it came to pass in the month Nisan in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king that wine was before him,—so I took up the wine and gave unto the king, and I had never been sad before him.

2 Then said the king unto me, Wherefore is thy countenance sad, seeing that thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sadness of heart. Then feared I exceedingly,

3 and said unto the king—Let the king unto times age-abiding live! Wherefore should my countenance not be sad when the city—the place of the sepulchres of my fathers lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

4 Then the king said to me, Concerning what is it thou wouldst make request? So I prayed unto the God of the heavens,

5 and then said unto the king, If unto the king it seemeth good, and if thy servant might find favour before thee, That thou wouldst send me unto Judah, unto the city of the sepulchres of my fathers that I might build it.

6 And the king said unto me, the queen also sitting beside him, For how long would be thy journey? and when wouldst thou return? So it seemed good before the king to send me, and I set him a time.

7 Then said I unto the king, If unto the king it seemeth good may letters be given me, unto the pashas Beyond the River,—that they may convey me over, until I come into Judah;

8 also a letter unto Asaph, keeper of the park that belongeth unto the king, that he may give me timber to build up the gates of the fortress which pertaineth to the house and for the wall of the city, and for the house whereinto I shall enter. And the king gave me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

9 Then came I unto the pashas Beyond the River, and gave them the letters of the king,—now the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen.

10 And when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite heard of it it vexed them with a great vexation,—that there had come a man, to seek welfare for the sons of Israel.

11 So I entered Jerusalem,—and was there three days.

12 Then rose I by night, I and a few men with me, I having told no man, what my God had been putting in my heart to do for Jerusalem,—and beast was there none with me, save the beast on which I myself was riding.

13 So I went forth through the valley-gate by night even unto the front of the snake-fountain, and into the dung-gate,—and I viewed the walls of Jerusalem how they were broken down, and the gates thereof consumed with fire.

14 Then passed I over unto the fountain-gate, and unto the pool of the king,—but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.

15 Then went I up in the torrent-bed by night, and viewed the wall,—and turned back and entered by the valley-gate and so returned.

16 Now the deputies knew not whither I had gone, nor what I was doing,—not even to the Jews nor to the priests nor to the nobles nor to the deputies nor to the rest who were doing the work had I as yet told it.

17 So I said unto them, Ye can see the misfortune that we are in, how that Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may remain no longer a reproach.

18 Then told I them of the hand of my God that it had been good upon me, as also of the words of the king which he had spoken unto me,—so they said, We will arise and build! and they strengthened their hands right well.

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite and Geshem the Arabian heard it they laughed at us, and poured contempt upon us,—and said, What is this thing which ye would do? against the king would ye rebel?

20 Then answered I them and said to them—The God of the heavens—he will prosper us, therefore we his servants will arise and build,—But to you pertaineth no portion nor right nor memorial in Jerusalem.

3 Then arose Eliashib the high priest and his brethren the priests and built the sheep-gate, they hallowed it and set up the doors thereof,—even unto the tower of Hammeah hallowed they it, unto the tower of Hananel;

2 and at his hand built the men of Jericho,—and at his [other] hand built Zaccur son of Imri.

3 And the fish-gate did the sons of Hassenaah build,—they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof;

4 and at their hand repaired Meremoth son of Uriah son of Hakkoz, and at their hand repaired Meshullum son of Berechiah son of Meshezabel,—and at their hand repaired Zadok son of Baana;

5 and at their hand repaired the Tekoites,—but their chiefs put not their neck into the service of their lords.

6 And the old gate did Joiada son of Paseah, and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repair,—they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof and the locks thereof and the bars thereof;

7 and at their hand repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, men of Gibeon and of Mizpah,—who pertained to the throne of the pasha Beyond the River;

8 at his hand repaired Uzziel son of Harhaiah goldsmiths, and at his hand repaired Hananiah son of the perfumers,—and they fortified Jerusalem, as far as the broad wall;

9 and at their hand repaired Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-circuit of Jerusalem;

10 and at their hand repaired Jedaiah son of Harumaph even over against his own house,—and at his hand repaired Hattush son of Hashabneiah;

11 a second length did Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab repair,—also the tower of the ovens;

12 and at his hand repaired Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-circuit of Jerusalem,—he and his daughters.

13 The valley-gate did Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repair,—they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof,—also a thousand cubits in the wall, as far as the dung-gate.

14 And the dung-gate did Malchijah son of Rechab ruler of the circuit of Beth-haccherem repair,—he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.

15 And the fountain-gate did Shallun son of Col-hozeh ruler of the circuit of Mizpah repair, he built it and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof,—also the wall of the pool of Shelah by the garden of the king, even as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David;

16 after him repaired Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of the half-circuit of Beth-zur,—as far as over against the sepulchres of David, even unto the pool which had been made and unto the house of heroes;

17 after him repaired the Levites Rehum son of Bani,—at his hand repaired Hashabiah ruler of the half-circuit of Keilah for his circuit;

18 after him repaired their brethren, Bavvai son of Henadad,—ruler of the [other] half-circuit of Keilah;

19 and there repaired at his hand Ezer son of Jeshua ruler of Mizpah a second length,—over against the ascent of the armoury at the corner;

20 after him zealously repaired Baruch son of Zabbai a second length,—from the corner, unto the opening of the house of Eliashib the high priest;

21 after him repaired Meremoth son of Uriah son of Hakkoz a second length,—from the opening of the house of Eliashib, even unto the end of the house of Eliashib;

22 and after him repaired the priests, the men of the Circuit;

23 after him repaired Benjamin and Hasshub over against their own house,—after him repaired Azariah son of Maaseiah son of Ananiah beside his own house;

24 after him repaired Binnui son of Henadad a second length,—from the house of Azariah, unto the corner, even unto the pinnacle:

25 Palal son of Uzai from over against the corner, and the tower that projecteth from the upper house of the king which belongeth to the court of custody,—after him Pedaiah son of Parosh.

26 Now the Nethinim were dwelling in Ophel,—as far as over against the water-gate on the east, and the tower that projecteth;

27 after him repaired the Tekoites a second length,—from over against the great tower that projecteth, even unto the wall of Ophel:

28 from beside the horse-gate repaired the priests, every one over against his own house;

29 after him repaired Zadok son of Immer over against his own house,—and after him repaired Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, keeper of the east-gate;

30 after him repaired Hananiah son of Shelemiah and Hanun sixth son of Zalaph, a second length,—after him repaired Meshullam son of Berechiah, over against his chamber;

31 after him repaired Malchijah son of Zorphi, as far as the house of the Nethinim, and the traders,—over against the muster-gate, even unto the ascent of the pinnacle;

32 and between the ascent of the pinnacle and the sheep-gate repaired the goldsmiths and the traders.

4 But it came to pass when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall it angered him, and he was greatly displeased,—and mocked the Jews;

2 and spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they bring to life the stones out of the heaps of dust when they have been burned up?

3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him,—so he said, Even that which they are building if a fox should go up he would break down their stone wall!

4 Hear, O our God, for we have become a contempt, and turn thou back their reproach upon their own head,—and give them up as a prey in the land of captivity;

5 and do not cover their iniquity, and their sin before thee let it not be blotted out,—for they have caused vexation before them who are building.

6 So we built the wall, and all the wall was finished unto the half thereof,—and the people had a mind to work.

7 But it came to pass when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabians and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem had gone up, that the breaches began to be stopped that it angered them exceedingly;

8 and they conspired all of them together, to come to fight against Jerusalem,—and to cause it harm;

9 howbeit we prayed unto our God,—and set a watch against them day and night because of them.

10 Then said Judah, The strength of the burden-bearer faileth, and the rubbish aboundeth,—and we are not able to build at the wall;

11 and our adversaries have said, They shall not know neither shall they see, until we come into their midst and slay them,—so shall we cause the work to cease.

12 But it came to pass when the Jews dwelling near them came in then said they unto us ten times, From all places whither ye shall turn [they will be] upon us!

13 So I set—on the lower slopes of the place behind the wall in the waste grounds,—yea I set the people by their families, with their swords, their spears and their bows.

14 Then I looked and rose up and said—unto the nobles and unto the deputies and unto the rest of the people, Do not ye fear because of them,—the great and fearful Lord remember ye, so shall ye fight for your brethren, your sons and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

15 And it came to pass when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had overturned their counsel then returned we all of us unto the wall, every man unto his work.

16 And it came to pass from that day the half of my young men were working in the work, and the half of them were grasping the spears, the bucklers, and the bows, and the coats of mail,—but the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.

17 They who were building at the wall and they who were carrying burdens, they who were lifting [each man] with his one hand was working at the work, and with the other was grasping the weapon.

18 Even they who were building every man had his sword girded upon his loins and so was building,—and he that sounded the horn was by my side.

19 So I said unto the nobles and unto the deputies and unto the rest of the people, The work is great and large,—and we are separated upon the wall, far away each man from his brother:

20 In what place soever ye shall hear the sound of the horn thither gather yourselves unto us,—our God will fight for us.

21 So we were working at the work,—one half of them grasping the spears, from the uprisings of the dawn until the coming out of the stars.

22 Moreover at that time I said to the people, Let every one with his young man lodge for the night in the midst of Jerusalem,—so shall they serve us in the night as a watch and the day for work.

23 So neither I nor my brethren nor my young men nor the men of the watch that followed me none of us put off our clothes,—every one [went] with his weapon to the water.

5 Then came there to be a great outcry of the people and their wives,—against their brethren the Jews.

2 And there were some who were saying, Our sons and our daughters are we pledging,—that we may obtain corn and eat and keep ourselves alive.

3 And there were some who were saying, Our fields and our vineyards and our houses are we pledging,—that we may obtain corn in the dearth.

4 And there were others who were saying, We have borrowed silver for the king’s tribute,—[upon] our lands and our vineyards.

5 Now therefore as is the flesh of our brethren so is our flesh, as are their children so are our children. Yet lo! we are putting in subjection our sons and our daughters for bondservants, yea there are some of our daughters already trodden down, and we are powerless, and our fields and our vineyards belong to others.

6 And it angered me greatly,—when I heard their outcry, and these words.

7 So my heart took counsel unto me and I contended with the nobles and with the deputies, and said to them, A loan on interest—every man to his brother are ye making,—So I appointed over them a great assembly;

8 and I said unto them We have bought our brethren the Jews who had sold themselves unto the nations according to our ability, and will ye even sell your brethren or shall they sell themselves unto us? And they were silent, and found no answer.

9 Then said I, Not good is the thing which ye are doing,—ought ye not in the fear of God to walk, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?

10 I too then my brethren and my young men, might be lending unto them on interest silver and corn! I pray you, let us leave off this lending on interest!

11 Restore, I pray you, unto them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses,—also the hundredth of silver and corn, new wine and oil, for which ye have been lending to them.

12 And they said, We will restore them and from them will we require nothing, so will we do as thou art saying. Then called I the priests, and put them on oath to do according to this promise.

13 Also my lap shook I out and said—Thus and thus may God shake out every man who shall not confirm this promise out of his house and out of his labour, yea thus and thus let him be shaken out and empty,—And all the convocation said, Amen! and praised Yahweh, and the people did according to this promise.

14 Moreover from the day I was commanded to become their pasha in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years I and my brethren pasha’s bread have not eaten;

15 whereas the former pashas who were before me suffered themselves to be a burden upon the people and took from them in bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver, even their young men bare rule over the people,—but I did not so, because of the fear of God.

16 Moreover also in this work of the wall I repaired, and no field did we buy,—though all my young men were gathered thither unto the work.

17 And Jews and deputies, a hundred and fifty men, and they who were coming in unto us from among the nations which were round about us [depended] upon my table.

18 Now that which was prepared for a single day was—one ox, six choice sheep, also fowls were prepared for me, and apportioned unto ten days of every sort of wine in abundance,—yet in spite of this the bread of the pasha demanded I not, because heavy was the bondage upon this people.

19 Remember unto me, O my God, for good,—all that I have done for this people.

6 And it came to pass when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah and to Geshem the Arabian and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall, and there was left therein no breach,—though up to that time the doors had I not set up in the gates

2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come! and let us meet together in the villages in the valley of Ono,—But they were plotting to do me harm.

3 So I sent unto them messengers, saying, A great work am I doing, and cannot come down,—wherefore should the work cease whilst I leave it, and come down unto you?

4 Yet they sent unto me according to this message four times,—and I replied to them according to this answer.

5 Then Sanballat sent unto me according to this message a fifth time by his young man,—with an open letter in his hand:

6 wherein was written—Among the nations it is reported and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews are plotting to rebel, for which cause thou art building the wall,—and thou art to become their king, according to these words.

7 Moreover also prophets hast thou set up to make proclamation concerning thee in Jerusalem, saying, He hath become king in Judah! Now therefore will it be reported to the king, according to these words. Now therefore come, and let us take counsel together.

8 Then sent I unto him, saying, Nothing hath been done according to these words, which thou art saying,—but out of thine own heart art thou feigning them.

9 For they all were seeking to put us in fear, saying, Their hands will slacken from the work and it will not be accomplished. Now therefore strengthen thou my hands!

10 When I came into the house of Shemaiah, son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, he being shut in he said, Let us meet together in the house of God in the midst of the temple and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to slay thee, yea by night are they coming to slay thee.

11 Then said I, Should such a man as I flee? Who then being such as I would enter the temple to save his life? I will not enter.

12 Then perceived I that lo! it was not God who had sent him,—though a prophecy he had spoken concerning me, but Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him:

13 to this end hired he was, to the end that I might be afraid and do so and might sin,—and it might serve them for an evil report, to the end they might bring reproach upon me.

14 Have remembrance, O my God, of Tobiah and of Sanballat according to these their doings,—moreover also of Noadiah the prophetess, and of the rest of the prophets, who would have put me in fear.

15 So the wall was finished, on the twenty-fifth of Elul,—in fifty-two days.

16 And it came to pass when all our enemies heard, and all the nations that were round about us saw that they fell greatly in their own eyes, and took knowledge that from God had this work been wrought.

17 Moreover in those days were the nobles of Judah busy with their letters which were going unto Tobiah,—and those of Tobiah were coming unto them;

18 for many in Judah had taken an oath to him, because he was in marriage affinity with Shecaniah son of Arah,—and Jehohanan his son had taken the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.

19 Moreover his good deeds were they telling before me, and my affairs were they carrying out to him,—letters did Tobiah send to put me in fear.

7 And it came to pass when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors,—and the doorkeepers and the singers and the Levites had been appointed

2 that I gave Hanani my brother and Hananiah captain of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a truly faithful man, and revered God above many.

3 And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until hot be the sun, and while they are standing by let them close the doors and make them fast,—setting watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch and every one over against his own house.

4 Now the city was broad on both hands and large, but the people were few in the midst thereof,—and the houses had not been built.

5 So then my God put it into my heart, and I gathered together the nobles and the deputies and the people to register their genealogy,—then found I a register roll of them who came up at the first, and found written therein:—

6 These are the sons of the province who came up from among the Captives of the Exile, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did exile,—but they came back to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one to his own city;

7 who came in with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah,—the number of the men of the people of Israel.

8 The sons of Parosh two thousand, one hundred and seventy-two;

9 The sons of Shephatiah three hundred and seventy-two;

10 The sons of Arah six hundred and fifty-two;

11 The sons of Pahath-moab belonging to the sons of Jeshua and Joab two thousand, eight hundred and eighteen;

12 The sons of Elam a thousand, two hundred and fifty-four;

13 The sons of Zattu eight hundred and forty-five;

14 The sons of Zaccai seven hundred and sixty;

15 The sons of Binnui six hundred and forty-eight;

16 The sons of Bebai six hundred and twenty-eight;

17 The sons of Azgad two thousand, three hundred and twenty-two;

18 The sons of Adonikam six hundred and sixty-seven;

19 The sons of Bigvai two thousand and sixty-seven;

20 The sons of Adin six hundred and fifty-five;

21 The sons of Ater pertaining to Hezekiah ninety-eight;

22 The sons of Hashum three hundred and twenty-eight;

23 The sons of Bezai three hundred and twenty-four;

24 The sons of Hariph a hundred and twelve;

25 The sons of Gibeon ninety-five;

26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah a hundred and eighty-eight;

27 The men of Anathoth a hundred and twenty-eight;

28 The men of Beth-azmaveth forty-two;

29 The men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah and Beeroth seven hundred and forty-three;

30 The men of Ramah and Geba six hundred and twenty-one;

31 The men of Mickmas a hundred and twenty-two;

32 The men of Bethel and Ai a hundred and twenty-three;

33 The men of the other Nebo fifty-two;

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

35 The sons of Harim three hundred and twenty;

36 The sons of Jericho three hundred and forty-five;

37 The sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono seven hundred and twenty-one;

38 The sons of Senaah three thousand, nine hundred and thirty;

39 The priests The sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua nine hundred and seventy-three;

40 The sons of Immer a thousand and fifty-two;

41 The sons of Pashhur a thousand, two hundred and forty-seven;

42 The sons of Harim a thousand and seventeen;

43 The Levites The sons of Jeshua of Kadmiel of the sons of Hodevah, seventy-four;

44 The singers The sons of Asaph a hundred and forty-eight;

45 The doorkeepers The sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai a hundred and thirty-eight;

46 The Nethinim The sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth;

47 the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon;

48 the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Salmai;

49 the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar;

50 the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda;

51 the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah;

52 the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim;

53 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur;

54 the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha;

55 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah;

56 the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.

57 The Sons of the Servants of Solomon The sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida;

58 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel;

59 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon.

60 All the Nethinim, and the Sons of the Servants of Solomon were three hundred and ninety-two.

61 And these are they who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer,—but they could not tell their ancestral house nor their seed, whether of Israel they were:

62 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda,—six hundred and forty-two.

63 And of the priests the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz,—the sons of Barzillai who had taken of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.

64 These sought their writing wherein they were registered but it was not found,—so they were desecrated out of the priesthood;

65 and the governor told them, they must not eat of the most holy things,—until there should stand up a priest with Lights and Perfections.

66 All the gathered host together was forty-two thousand, three hundred and sixty;

67 besides their men-servants and maid-servants were these, seven thousand, three hundred and thirty-seven,—and to them pertained singing-men and singing-women, two hundred and forty-five:

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

69 camels four hundred and thirty-five,—asses six thousand, seven hundred and twenty.

70 And a portion of the ancestral chiefs gave unto the work,—the governor gave unto the treasury of gold a thousand darics, tossing bowls fifty, tunics for priests five hundred and thirty;

71 and some of the ancestral chiefs gave unto the treasury of the work, of gold twenty thousand darics,—and of silver two thousand and two hundred manehs;

72 and that which the rest of the people gave was of gold twenty thousand darics, and of silver two thousand manehs,—and tunics for priests sixty-seven.

73 So the priests and the Levites and the door-keepers and the singers and some of the people and the Nethinim and all Israel took up their abode in their cities. And when the seventh month arrived the sons of Israel were in their cities.

8 Then all the people gathered themselves together as one man, into the broad way that was before the water-gate,—and they spake unto Ezra the scribe, to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded Israel.

2 So then Ezra the priest brought the law before the convocation of both men and women, and all that had understanding to hearken,—on the first day of the seventh month;

3 and read therein before the broad place which was before the water-gate from the time it was light until the noon of the day, in presence of the men and the women and such as had understanding,—and the ears of all the people were unto the book of the law.

4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a lofty platform of wood which they had made for the purpose, and there stood beside him Mattithiah and Shema and Anaiah and Uriah and Hilkiah and Maaseiah on his right hand,—and on his left Pedaiah and Mishael and Malchijah and Hashum and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, Meshullam.

5 And Ezra the scribe opened the book before the eyes of all the people, for above all the people was he,—and when he opened it all the people stood up.

6 And Ezra blessed Yahweh the great God,—and all the people responded Amen! Amen! with the lifting up of their hands,—and they bent their heads and bowed themselves down unto Yahweh with their faces to the ground.

7 And Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites did cause the people to understand the law, the people remaining in their places.

8 So they read in the book of the law of God distinctly,—and giving the sense caused them to understand the reading.

9 Then Nehemiah—he was the governor—and Ezra the priest the scribe and the Levites who were causing the people to understand said unto all the people, To-day is holy unto Yahweh your God, do not mourn nor weep,—for weeping were all the people when they heard the words of the law.

10 So he said unto them—Go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared, for holy is the day unto our Lord,—and be not grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.

11 And the Levites were quieting all the people, saying—Hush! for the day is holy,—and be not grieved.

12 And all the people went their way to eat and to drink and to send portions, and to make great rejoicing,—because they had understood the words which were made known unto them.

13 And on the second day were gathered together—the ancestral heads of all the people, the priests and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe,—even to give attention unto the words of the law.

14 And they found written in the law,—that Yahweh gave command through Moses, that the sons of Israel should dwell in booths during the festival of the seventh month;

15 and that they should publish and send along a proclamation throughout all their cities and throughout Jerusalem, saying, Forth to the mountain and bring in branches of olive and branches of oleaster, and branches of myrtle and branches of palms, and branches of thick trees,—to make booths as it is written.

16 So the people went forth and brought in, and made themselves booths, every one upon his roof and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water-gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.

17 And all the convocation of them who had returned out of the captivity made booths and dwelt in booths, for since the days of Jeshua son of Nun had not the sons of Israel done so, unto that day,—and there was very great rejoicing.

18 So he read in the book of the law of God day by day, from the first day unto the last day, and they kept the festival seven days, and on the eighth day a closing feast according to the regulation.

9 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month were the sons of Israel gathered together with fasting and with sackcloth, having earth upon them.

2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all the sons of the foreigner,—and stood and made confession over their own sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

3 So they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Yahweh their God a fourth part of the day,—and a fourth part they were making confession and bowing themselves down, unto Yahweh their God.

4 Then stood up on the platform of the Levites, Jeshua and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, Chenani,—and made outcry with a loud voice, unto Yahweh their God.

5 Then said the Levites—Jeshua and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, Pethahiah, Stand up, bless Yahweh your God, from age to age,—Yea let them bless thy glorious Name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

6 Thou art Yahweh thou alone, Thou didst make the heavens, the heavens of heavens and all their host, the earth and all that is thereon, the seas and all that is therein, and thou holdest them all in life,—and the host of the heavens unto thee are bowing down.

7 Thou art Yahweh God, who didst choose Abram and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees,—and madest his name Abraham;

8 and didst find his heart faithful before thee, and didst solemnize with him a covenant to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite—to give it unto his seed,—and didst confirm thy words, for righteous thou art.

9 Yea thou sawest the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and their outcry thou heardest by the Red Sea;

10 and didst grant signs and wonders against Pharaoh and against all his servants and against all the people of his land, for thou hadst taken note that they ruled proudly over them,—and so thou didst make thee a name as at this day.

11 And the sea didst thou cleave asunder before them, and they passed through the midst of the sea on dry ground,—whereas their pursuers thou didst cast into the depths like a stone into the mighty waters.

12 And in a pillar of cloud didst thou lead them by day,—and in a pillar of fire by night, to light up for them the way wherein they should go.

13 And upon Mount Sinai camest thou down, and spakest with them out of the heavens,—and gavest them just regulations and faithful laws, good statutes and commandments.

14 And thy holy sabbath didst thou make known to them,—and commandments and statutes and a law didst thou command them, through Moses thy servant.

15 And bread out of the heavens didst thou give them for their hunger, and waters out of the cliff didst thou bring them for their thirst,—and badest them go in to take possession of the land, which thou hadst lifted thy hand to give them.

16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly,—and hardened their neck, and hearkened not unto thy commandments;

17 but refused to hearken neither kept in mind thy wonders which thou hadst done with them, but they hardened their neck, and appointed a head that they might return to their servitude in their perverseness. But thou art a God of forgivenesses, gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness, and didst not forsake them.

18 Yea although they made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt,—and wrought great insults

19 yet thou in thine abounding compassions didst not forsake them in the desert,—the pillar of cloud departed not from over them by day to lead them in the way, nor the pillar of fire by night to light up for them the way wherein they should go.

20 And thy Good Spirit thou gavest to instruct them,—and thy manna thou withheldest not from their mouth, and water thou gavest them for their thirst.

21 Yea forty years didst thou sustain them in the desert, they lacked nothing,—their mantles waxed not old and their feet swelled not.

22 And thou gavest them kingdoms and peoples, and allotted to each of them a corner,—and they took possession of the land of Sihon and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

23 Their children also didst thou multiply, like the stars of the heavens,—and didst bring them into the land which thou hadst promised their fathers they should enter to possess;

24 so the children entered and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and deliveredst them into their hand,—with their kings and the peoples of the land, to do with them according to their pleasure;

25 and they captured fortified cities and a fat soil, and took possession of houses full of every good thing, wells digged, vineyards and oliveyards and fruit-trees in abundance,—so they did eat and were filled and became fat, and luxuriated in thy great goodness.

26 But they murmured and rebelled against thee and cast thy law behind their back, and thy prophets they slew who testified against them that they might turn them back unto thee,—and they wrought great insults.

27 Therefore didst thou deliver them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them,—and in the time of their distress they made outcry unto thee, and thou out of the heavens didst hear, and according to thine abounding compassions gavest them saviors, that they might save them out of the hand of their adversaries.

28 But as soon as they had rest they again wrought wickedness before thee,—and thou didst leave them in the hand of their enemies who bare rule over them, yet when they again made outcry unto thee thou from the heavens didst hear and didst deliver them according to thy compassions many times;

29 and didst testify against them to bring them back unto thy law yet they dealt proudly and hearkened not unto thy commandments and against thy regulations they sinned, the which—if any son of earth shall do—then shall he live by them,—and yielded a rebellious shoulder, and their neck they stiffened and hearkened not.

30 And thou didst suffer many years to pass over them, and didst testify against them by thy Spirit through thy prophets yet did they not give ear,—therefore didst thou deliver them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.

31 Yet in thine abounding compassions thou didst not make of them an end neither didst thou forsake them,—for a God gracious and full of compassion thou art.

32 Now therefore, O our God—the God great, mighty, and fearful—keeping the covenant and the lovingkindness, let not all the trouble seem little before thee which hath come upon us—on our kings, on our rulers and on our priests and on our prophets and on our fathers and on all thy people,—from the days of the kings of Assyria, until this day.

33 But thou art righteous, as to all that hath fallen upon us,—for faithfulness hast thou wrought whereas we have been lawless;

34 and our kings, our rulers, our priests and our fathers have not kept thy law,—nor given heed unto thy commandments, or unto thy testimonies wherewith thou hast testified against them.

35 But they in their kingdom and in thine abundant goodness which thou gavest them and in the broad and fat land which thou didst set before them did not serve thee, neither turned they from their wicked doings.

36 Lo! we to-day are bondmen—even upon the land which thou gavest our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof lo! we are bondmen;

37 and the increase thereof aboundeth unto the kings whom thou hast set over us for our sins,—and over our bodies are they bearing rule and over our cattle at their pleasure, and in great distress we are.

38 Seeing therefore all this we are plighting our faith and putting it in writing,—and upon the sealed scroll are our rulers, our Levites, our priests.

10 Now upon the sealed writings were,—Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah;

2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah;

3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah;

4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch;

5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah;

6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch;

7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin;

8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah,—these were the priests.

9 And the Levites—Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;

10 and their brethren,—Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan;

11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah;

12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah;

13 Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.

14 The heads of the people,—Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani;

15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai;

16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin;

17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur;

18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai;

19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nobai;

20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir;

21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua;

22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah;

23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub;

24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek;

25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah;

26 and Ahiah, Hanan, Anan;

27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

28 And the rest of the people—the priests, the Levites, the doorkeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters,—every one having knowledge and understanding

29 were holding fast unto their distinguished brethren, and were entering into a curse and into an oath to walk in the law of God, which was given through Moses the servant of God,—and to observe and do all the commandments of Yahweh our Lord, and his regulations and his statutes;

30 and that we would not give our daughters unto the peoples of the land—and their daughters would we not take for our sons;

31 and if the peoples of the land should be bringing in wares, or any corn on the sabbath day to sell we would not buy of them on the sabbath or on a holy day,—and that we would remit the seventh year and the loan of every hand.

32 And we laid on ourselves charges, appointing for ourselves the third of a shekel yearly,—for the service of the house of our God:

33 for the bread to set in array and the continual meal-offering and for the continual ascending-sacrifice of the sabbaths of the new moons for the appointed feasts and for things hallowed and for victims bearing sin, to put a propitiatory-covering over Israel,—and for all the work of the house of our God.

34 Also lots did we cast concerning the offering of wood among the priests, the Levites, and the people, to bring it unto the house of our God by our ancestral houses at times arranged year by year,—to burn upon the altar of Yahweh our God, as it is written in the law.

35 And that we would bring in the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruit of all fruit of all trees year by year,—unto the house of Yahweh;

36 also that the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the law,—and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks we would bring in unto the house of our God, unto the priests who should be in attendance in the house of our God;

37 and the first part of our meal and our heave-offerings and the fruit of all trees, new wine and oil would we bring in unto the priests into the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground unto the Levites,—the Levites themselves taking the tithes in all our cities of agriculture.

38 And the priest the son of Aaron should be with the Levites when the Levites should take the tithes,—and the Levites should bring up the tithe of the tithe unto the house of our God, into the chambers pertaining unto the treasure-house.

39 For into the chambers should the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi bring in the heave-offering of the corn, the new wine and the oil, since there are the utensils of the sanctuary and the priests who are in attendance, and the doorkeepers and the singers,—so would we not neglect the house of our God.

11 And the rulers of the people dwelt in Jerusalem,—and the rest of the people cast lots to bring in one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine parts in [other] cities.

2 And the people bestowed a blessing on all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.

3 Now these are the chiefs of the province, who dwelt in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah dwelt every man in his possession throughout their cities, Israel the priests, and the Levites and the Nethinim, and the Sons of the Servants of Solomon.

4 And in Jerusalem dwelt certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin,—Of the sons of Judah Athaiah son of Uzziah son of Zechariah son of Amariah son of Shephatiah son of Mahalalel of the sons of Perez;

5 and Maaseiah son of Baruch son of Col-hozeh son of Hazaiah son of Adaiah son of Joiarib son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite.

6 All the sons of Perez who were dwelling in Jerusalem four hundred and sixty-eight men of ability.

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

8 and after him Gabbai, Sallai,—nine hundred and twenty-eight.

9 And Joel son of Zichri was in charge over them,—and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the city as second.

10 Of the priests Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jachin;

11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah son of Meshullam son of Zadok son of Meraioth son of Ahitub, chief ruler of the house of God;

12 and their brethren who were doing the work of the house, eight hundred and twenty-two,—and Adaiah son of Jeroham son of Pelaliah son of Amzi son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur son of Malchijah;

13 and his brethren, ancestral chiefs, two hundred and forty-two,—and Amashsai son of Azarel son of Ahzai son of Meshillemoth son of Immer;

14 and their brethren, strong men of ability, a hundred and twenty-eight,—and he who was in charge of them was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.

15 And of the Levites Shemaiah son of Hasshub son of Azrikam son of Hashabiah son of Bunni;

16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad over the outside business of the house of God, of the chiefs of the Levites;

17 and Mattaniah son of Mica son of Zabdi son of Asaph leader of the praise who giveth thanks in prayer, and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren,—and Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal son of Jeduthun.

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

19 And the door-keepers—Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren who were keeping watch in the gates were a hundred and seventy-two.

20 But the residue of Israel, the priests, the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.

21 Howbeit the Nethinim were dwelling in Ophel,—and Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim.

22 And the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani son of Hashabiah son of Mattaniah son of Mica,—of the sons of Asaph the singers, to take lead in the business of the house of God.

23 For the commandment of the king was upon them,—as to a fixed provision for the singers the need of a day upon its day.

24 And Pethahiah son of Meshezabel of the sons of Zerah son of Judah was at the hand of the king, in every matter pertaining to the people.

25 And as for the villages in their fields some of the sons of Judah dwelt in Kiriath-arba and the hamlets thereof, and in Dibon and the hamlets thereof, and in Jekabzeel and the villages thereof;

26 and in Jeshua and in Moladah, and in Beth-pelet;

27 and in Hazar-shual, and in Beer-sheba and the hamlets thereof;

28 and in Ziklag, and in Meconah and in the hamlets thereof,

29 and in En-rimmon and in Zorah, and in Jarmuth;

30 Zanoah, Adullam and their villages, Lachish and the fields thereof, Azekah and the hamlets thereof,—so they encamped from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom.

31 And the sons of Benjamin [dwelt] from Geba to Michmas and Aija, and Bethel and the hamlets thereof:

32 Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah;

33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim;

34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat;

35 Lod and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

36 Howbeit of the Levites certain courses of Judah pertained unto Benjamin.

12 Now these are the priests and the Levites, who came up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua,—Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra;

2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush;

3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth;

4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah;

5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah;

6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah;

7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah,—these were the chiefs of the priests and their brethren in the days of Jeshua.

8 And the Levites Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, Mattaniah,—over the choirs he and his brethren;

9 and Bakbukiah and Unno their brethren were over against them in wards.

10 And Jeshua begat Joiakim,—and Joiakim begat Eliashib, and Eliashib [begat] Joiada;

11 and Joiada begat Jonathan,—and Jonathan begat Jaddua.

12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, ancestral chiefs,—of Seraiah Meraiah, of Jeremiah Hananiah;

13 of Ezra Meshullam,—of Amariah Jehohanan;

14 of Malluchi Jonathan,—of Shebaniah Joseph;

15 of Harim Adna,—of Meraioth Helkai;

16 of Iddo Zechariah,—of Ginnethon Meshullam;

17 of Abijah Zichri,—of Miniamin of Moadiah Piltai;

18 of Bilgah Shammua,—of Shemaiah Jehonathan;

19 and of Joiarib Mattenai,—of Jedaiah Uzzi;

20 of Sallai Kallai,—of Amok Eber;

21 of Hilkiah Hashabiah,—of Jedaiah Nethanel.

22 The Levites—in the days of Eliashib, Joiada and Johanan and Jaddua were recorded as ancestral chiefs,—also the priests unto the reign of Darius the Persian.

23 The sons of Levi, ancestral heads, were written in the book of Chronicles,—even until the days of Johanan son of Eliashib.

24 And the chiefs of the Levites Hashabiah, Sherebiah and Jeshua son of Kadmiel with their brethren over against them, to praise—to give thanks by the commandment of David the man of God,—ward joined to ward.

25 Mattaniah and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub were watchers, doorkeepers of the ward, in the storehouses of the gates.

26 These were in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua son of Jozadak,—and in the days of Nehemiah the pasha, and Ezra the priest the scribe.

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 and the rejoicing both with thanksgiving and with music, cymbals, harps and with lyres.

28 So the sons of the singers gathered themselves together,—both out of the circuit round about Jerusalem, and out of the villages of the Netophathites;

29 also out of Beth-gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth,—for villages had the singers builded for themselves round about Jerusalem.

30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves,—and purified the people, and the gates and the wall.

31 Then brought I up the rulers of Judah upon the wall,—and I appointed two large choirs even to go in procession to the right upon the wall, towards the dung-gate;

32 and after them went Hoshaiah, and half the rulers of Judah;

33 then Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam;

34 Judah and Benjamin, and Shemaiah and Jeremiah;

35 and of the sons of the priests with trumpets Zechariah—son of Jonathan—son of Shemaiah—son of Mattaniah son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur son of Asaph;

36 and his brethren—Shemaiah and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel and Judah, Hanani, with the instruments of music of David the man of God,—with Ezra the scribe before them;

37 and over the fountain gate and straight before 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 as far as the water-gate eastward.

38 And the second choir was going over against them, I following it,—with the half of the people upon the wall above the tower of the ovens, even as far as the broad wall;

39 and above the gate of Ephraim and upon the old gate and upon the fish-gate and the tower of Hananel and the tower of Hammeah, even as far as the sheep-gate,—and they came to a stand at the gate of the guard.

40 So the two choirs came to a stand at the house of God,—and I and half the deputies with me;

41 and the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with trumpets;

42 and Maaseiah and Shemaiah and Eleazar and Uzzi and Jehohanan and Malchijah and Elam and Ezer,—and the musicians sounded aloud with Jezrahiah who was over them.

43 And they sacrificed on that day great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had caused them to rejoice with great joy, moreover also the women and children rejoiced,—so that the rejoicing of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

44 And there were set in charge on that day certain men over the chambers for the treasures, for the heave-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 for the Levites,—for the joy of Judah was over the priests and over the Levites who were remaining.

45 So they kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification, and [so did] the singers and the doorkeepers,—according to the commandment of David and of Solomon his son.

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

47 Now all Israel—in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah used to give the portions of the singers and the doorkeepers, the need of a day upon its day,—and they hallowed them unto the Levites, and the Levites hallowed them unto the sons of Aaron.

13 On that day a portion was read in the book of Moses in the ears of the people,—and it was found written therein, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not enter into the convocation of God unto times age-abiding;

2 because they met not the sons of Israel with bread and with water,—but hired against them Balaam to curse them, although our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3 So it came to pass when they had heard the law,—that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.

4 Now before this Eliashib the priest, who was set over a chamber of the house of God was allied unto Tobiah;

5 so he prepared him a large chamber, where aforetime they used to lay the meal-offering, the frankincense and the utensils and the tithe of the corn, the new wine and the oil, in charge of the Levites, and the singers and the doorkeepers,—and the heave-offerings for the priests.

6 But throughout all this [time] was I not in Jerusalem,—for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came unto the king, and at the end of certain days obtained I leave of the king;

7 and came to Jerusalem,—and had intelligence of the wickedness which Eliashib had committed for Tobiah, in preparing for him a chamber, in the courts of the house of God;

8 and it grieved me exceedingly,—and I cast forth all the household utensils of Tobiah outside of the chamber.

9 Then commanded I, and they purified the chambers,—and I put back there the utensils of the house of God, the meal-offering and the frankincense.

10 Then came I to know, that the portions of the Levites had not been given [them],—so that the Levites and the singers who had been doing the work had fled every one to his field.

11 Therefore contended I with the deputies, and said, Wherefore is the house of God forsaken? So I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

12 Then all Judah brought in the tithe of corn and new wine and oil unto the treasuries;

13 and I made treasurers over the treasuries—Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe and Pedaiah from among the Levites, and next unto them Hanan son of Zaccur son of Mattaniah,—for faithful were they accounted, and it was [laid] upon them to distribute unto their brethren.

14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this,—and do not wipe out my lovingkindnesses which I have done for the house of my God and for those keeping charge thereof.

15 In those days saw I in Judah—some treading winepresses on the sabbath and bringing in sheaves and lading asses, moreover also wine, grapes and figs and every kind of burden, which they were bringing into Jerusalem on the sabbath day,—so I protested against it as a day for them to sell provisions.

16 And men of Tyre dwelt therein, who were bringing in fish—and every kind of ware for sale,—and were selling on the sabbath to the sons of Judah and in Jerusalem;

17 so I contended with the nobles of Judah,—and said unto them, What is this wicked thing which ye are doing, and profaning the sabbath day?

18 Was it not thus your fathers did and our God brought upon us all this calamity and upon this city?—and ye would add indignation against Israel, by profaning the sabbath!

19 And it came to pass when the gates of Jerusalem made a shadow before the sabbath then gave I word and they shut the doors, and I gave word that they should not open them, until after the sabbath,—and some of my young men set I near the gates, so that no burden should be brought in on the sabbath day.

20 But the traders and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.

21 Therefore I testified against them and said unto them, Wherefore are ye lodging against the wall? if ye do it again, a hand will I thrust upon you,—From that time they came not on the sabbath.

22 And I gave word to the Levites that they should be purifying themselves and coming in, as keepers of the gates, to hallow the sabbath day. This also remember to me, O my God, and have pity upon me according to the abundance of thy lovingkindness.

23 Moreover in those days saw I the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, of Moab;

24 and their children were one-half speaking the language of Ashdod, and understood not how to speak the language of the Jews,—but after the tongue of both people.

25 So I contended with them and laid a curse upon them, and I smote from among them certain men and pulled out their hair,—and I put them on oath by God, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take of their daughters for your sons nor for yourselves.

26 Was it not over these things that Solomon king of Israel sinned—though among many nations there was no king such as he and he was beloved by his God and so God gave him to be king over all Israel,—even him did foreign women cause to sin.

27 Unto you then shall we hearken to do all this great wickedness, to act unfaithfully with our God,—by marrying foreign wives?

28 And one of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite,—therefore I chased him from me.

29 Remember them, O my God,—on account of the Defilings of the Priesthood, and the Covenant of the Priesthood and of the Levites.

30 So I purified them from everything foreign,—and appointed charges unto the priests and unto the Levites, every one in his work;

31 also for the offering of wood at times appointed and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good!