Nehemiah Chapter 1
Nehemiah's prayer over Jerusalem
1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa, the citadel,
2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the exile, and about Jerusalem.
3 They told me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the exile are in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned, fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.
5 I said, “I beseech you, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments;
6 Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins of the people of Israel, which we have committed against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned.
7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and rules that you gave your servant Moses.
8 Remember the word that you gave your servant Moses, saying, “If you sin, I will scatter you among the nations;
9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersion is to the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather you and bring you to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.”
10 They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and your mighty hand.
11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to revere your name. Grant success to your servant and give him favor in the sight of this man. For I was cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah Chapter 2
Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem
1 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when the wine was before him, I took the wine and served it to the king. I had not previously been sad in his presence,
2 so the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This can only be sadness of heart.” Then I was very afraid.
3 I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my ancestors’ tombs, lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire?”
4 The king asked me, “What is your request?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven,
5 and I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”
6 Then the king said to me (the queen was sitting beside him), “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” And it pleased the king to send me, after I had set a time for him.
7 I also said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the province beyond the Euphrates River, so that they may allow me safe passage until I come to Judah;
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 of the temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house that I will occupy.” And the king granted it to me, according to the gracious hand of my God upon me.
9 So I went to the governors of the province beyond the Euphrates River and gave them the king’s letters. And the king sent with me commanders of the army and horsemen.
10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were greatly displeased that someone had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Nehemiah encourages the people to rebuild the walls
11 So I came to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days,
12 I got up at night, I and a few men with me, and I did not tell anyone what God had put in my heart to do in Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me except the one on which I was riding.
13 And I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate; and I saw the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down, and its gates that were consumed by fire.
14 Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal I was riding to pass.
15 So I went up by night along the valley and inspected the wall. Then I turned around and entered by the Valley Gate and returned.
16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done, for I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who were doing the work.
17 I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.”
18 Then I told them how the hand of my God had been gracious to me and what the king had said to me. They said, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they ridiculed us and despised us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
20 And I answered them, “The God of heaven will give us success, and we his servants will arise and build, for you have no portion or right or memorial in Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah Chapter 3
Division of the rebuilding work
1 Then Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests arose and built the Sheep Gate. They repaired and set up its doors as far as the Tower of Hamea, and they built as far as the Tower of Hananel.
2 Next to it the men of Jericho built, and next to them Zaccur son of Imri built.
3 The sons of Sennah built the Fish Gate; they framed it and set up its doors, with its bolts and bars.
4 Next to them Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Koz, made repairs, and next to them Meshullam son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok son of Baanah made repairs.
5 And next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles did not lend themselves to help the work of their Lord.
6 The Old Gate was repaired by Jehoiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodiah; They re-framed it and set up its doors, with their bolts and bars.
7 Next to them, Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, men from Gibeon and Mizpah, who were under the authority of the governor beyond the Euphrates River, made repairs.
8 Next to them, Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the silversmiths, made repairs; next to him, Hananiah, the son of a perfumer, also made repairs. So they repaired Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.
9 Next to them, Rephaiah son of Hur, governor of half the district of Jerusalem, also made repairs.
10 Next to them, opposite his house, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs; next to him, Hattush son of Hashabniejah made repairs.
11 Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab repaired another section, and the Tower of the Ovens.
12 Next to them, Shallum son of Hallohesh, governor of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs, he and his daughters.
13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate; they rebuilt it and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.
14 Malchijah son of Rechab, governor of the district of Beth-haccherem, rebuilt the Dung Gate; he rebuilt it and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
15 Shallum son of Col-hozeh, governor of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate; he rebuilt it, set up its timbers, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and the wall of the Pool of Siloam toward the king’s garden, as far as the steps that go down from the City of David.
16 After him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, governor of half the region of Beth-zur, repaired the road as far as the tombs of David, the hewn pool, and the house of the mighty men.
17After him the Levites made repairs; Rehum son of Bani, and next to him Hashabiah, governor of half the district of Keilah, made repairs in his district.
18 After him his brothers made repairs; Bavai son of Henadad, governor of half the district of Keilah, made repairs.
19 Next to him Ezer son of Jeshua, governor of Mizpah, made repairs in front of the ascent to the armory at the corner.
20 After him, Baruch son of Zabbai diligently repaired another section, from the corner to the gate of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21 After him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Koz, repaired another section, from the entrance of Eliashib’s house to the far end of Eliashib’s house.
22 After him, the priests, the men of the plain, made repairs.
23 After them, Benjamin and Hashub repaired the wall in front of his house; and after them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Hananiah, repaired the wall near his house.
24 After him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the inner angle of the wall, and to the corner.
25 Palal son of Uzai repaired the wall opposite the corner and the high tower that juts out from the king’s house, which is in the court of the guard. After him, Pedaiah son of Pharos repaired the wall.
26 The temple servants who lived on the Ophel repaired as far as the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower.
27 After them, the Tekoites repaired another section, opposite the great projecting tower, as far as the wall of the Ophel.
28 From the Horse Gate, the priests repaired, each in front of his own house.
29 After them, Zadok son of Immer repaired in front of his house; and after him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired.
30 After him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. After them, Meshullam son of Berechiah repaired in front of his chamber.
31 After him, Malchijah son of the goldsmith repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Judgment Gate, and as far as the corner room.
32 And between the corner room and the Sheep Gate, the silversmiths and the merchants made repairs.
Nehemiah Chapter 4
Precautions against enemies
1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and furious, and he mocked the Jews.
2 He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they be allowed to offer their sacrifices again? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive from the heaps of dust the stones that were burned?”
3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was with him, and he said, “What they are building, even a fox would knock it down as much as they are building of the stone wall.
4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised by them; turn their reproach back on their own heads, and give them up as plunder in the land of their captivity.
5 Do not cover up their iniquity, nor let their sin be blotted out from before you, for they have raged against those who were building.”
6 So we rebuilt the wall, and the entire wall was completed to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being repaired, for the breaches were beginning to be closed, they became very angry.
8 And they all conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and harm it.
9 Then we prayed to our God, and because of them we posted a guard against them day and night.
10 And Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.”
11 And our enemies said, “Let them not know or see anything until we come among them and kill them and put an end to the work.”
12 But it happened that when the Jews who lived among them came, they told us ten times, “From every place you turn back, they will attack you.”
13 So I stationed the people by families in the lower parts of the place behind the wall and in the open places, with their swords, spears, and bows.
14 Then I looked around, and I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
15 When our enemies heard that we had understood and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his own task.
16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on the project, while the other half were armed with spears, shields, bows, and armor. Behind them stood the leaders of all the house of Judah.
17 Those who were building on the wall, those who carried loads, and those who loaded them, worked with one hand on the project and held a sword in the other.
18 For each of the builders had his sword strapped to his side as he built, and the trumpeter stood beside me.
19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and widespread, and we are separated from one another on the wall.
20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
21 So we continued working on the project, and half of them held spears from dawn until the stars came out.
22 Then I also said to the people, “Every man with his servant remain inside Jerusalem, and let them serve as guards at night and do the work by day.”
23 Neither I nor my brothers, nor my young men, nor the guards who followed me took off our clothes; each one undressed only to bathe.
Nehemiah Chapter 5
Abolition of usury
1 Then there was a great outcry from the people and their women against their Jewish brothers.
2 Some said, “We, our sons and daughters, are many; therefore, we have borrowed grain to eat and live.”
3 Others said, “We have mortgaged our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to buy grain because of the famine.”
4 Still others said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute on our fields and vineyards.
5 Now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children; yet we have given our sons and daughters into slavery, and some of our daughters are already in slavery, and we have no way to redeem them, because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”
6 And I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.
7 Then I considered it, and I rebuked the nobles and the officials, and said to them, “Do you each exact interest from your brothers?” So I called a great assembly against them,
8 and I said to them, “We, according to our means, have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; and you are selling your own brothers, and they will be sold to us?” And they were silent, for they had nothing to say.
9 Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God, so that you will not become a reproach to the nations that are our enemies?
10 My brothers and I and my servants have also lent them money and grain; let us now release them from this burden.
11 I urge you to return to them today their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, and the hundredth part of the money, grain, wine, and oil that you are demanding from them as interest.”
12 And they said, “We will return it, and we will not demand anything from them; we will do as you say.” Then I summoned the priests and made them swear that they would do according to this.
13 Moreover, I shook out my garment and said, “So may God shake out of his house and of his labor every man who does not do this, and may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the congregation answered, “Amen!” and they praised the Lord. And the people did according to this.
14 Also, from the day that the king appointed me governor over them in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes until the thirty-second year, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s bread.
15 But the former governors who were before me oppressed the people, and took from them more than forty shekels of silver for bread and wine, and even their servants lorded it over the people; but I did not do so, because of the fear of God.
16 Also in the work of this wall I restored my portion, and we did not buy a land; and all my servants were there together in the work.
17 Moreover, 150 Jews and officials, and those who came from the nations that were around us, were at my table.
18 And what was prepared for me each day was an ox and six choice sheep; birds were also prepared for me, and every ten days wine in abundance; and yet I never required the governor’s bread, because the servitude of this people was heavy.
19 Remember me for good, my God, and all that I have done for this people.
Nehemiah Chapter 6
Machinations of the adversaries
1 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that there was no gap left in it (though I had not yet put the doors in the gates),
2 Sanballat and Geshem sent word to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm.
3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down; for the work would cease if I left it to come down to you.”
4 They sent to me four times with this message, and I answered them in the same way.
5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me a fifth time with the same message, holding an open letter in his hand.
6 In it was written: “It has been reported among the nations—and Geshem says so—that you and the Jews are planning to rebel; And that is why you are building the wall, intending, according to these words, to be their king;
7 and that you have appointed prophets to proclaim about you in Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!” And now these words will be heard by the king; come, therefore, and let us consult together.
8 Then I sent word to him, saying, “There is no such thing as you say, but you are making it up out of your own mind.
” 9 For they all tried to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be too weak for the work, and it will not be finished. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.”
10 Then I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, for he was shut up; and he said to me, “Let us meet together in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; yes, tonight they will come to kill you.”
11 Then I said, “Should a man like me flee?” And who, like me, would enter the temple to save his life? I will not enter.
12 Then I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had spoken that prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had bribed him.
13 For he was bribed to make me afraid and sin, and to give them a bad name by which I would be defamed.
14 Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these things they did; remember also Noadiah the prophetess, and the rest of the prophets who tried to frighten me.
15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul, in fifty-two days.
16 When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and humbled, and they knew that this work had been done with the help of our God.
17 In those days many letters went from the leading men of Judah to Tobiah, and letters from Tobiah came to them.
18 For many in Judah had sworn allegiance to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah; and his son Johanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.
19 They also told me about his good deeds, and he reported my words to them. And Tobias sent letters to frighten me.
Nehemiah Chapter 7
Nehemiah appoints leaders
1 After the wall was built, the gates were set up, and the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed,
2 I sent my brother Hanani, also known as Hananiah, the commander of the citadel of Jerusalem (for he was a trustworthy man and feared God more than many).
3 I told them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot; even if there are people in them, shut the gates and bar them.” So I appointed guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each in his turn, each in front of his own house.
4 For the city was large and spacious, but the people were few in it, and there were no newly built houses.
Those who returned with Zerubbabel
Then God put it in my heart to gather the nobles and officials and the people, so that they might be registered according to their genealogies. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who had come up before, and I found it written as follows:
6These are the children of the province who came up from the captivity, those whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city,
7who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahum, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
8The sons of Paros, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
9The sons of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two.
10The sons of Ara, six hundred fifty-two.
11The sons of Pahat-moab, the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred eighteen.
12The sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
13The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty-five.
14The sons of Zacai, seven hundred sixty.
15The sons of Binui, six hundred forty-eight.
16The sons of Bebai, six hundred twenty-eight.
17The children of Azgad, two thousand six hundred twenty-two.
18The sons of Adonicam, six hundred sixty-seven.
19The sons of Bigvai, two thousand sixty-seven.
20The sons of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five.
21The sons of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
22The sons of Hasum, three hundred twenty-eight.
23The sons of Bezai, three hundred twenty-four.
24The sons of Harif, one hundred twelve.
25The sons of Gibeon, ninety-five.
26The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred eighty-eight.
27The men of Anatot, one hundred and twenty-eight.
28The men of Bet-azmavet, forty-two.
29The men of Kiriath-jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three.
30The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.
31The men of Micmas, one hundred and twenty-two.
32The men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred and twenty-three.
33The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two.
34The sons of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
35The sons of Harim, three hundred twenty.
36The sons of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
37The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-one.
38The sons of Senaa, three thousand nine hundred thirty.
39Priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three.
40The sons of Imer, one thousand fifty-two.
41The sons of Pasur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
42The sons of Harim, one thousand seventeen.
43Levites: the sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodevah, seventy-four.
44Singers: the sons of Asaph, one hundred and forty-eight.
45Gatekeepers: The sons of Salum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmón, the sons of Acub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Sobai, one hundred thirty-eight.
46Temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasufa, the sons of Tabaot,
47the sons of Queros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padón,
48the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Salmai,
49the sons of Hanán, the sons of Gidel, the sons of Gahar,
50the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda,
51the sons of Gazam, the sons of Uza, the sons of Paseah,
52the sons of Besai, the sons of Mehunim, the sons of Nefisesim,
53the sons of Bacbuc, the sons of Hacufa, the sons of Harhur,
54the sons of Bazlut, the sons of Mehída, the sons of Harsa,
55the sons of Barcos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Tema,
56the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatifa.
57The sons of the servants of Solomon: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Soferet, the sons of Perida,
58the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darcon, the sons of Gidel,
59the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon.
60All the temple servants and the sons of the servants of Solomon, three hundred ninety-two.
61And these are the ones who came up from Tel-mela, Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, who could not show their fathers’ houses or their genealogy, whether they were of Israel:
62The sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two.
63And of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, and the sons of Barzillai, who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name.
64These sought their genealogical records, but they were not found; and they were excluded from the priesthood,
65and the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise.
66The entire congregation together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
67without their male and female servants, who were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven; and among them were two hundred forty-five singers.
68His horses, seven hundred thirty-six; his mules, two hundred forty-five;
69camels, four hundred thirty-five; donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.
70And some of the heads of families gave offerings for the work. The governor gave for the treasury a thousand gold drachmas, fifty bowls, and five hundred thirty priestly garments.
71The heads of families gave for the treasury of the work twenty thousand gold drachmas and two thousand two hundred pounds of silver.
72And the rest of the people gave twenty thousand drams of gold, two thousand pounds of silver, and sixty-seven priestly garments.
73And the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the people, the temple servants, and all Israel dwelt in their cities. When the seventh month had come, the children of Israel were in their cities;
Nehemiah Chapter 8
Ezra reads the law to the people
1 All the people gathered together as one in the square before the Water Gate, and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel.
2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could understand, on the first day of the seventh month.
3 He read from the book in the square before the Water Gate from early morning until noon, in the presence of the men and women and all who could understand; and all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
4 Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose, and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5 So Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!” lifting up their hands; and they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
7 And the Levites Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, explained the Law to the people; and the people stood attentively in their places.
8 And they read from the Book of the Law of God clearly, and gave the meaning, so that they understood what was being read.
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who explained to the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord our God; Do not grieve or weep, for all the people were weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
10 Then he said to them, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet wine, and send some to those who have nothing prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
11 So the Levites silenced all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this is a holy day; do not grieve.”
12 And all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.
13 The next day the heads of the families of all the people, along with the priests and Levites, gathered together to Ezra the scribe to understand the words of the Law.
14 And they found written in the law, which the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths during the solemn feast of the seventh month;
15 and that they should make it known and proclaim throughout all their cities and throughout Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and every leafy tree to make booths, as it is written.”
16 So the people went out and brought branches and made booths, each on his own roof, in his courtyards, in the courtyards of the house of God, in the square by the Water Gate, and in the square by the Ephraim Gate.
17 All the congregation that had returned from the captivity made booths and dwelt in booths; for from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was great rejoicing.
18 And Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God every day, from the first day to the last; And they held the solemn feast for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rite.
Nehemiah Chapter 9
Ezra confesses the sins of Israel
1 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites assembled, fasting and wearing sackcloth with dust on their heads.
2 Now the descendants of Israel had separated themselves from all foreigners, and standing, they confessed their sins and the iniquities of their ancestors.
3 Standing in their places, they read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and for a quarter they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God.
4 Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani stood on the platform of the Levites and cried out with a loud voice to the Lord their God.
5 And the Levites Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said: “Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting; And blessed be your glorious name, exalted above all blessing and praise.
6 You alone are the Lord; you made the heavens, even the highest heavens, with all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
7 You, Lord, are the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham.
8 You found his heart faithful before you and made a covenant with him to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. You kept your word, for you are righteous.
9 You saw the misery of our ancestors in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea.
10 You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his servants, and against all the people of his land, for you knew that they had acted arrogantly against you; and you made a great name for yourself, as it is to this day.
11 You divided the sea before them, and they passed through the midst of it on dry land; and you cast their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into deep waters.
12 By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire, to give them light on the way they were to go.
13 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke to them from heaven, and gave them right judgments, true laws, and good statutes and commandments.
14 You commanded them to keep the Sabbath holy to yourself, and by the hand of your servant Moses you prescribed for them commandments, statutes, and the law.
15 You gave them bread from heaven in their hunger, and in their thirst you brought forth water for them out of the rock; And you told them to go in and possess the land, for which you lifted up your hand and swore that you would give it to them.
16But they and our ancestors were arrogant and stubborn, and did not listen to your commands.
17 They refused to hear or remember the wonders you performed for them; instead, they became stubborn and, in their rebellion, appointed a leader to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, for you did not abandon them.
18 Even when they made a molten calf for themselves and said, “This is your god who brought you up out of Egypt,” and committed many abominations,
19 in your great mercy you did not abandon them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud did not depart from them by day to guide them on their way, nor the pillar of fire by night to give them light on the path they were to take.
20 You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.
21 You sustained them for forty years in the wilderness; they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet swell.
22 You gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted them to their territories; and they possessed the land of Sihon, the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og, king of Bashan.
23 You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land which you had promised their ancestors they would possess.
24 The descendants came and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, whom you delivered into their hands, both their kings and the peoples of the land, to do with them as they pleased.
25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land, and inherited houses filled with all kinds of good things, cisterns dug, vineyards and olive groves, and many fruit trees. They ate and were satisfied and delighted in your great goodness.
26 But they provoked you to anger and rebelled against you, turning their backs on your law. They killed your prophets who warned against them to turn them back to you, and they committed great abominations.
27 Then you handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. But in their time of distress they cried out to you, and you heard them from heaven. In your great mercy you sent deliverers to save them from the hand of their enemies.
28 But once they had peace, they again did evil in your sight, so you abandoned them to the hands of their enemies, who ruled over them. Yet they returned and cried out to you again, and you heard them from heaven and, according to your great mercy, delivered them many times.
29 You warned them to return to your law, but they became arrogant and did not listen to your commands. They sinned against your decrees, which, if a person obeys them, will give them life. They rebelled, stiffened their necks, and would not listen.
30 For many years you bore with them and warned them with your Spirit through your prophets, but they would not listen. Therefore you handed them over to the peoples of the land.
31 Yet in your great mercy you did not destroy them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and compassionate God.
32 Now therefore, our God, the great, mighty, and awesome God, who keeps covenant and mercy, do not let all the suffering that has come upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until this day, seem insignificant in your sight.
33 Yet you are just in all that has befallen us, for you have acted rightly, but we have done wrong.
34 Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our ancestors did not obey your law or pay attention to your commands and your testimonies with which you warned them.
35 And they, in their kingdom and in the great goodness that you gave them, and in the spacious and fertile land that you delivered before them, did not serve you or turn from their evil ways.
36 Behold, we are slaves today; Here we are, servants in the land you gave our ancestors to eat its fruit and its bounty.
37 And its fruit is multiplied for the kings you have set over us because of our sins, who rule over our bodies and our livestock according to their will, and we are in great distress.
People's pact to uphold the law
38 Because of all this, we make a faithful promise, and we write it down, signed by our princes, by our Levites, and by our priests.
Nehemiah Chapter 10
1 Those who signed were: Nehemiah the governor, son of Hachaliah, and Zedekiah,
2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchiah,
4 Hatus, Shebaniah, Maluch,
5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6 Daniel, Ginethon, Baruch,
7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8 Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah These were priests.
9 And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,
10 and his brothers Shebaniah, Hodias, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 Micaiah, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 Hodias, Bani and Beninu.
14 The heads of the people: Paros, Pahat-moab, Elam, Zatu, Bani,
15 Buni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azur,
18 Hodiah, Hasum, Bezai,
19 Harif, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Magpiah, Mesulam, Hezir,
21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 Pelathias, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasub,
24 Halohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25 Rehum, Hasabna, Maaseiah,
26 Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27 Maluch, Harim and Baana.
28 The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, with their wives, sons, and daughters, all who had understanding and discernment—
29 gathered with their brothers and their leaders to take an oath and swear that they would walk in the Law of God, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and that they would keep and perform all the commandments, decrees, and statutes of the Lord our Lord.
30 They swore that they would not give their daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for their sons.
31 They also swore that if the peoples of the land brought merchandise or food to sell on the Sabbath day, they would not buy anything from them on that day or on any other holy day. They also swore that in the seventh year they would let the land rest and release all debts.
32 We also imposed upon ourselves by law the charge of contributing each year a third of a shekel for the work of the house of our God;
33for the bread of the Presence and for the regular grain offering, for the regular burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the festivals, and for the holy things and the sin offerings for Israel, and for all the service of the house of our God.
34 We also cast lots—the priests, the Levites, and the people—concerning the wood offering, to bring it to the house of our God, according to the houses of our ancestors, at the appointed times each year, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law.
35 And that we would bring to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits of our land and the firstfruits of every tree.
36 Likewise, the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock, as it is written in the Law; and that we would bring the firstborn of our cattle and of our sheep to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God.
37 We would also bring the firstfruits of our dough, our offerings, the fruit of every tree, the wine, and the oil, for the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our land for the Levites. and that the Levites would receive the tithes of our labors in all the cities;
38 and that the priest, the son of Aaron, would be with the Levites when the Levites received the tithe; and that the Levites would bring the tithe of the tithe to the house of our God, to the chambers of the treasury.
39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of grain, wine, and oil to the treasury chambers; and there shall be the utensils of the sanctuary, and the priests who minister, the gatekeepers, and the singers; and we will not neglect the house of our God.
Nehemiah Chapter 11
The inhabitants of Jerusalem
1 The leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, and the other nine out of every ten to live in the other cities.
2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.
3 These were the leaders of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the cities of Judah, each lived in his own possession, in his own cities: the Israelites, the priests and Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants.
4 So some of the people of Judah and some of the people of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From the descendants of Judah: Atahai son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the descendants 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 Shiloni.
6 All the descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 strong men.
7 These are the descendants 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 After him came Gabai and Salai, 928 in total.
9 Joel son of Zichri was their commander, and Judah son of Sennua was second in command in the city.
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, prince of the house of God,
12 and his brothers, who did the work of the house, 822; and Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amsi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah,
13 and his brothers, heads of families, 242; and Amasai son of Azareel, son of Azai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer,
14 and his brothers, men of great strength, 128, the chief of whom was Zabdiel son of Gedolim.
15 Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni;
16 Shabbethai and Jozabad, chief Levites who were in charge of the external work on the house of God;
17 Mattaniah son of Micah, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, the chief one, who began the praises and thanksgiving at the time of prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his brothers; and Abda son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun.
18 All the Levites in the holy city numbered 284.
19 The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, guards at the gates, 172 in number.
20 The rest of Israel, the priests and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each in his allotted inheritance.
21 The temple servants lived on the Ophel; and Ziha and Gispa were in charge of the temple servants.
22 The chief of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micah, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, in charge of the work of the house of God.
23 For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a daily allowance for the singers.
24 Now Pethaiah son of Meshezabeel, of the sons of Zerah son of Judah, was at the king’s service in all matters concerning the people.
Inhabited places outside Jerusalem
25 As for the villages and their lands, some of the children of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its villages, in Dibon and its villages, in Jekabzeel and its villages,
26 in Jeshua, Moladah, and Beth-pelet,
27 in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its villages,
28 in Ziklag, in Meconah and its villages,
29 in En-rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth,
30 in Zanoah, in Adullam and its villages, in Lachish and its lands, and in Azekah and its villages. And they lived from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.
31 And the children of Benjamin dwelt from Geba, in Michmash, in Aiah, in Bethel and its villages,
32 in Anathoth, Nob, Hananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Hadid, Zeboiim, Neballat,
35 Lod, and Ono, the Valley of the Craftsmen;
36 and some of the Levites, in the allotments of Judah and Benjamin.
Nehemiah Chapter 12
Priests and Levites
1 These are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amariah, Maluc, Hathus,
3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 Iddo, Ginettus, Abijah,
5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilga,
6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 Sallu, Amoch, Hilkiah and Jedaiah. These were the chief priests and their brothers in the days of Jeshua.
8 And the Levites: Jeshua, Binui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah and Mattaniah, who with his brothers officiated in the songs of praise.
9 And Bacbukiah and Uni, his brothers, each one in his ministry.
10 Jeshua begat Jehoiakim, and Jehoiacim begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Jehoiada;
11 Jehoiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.
12 And in the days of Jehoiakim the chief priests of families were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; from Jeremiah, Hananiah;
13 Ezra, Meshullam; of Amarias, Johanán;
14 of Melicú, Jonathan; of Sebanías, José;
15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraiot, Helcai;
16 of Iddo, Zechariah; from Ginethon, Meshullam;
17 Abijah, Zicri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;
18 of Bilga, Samúa; of Shemaiah, Jonathan;
19 of Joiarib, Matenai; 20 Uzzi was born of Jedaiah;
21 Calai of Sheali; Eber of Amoch;
22 Hashabiah of Hilkiah; Nethanel of Jedaiah.
23 The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Jehoiada, Johanan, and Jaddua were registered by heads of families; the priests were also registered until the reign of Darius the Persian.
24 The sons of Levi, heads of families, were registered in the book of the chronicles until the days of Johanan son of Eliashib.
25 The leaders of the Levites—Hassabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their brothers—stood before them to praise and give thanks, according to the statute of David the man of God, keeping their turn.
26 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub, the gatekeepers, were the keepers for the guard at the entrances of the gates.
26 These were in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, son of Jehozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest, the scribe.
Dedication of the wall
27 For the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought out the Levites from all their places to bring them to Jerusalem, to perform the dedication and the festival with praises and songs, with cymbals, harps, and lyres.
28 And the sons of the singers were gathered together, both from the region around Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites;
29 and from the house of Gilgal, and from the plains of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem.
30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves; and they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah on the wall, and I set two large choirs that went in procession; one on the right, on the wall, toward the Dung Gate.
32 Hoshaiah followed them with half the princes of Judah,
33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,
34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah.
35 Among the sons of the priests, Zechariah son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph, went with trumpets;
36 And his brothers Shemaiah, Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe before them.
37 And at the Fountain Gate, opposite them, they went up by the steps of the City of David, by the ascent of the wall, from the house of David to the Water Gate, on the east.
38 The second choir went on the opposite side, and I followed after it, with half the people on the wall, from the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall;
39 and from the Ephraim Gate to the Old Gate and to the Fish Gate, and the Tower of Hananeel, and the Tower of Hamea, to the Sheep Gate; and they stopped at the Prison Gate.
40 Then the two choirs came to the house of God; And I, and half of the officers with me,
41 and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Johanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loudly, and Izrahiah was the director.
43 And they sacrificed many sacrifices that day, and they rejoiced, for God had given them great joy; the women and children also rejoiced; and the rejoicing of Jerusalem was heard far away.
Portions for priests and Levites
44 On that day men were appointed over the treasuries, the offering boxes, the firstfruits boxes, and the tithe boxes, to collect in them from the fields of the cities the portions required by law for the priests and Levites. For Judah rejoiced greatly over the priests and Levites who served.
45 They had performed the service of their God and the service of atonement, as had the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the statute of David and of Solomon his son.
46 For from the days of David and Asaph, long ago, there had been a director of singers for the songs, the praises, and the thanksgivings to God.
47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah provided food for the singers and the gatekeepers, each portion on its appointed day. They also consecrated their portions to the Levites, and the Levites consecrated a portion to the sons of Aaron.
Nehemiah Chapter 13
Nehemiah's Reforms
1 On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud to the people, and it was found written in it that the Ammonites and Moabites should never enter the assembly of God,
2 because they did not meet the Israelites with bread and water, but instead gave money to Balaam to curse them; yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3 When they heard the law, they separated from Israel all who were of mixed ancestry with foreigners.
4 Now Eliashib the priest, who was in charge of the storeroom of the house of our God, had allied himself to Tobiah,
5 and had built him a large room in which they had previously stored the grain offerings, the incense, the utensils, the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were to be given to the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the priests’ offering.
6 Now I was not in Jerusalem at the time of all this, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. After some days I asked the king for permission
7 to return to Jerusalem. Then I learned of the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by making a room for him in the courts of the house of God.
8 I was greatly grieved, and I threw all the furnishings of Tobiah’s house out of the room.
9 I ordered that the rooms be cleansed, and I had the utensils of the house of God, the grain offerings, and the incense returned there.
10 I also found that the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, and that the Levites and singers who performed the service had each fled to their own inheritance.
11 So I rebuked the officials and said, “Why is the house of God neglected?” And I gathered them together and put them in their places.
12 All Judah brought the tithe of their grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses.
13 I appointed Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe as overseers, and Pedaiah as overseer of the Levites. Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, was in charge of them, for they were considered trustworthy, and they had to distribute to their fellow Israelites.
14 Remember me, O God, in this matter, and do not blot out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.
15 In those days I saw some people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath, carrying sheaves of grain, loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of other goods, which they brought to Jerusalem on the Sabbath. I warned them about the day they were selling provisions.
16 There were also Tyrians in the city who brought fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem.
17And I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath?
18 Did not your fathers do the same, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you add wrath to Israel by profaning the Sabbath?”
19 So it came to pass, when it was getting dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, that I ordered the gates to be shut, and commanded that they not be opened until after the Sabbath; and I stationed some of my servants at the gates, so that no cargo would be brought in on the Sabbath.
20 And the merchants and those who sold all kinds of merchandise remained outside Jerusalem once or twice.
21 And I warned them and said to them, “Why do you stand before the wall? If you do this again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath.
22 And I told the Levites to purify themselves and come to guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me also for this, O my God, and forgive me according to the greatness of your mercy.
23 I also saw in those days Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammonites, and Moabites;
24 and half of his children spoke the language of Ashdod, for they did not know how to speak Hebrew, but spoke according to the language of each people.
25 I contended with them, cursed them, and struck some of them, plucking out their hair. I made them swear, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.”
26 Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin in this? Although among many nations there was no king like him, beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel, even he was led into sin by foreign women.
27 And should we obey you in committing all this great evil of transgressing against our God by marrying foreign women?
28 Now one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him away from me.
29 Remember them, my God, against those who defile the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
30 So I purged them of all foreigners, and I assigned the priests and Levites to their divisions, each to his service;
31 for the offering of wood at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, my God, for good.
37 At the Fountain Gate, opposite them, they went up the steps of the City of David, along the ascent of the wall, from the House of David to the Water Gate on the east.
38 The second choir went on the opposite side, and I followed behind, with half the people on the wall, from the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall;
39 and from the Ephraim Gate to the Old Gate, to the Fish Gate, to the Tower of Hananel, to the Tower of Hammeah, and to the Sheep Gate; and they stopped at the Prison Gate.
40 Then the two choirs came to the house of God; and I, and half of the officers with me,
41 and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
42 Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Johanan, Malkijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with a loud voice, and Izrahiah was the director.
43 And they offered sacrifices that day in abundance, and they rejoiced, for God had given them great joy; the women and children also rejoiced; and the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.