Nehemiah's prayer. CHAP. II, III. He incités the Jews to build. great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jeru- river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the salem also is broken down, and the gates thereof king had sent captains of the army and horseare burned with fire. men with me. 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these 10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the them exceedingly that there was come a man God of heaven, to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. 5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of hea- 11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three ven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth co- days. venant and mercy for them that love him and 12 W And I arose in the night, I and some few observe his commandments: men with me; neither told I any man what my 6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of neither was there any beast with me, save the thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day beast that I rode upon. and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, 13 And I went out by night by the gate of the and confess the sins of the children of Israel, valley, even before the dragon-well, and to the which we have sinned against thee: both I and dung-port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, iny father's house have sinned. which were oroken down, and the gates thereof 7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, were consumed with fire. and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. 14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. 8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou 15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entertransgress, I will scatter you abroad among the ed by the gate of the valley, and so returned. nations: 16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or 9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my command-what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the ments, and do them; though there were of you Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work. yet will I gather them from thence, and will 17 ¶ Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress bring them unto the place that I have chosen to that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and set my name there. the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and 10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, no more a reproach. and by thy strong hand. 18 Then I told them of the hand of my God 11 O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear which was good upon me; as also the king's be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to words that he had spoken unto me. And they the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengththy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant ened their hands for this good work. this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah this man. For I was the king's cup-bearer. CHAP. II. Nehemiah sent to Jerusalem. A the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, ND it came to pass in the month Nisan, in that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this] the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Ara- The builders of the wall. is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was THEN Eliashib the high priest rose up with very sore afraid, 3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchires, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep-gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meali they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel. 2 And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri. 4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou 3 But the fish-gate did the sons of Hassenaah make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set 5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, bars thereof. that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the 4 And next unto them repaired Meremoth the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto 6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased repaired Zadok the son of Baana. the king to send me; and I set him a time. 5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; 7 Moreover, I said unto the king, If it please but their nobles put not their necks to the work the king, let letters be given me to the governors of their LORD. beyond the river, that they may convey me over 6 Moreover,the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son till I come into Judah; of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; 8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors king's forest, that he may give me timber to thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. make beams for the gates of the palace which 7 And next unto them repaired Melatiah the appertained to the house, and for the wall of the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men city, and for the house that I shall enter into. of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the And the king granted me, according to the good governor on this side the river. hand of my God upon me. 8 Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of 911 Then I came to the governors beyond the Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also The names, &c. of the builders. NEHEMIAH. Nehemiah appointeth a watch repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothe-lemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, ancaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the other piece. After him repaired Meshullam the broad wall. son of Berechiah over against his chamber. 9 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the 31 After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem. son, unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the 10 And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and of Harumaph, even over against his house. And to the going up of the corner. next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Ha- 32 And between the going up of the corner unto shabniah. the sheep-gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants. CHAP. IV. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces. 12 And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusa lem, he and his daughters. 13 The valley-gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung-gate. Samaritans scoff at the builders. BUT it came to pass that when Sanballat heard 14 But the dung-gate repaired Malchiah the son 16 After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Beth-zur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty. ⚫17 After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah the ruler of the half part of Keilali, in his part. 18 After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the halfpart of Keilah. 19 And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armoury, at the turning of the wall. 20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz, another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib. 22 And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain. 6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. 7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, 8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. 11And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. 12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you. 13 1 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the 23 After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub people after their families with their swords, over against their house. After him repaired their spears, and their bows. Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananial, 14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the by his house. nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the 24 After him repaired Binnui the son of Hena-people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the dad another piece, from the house of Azariah un- LORD which is great and terrible, and fight for to the turning of the wall, even unto the corner. your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, 25 Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turn- your wives, and your houses. ing of the wall, and the tower which lieth out from 15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard the king's high house, that was by the court of the that it was known unto us, and God had brought prison. After him, Pedaiah the son of Parosh. their counsel to nought, that we returned all of 26 Moreover, the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, us to the wall, every one unto his work. unto the place over against the water-gate to- 16 And it came to pass from that time forth, ward the east, and the tower that lieth out. that the half of my servants wrought in the work, 27 After them the Tekoites repaired another and the other half of them held both the spears, · piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; even unto the wall of Ophel. and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. 17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every 29 After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer, one with one of his hands wrought in the work, over against his house. After him repaired also and with the other hand held a weapon. Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of 18 For the builders, every one had his sword the east gate. girded by his side, and so builded. And he that 30 After him repaired Hananiah the son of She-sounded the trumpet was by me. 28 From above the horse-gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house. Insidious conduct of Sanballa 19 ¶ And I said unto the nobles, and to the ru-|fore me were chargeable unto the people, and lers, and to the rest of the people, The work is had taken of them bread and wine, besides forty great and large, and we are separated upon the shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare wall, one far from another. rule over the people: but so did not I, because 20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the fear of God. of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our 16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this God shall fight for us. wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work. 17 Moreover, there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us. 21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. 22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day. 23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing. CHAP. V. Nehemiah reformeth usury. ND there was a great cry of the people and of A wives I 18 Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine yet for all this required not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. 19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according Endeavours to terrify Nehemiah. 2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and No Tobiah, and Gesher the Arabian, and the our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the 3 Some also there were that said, We have wall, and that there was no breach left therein; mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, (though at that time I had not set up the doors that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. upon the gates ;) 4 There were also that said, We have borrowed 2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me,, money for the king's tribute, and that upon our saying, Come, let us meet together in some one lands and vineyards. of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they 5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our bre-thought to do me mischief. thren, our children as their children: and lo, we 3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I bring into bondage our sons and our daughters am doing a great work, so that I cannot come to be servants, and some of our daughters are down: why should the work cease, whilst I brought into bondage already: neither is it in leave it, and come down to you? our power to redeem them; for other men have 4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; our lands and vineyards. and I answered them after the same manner. 6 And I was very angry when I heard their 5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in cry and these words. like manner the fifth time with an open letter in 7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuk- his hand; ed the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto 6 Wherein was written, It is reported among them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and And I set a great assembly against them. the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou 8 And I said unto them, We, after our ability, buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which king, according to these words. were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even 7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a us? Then held they their peace, and found king in Judah: and now shali it be reported to nothing to answer. the king according to these words. Come now 9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought therefore, and let us take counsel together. ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of 8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no the reproach of the heathen our enemies? such things done as thou sayest, but thou feign10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my ser-est them out of thine own heart. vants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. 11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. 9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen ny hands. 10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Meletabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet to12 Then said they, We will restore them, and gether in the house of God, within the temple, will require nothing of them; so will we do as and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will an oath of them, that they should do according they come to slay thee. to this promise. 11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? 13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake and who is there, that, being as I am, would go out every man from his house, and from his la- into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. bour, hat performeth not this promise, even thus 12 And lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the con- but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: gregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Aad the people did according to this promise. 13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be 44 1 Moreover, from the time that I was ap-afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might pointed to be their governor in the land of Ju-have matter for an evil report, that they might dah, from the twentieth year even unto the two reproach me. and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that 14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and San18, twelve years, I and my brethren have not ballat, according to these their works, and on eaten the bread of the governor. the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the pro 15 But the former governors that had been be-phets, that would have put me in fear. The wall of Jerusalem finished. NEHEMIAH. Those who returned from Babylon 15 ¶ So the wall was finished in the twenty and 22 The children of Hashum, three hundred fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. twenty and eight. 16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God. 17 ¶ Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the lctters of Tobiah came unto them. 18 For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. CHAP. VII. Number that returned from Babylon. Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters, and the singers, and the Levites were appointed, 2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. 3 And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. 4 Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. 23 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four. 24 The children of Hariph, a hundred and twelve. 25 The children of Gibeon, ninety and five. 26 The men of Beth-lehem and Netophah, a hundred fourscore and eight. 27 The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty and eight. 28 The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty and two. 29 The men of Kirjath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three. 30 The inen of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one. 31 The men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty and two. 32 The men of Beth-el and Ai, a hundred twenty and three. 33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two. 34 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 35 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty. 36 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five. 37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one. 38 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty. 39 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. 40The children of Immer, a thousand fiftyandtwo. 41 The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. 42 The children of Harim, a thousand and se venteen. 5 And my God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And 43 ¶ The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of I found a register of the genealogy of them which Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, sevencame up at the first, and found written therein, ty and four. 6 These are the children of the province, that 44 1 The singers: the children of Asaph, a went up out of the captivity, of those that had hundred forty and eight. been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the 45 The porters: the children of Shallum, the king of Babylon had carried away, and came children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the again to Jerusalem and to Judali, every one children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the unto his city; children of Shobai, a hundred thirty and eight. 7 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehe- 46 1 The Nethiuims: the children of Ziha, the mialı, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. 47 The children of Keros, the children of Sia, The number, I say, of the men of the people of the children of Padon, Israel was this; 48 The children of Lebana, the children of Ha 8 The children of Parosh, two thousand a hun-gaba, the children of Shalmai, dred seventy and two. 9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. 10 The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two. 11 The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen. 12 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five. 14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore. 15 The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight. 16 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight. 17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two. 18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven. 19 The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven. 20 The children ofA din,six hundred fifty and five. 21 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. 49 The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Galar, 50 The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 51 The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah, 52 The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim, 53 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 54 The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 55 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah, 56 The children of Neziali, the children of Hatipha. 57 1 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, 58 The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 59 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon. 60 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solo mon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two. Offerings of the people. CHAP. VIII, IX. Feast of tabernacles kept 61 And these were they which went up also Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, from Tel-melah, Tel-haresha, Cherub, Addon, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Leand Immer: but they could not shew their fa- vites, caused the people to understand the law: ther's house, nor their seed, whether they were and the people stood in their place. of Israel. 8 So they read in the book in the law of God 62 The children of Delaiah, the children of To-distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them biah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty to understand the reading. and two. 9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, 63 1 And of the priests: the children of Haba- and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites iah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, that taught the people, said unto all the people, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the This day is holy unto the LORD your God Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name. mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, 64 These sought their register among those that when they heard the words of the law. were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat found: therefore were they, as polluted, put the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions from the priesthood. 65 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thunimim. unto them for whom nothing is prepared for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. 11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be 66 1 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore. ye grieved." 67 Besides their man-servants and their maid- 12 And all the people went their way to eat, and servants, of whom there were seven thousand to drink, and to send portions, and to make great three hundred thirty and seven: and they had mirth, because they had understood the words two hundred forty and five singing-men and that were declared unto them. singing-women. 68 Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five: 69 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses. 70 1 And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' garments. 13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law. 14 And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month: 15 And that they should publish and proclaim 71 And some of the chief of the fathers gave in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go to the treasure of the work twenty thousand forth unto the mount, and fetch olive-branches, drams of gold, and two thousand and two hun- and pine-branches, and myrtle-branches, and dred pounds of silver. palm-branches, and branches of thick trees, to 72 And that which the rest of the people gave make booths, as it is written. was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two 16 T So the people went forth, and brought thousand pounds of silver, and threescore and them, and made themselves booths, every one seven priests' garments. upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, 73 So the priests, and the Levites, and the por- and in the courts of the house of God, and in the ters, and the singers, and some of the people, and street of the water-gate, and in the street of the the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their gate of Ephraim. cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities. CHAP. VIII. The law read and expounded. 17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths; for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the ND all the people gathered themselves to- children of Israel done so. And there was very A yether as one man into the street that was great gladness. before the water-gate; and they spake unto 18 Also day by day, from the first day unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Mo- the last day, he read in the book of the law of ses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. God. And they kept the feast seven days; and 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, acthe congregation both of men and women, and cording unto the manner. all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read therein before the street that was CHAP. IX. The Jews keep a solemn fast. before the water-gate from the morning until mid NOW in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assemday, before the men and the women, and those bled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and that could understand; and the ears of all the earth upon them. people were attentive unto the book of the law. 2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves 4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of from all strangers, and stood and confessed their wood, which they had made for the purpose; and sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. beside him stood Mattithiah, and Sliema, and 3 And they stood up in their place, and read in Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, the book of the law of the LORD their God one on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God. Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 4 Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Le5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all vites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, the people; (for he was above all the people ;) Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried and when he opened it, all the people stood up with a loud voice unto the LORD their God. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, BaAnd all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with ni, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, lifting up their hands: and they bowed their and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy to the ground. glorious name, which is exalted above all b.ess 7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, ing and praise. |