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Nehemiah 1
1The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it was in the twentieth year in
the month of Chisleu,, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2That Hanani, one of my brothers, came,
he and some men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were
left of the captivity and concerning Jerusalem. 3And they said to me, The remnant who are left
of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem
also is broken down, its gates are burned with fire. 4And it was when I heard these
words, that I sat down and wept and mourned certain days and fasted and prayed before the
God of heaven,
5And said, I beseech you, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, who keeps
covenant and mercy for them who love him and observe his commandments: 6Let your ear now
be attentive and your eyes open, that you may hear the prayer of your servant, which I pray
before you now, day and night, for your servants the children of Israel and I confess the sins of
the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you: both I and my father's house have
sinned. 7We have dealt very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, nor the
statutes, nor the judgments, which you commanded your servant Moses. 8Remember, I beseech
you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, If you transgress, I will scatter
you abroad among the nations: 9But if you turn to me and keep my commandments and do
them; even though you were cast out to the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them
from there and will bring them to the place that I have chosen to set my name there. 10Now these
are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your
strong hand. 11O Lord, I beseech you, now let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant,
and to the prayer of your servants, who desire to fear your name: and prosper, I beseech you, for
your servant this day and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's
cupbearer.
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Chapter 2
1And it was in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that
wine was before him: and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in
his presence before . 2Therefore the king said to me, Why is your countenance sad, seeing you
are not sick? this is nothing but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, 3And said to the
king, Let the king live for ever: why should my countenance not be sad, when the city, the place
of my fathers' sepulchers, lies waste and its gates are consumed with fire? 4Then the king
said to me, For what do you make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5And I said to the
king, If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you would send
me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' sepulchers, so that I may build it. 6And the king said to
me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall your journey be? and when will you
return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 7Also I said to the king, If it
pleases the king, let letters be given to me to the governors beyond the river, that they may
convey me over till I come into Judah; 8And a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that
he may give timber to me to make beams for the gates of the palace which pertained to the
house and for the wall of the city and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted
me, according to the good hand of my God on me.
9Then I came to the governors beyond the river and gave them the king's letters. Now the
king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10When Sanballat the Horonite and
Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was a man
come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. 11So I came to Jerusalem and was there three
days. 12And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither did I tell any man what my
God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any animal with me, save the
animal that I rode on. 13And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon
well and to the dung port and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down and its
gates were consumed with fire. 14Then I went on to the gate of the fountain and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the animal that was under me to pass. 15Then I went up in the
night by the brook and viewed the wall and turned back and entered by the gate of the valley,
and so returned. 16And the rulers did not know where I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet
told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did
the work. 17Then I said to them, you see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste,
and its gates are burned with fire: come and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, so that we
will be a reproach no more . 18Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good on me;
and also the king's words that he had spoken to me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So
they strengthened their hands for this good work. 19But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah
the servant, the Ammonite and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn and
despised us and said, What is this thing that you do? will you rebel against the king? 20Then I
answered them and said to them, The God of heaven, will prosper us; therefore we his servants
will arise and build: but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
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Chapter 3
1Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests and they built the sheep
gate; they sanctified it and set up its doors; even to the tower of Meah they sanctified it, to the
tower of Hananeel. 2And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son
of Imri built . 3But the sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate, they also laid its beams and set up
its doors, its locks and its bars. 4And next to them Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz
repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel repaired.
And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. 5And next to them the Tekoites repaired; but
their nobles did not put their necks to the work of their Lord. 6Also Jehoiada the son of Paseah,
and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the old gate; they laid its beams and set up its
doors and its locks and its bars. 7And next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the
Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah repaired, to the throne of the governor on this
side the river. 8Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths repaired. Next to him
Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries also repaired and they fortified Jerusalem to the
broad wall. 9And next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem
repaired. 10And next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired, even opposite his house.
And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabniah repaired. 11Malchijah the son of Harim and
Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece and the tower of the furnaces. 12And
next to him Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem repaired, he and
his daughters. 13The valley gate, Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired; they built it and
set up its doors, its locks and its bars and a thousand cubits on the wall to the dung gate. 14But
the dung gate Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem repaired; he built
it and set up its doors, its locks and its bars. 15But Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part
of Mizpah repaired the gate of the fountain; he built it and covered it and set up its doors, its
locks and its bars and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden and to the stairs that
go down from the city of David. 16After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half
part of Bethzur repaired , to the place opposite the sepulchers of David and to the pool that was
made and to the house of the mighty. 17After him the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani repaired.
Next to him Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah repaired in his part. 18After him their
brothers, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah repaired . 19And next to
him Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah repaired another piece opposite the going up to
the armory at the turning of the wall. 20After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the
other piece, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21After him Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz repaired another piece, from the door of
the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib. 22And after him the priests, the
men of the plain repaired . 23After them Benjamin and Hashub repaired opposite their house.
After him Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah repaired by his house. 24After him
Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another piece, from the house of Azariah to the turning of
the wall, even to the corner. 25Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the turning of the wall and
the tower which lies out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison. After
him Pedaiah the son of Parosh repaired. 26Also the Nethinims who dwelled in Ophel repaired to
the place opposite the water gate toward the east and the tower that lies outward. 27After them
the Tekoites repaired another piece, opposite the great tower that lies outward, even to the wall
of Ophel. 28The priests repaired from above the horse gate, every one opposite their house.
29After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his house. After him also Shemaiah the
son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate repaired. 30After him Hananiah the son of
Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another piece. After him Meshullam the
son of Berechiah repaired opposite his chamber. 31After him Malchiah the goldsmith's son
repaired to the place of the Nethinims and of the merchants, opposite the gate Miphkad and to
the going up of the corner. 32And between the going up of the corner to the sheep gate, the
goldsmiths and the merchants repaired .
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Chapter 4
1But it was, that when Sanballat heard that we built the wall, he was angry and took
great indignation and mocked the Jews. 2And he spoke before his brothers and the army of
Samaria and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? will they fortify themselves? will they
sacrifice? will they finish in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish
which are burned? 3Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him and he said, Even that which they
build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. 4Hear, O our God; for we are
despised: and turn their reproach on their own head and give them for a prey in the land of
captivity: 5And cover not their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out from before you: for
they have provoked you to anger before the builders. 6So built we the wall; and all the wall was
joined together to the half of it: for the people had a mind to work.
7But it was, 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 angry, 8And all of them conspired together to come and to
fight against Jerusalem and to hinder it. 9But we made our prayer to our God and set a watch
against them day and night, because of them. 10And 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 kill them and cause the work to stop. 12And it was, that when the Jews who
dwelled by them came, they said to us ten times from all places, From where ever you shall
return to us they will be on you. 13Therefore I set in the lower places behind the wall, and on the
higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears and their
bows. 14And I looked and rose up and said to the nobles and to the rulers and to the rest of the
people, Do not be afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and terrible and fight for
your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses. 15And it was,
when our enemies heard that it was known to us and God had brought their counsel to nothing,
that all of us returned to the wall, every one to his work.
16And it was from that time onward, that the half of my servants worked in the
work and the other half of them held the spears, the shields and the bows and the habergeons;
and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. 17They who built on the wall and they who
bore burdens, with those who carried, every one with one of his hands worked in the work and
with the other hand held a weapon. 18For every one of the builders had his sword girded by his
side and so built. And he who sounded the trumpet was by me. 19And I said to the nobles and to
the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large and we are separated on the
wall, far from one another. 20In whatever place therefore you hear the sound of the trumpet,
resort there to us: our God shall fight for us. 21So we labored in the work: and half of them held
the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. 22Likewise at the same time I
said to the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they
may be a guard to us and labor in the day. 23So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor
the men of the guard who followed me, none of us put off our clothes, except that every one put
them off for washing.
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Chapter 5
1And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.
2For there were those who said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: therefore we will
take up corn for them, that we may eat and live. 3There were some also who said, We have
mortgaged our lands, vineyards and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4There were some also who said, We have borrowed money on our lands and vineyards for the
king's taxes. 5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children:
and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants and some of our
daughters are brought to bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other
men have our lands and vineyards.
6And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 7Then I consulted with myself,
and I rebuked the nobles and the rulers and said to them, you exact usury, every one of his
brother. And I set a great assembly against them. 8And I said to them, We after our ability have
redeemed our brothers the Jews, who were sold to the heathen; and will you even sell your
brothers? or shall they be sold to us? Then they held their peace and found nothing to answer.
9Also I said, It is not good that you are doing: should you not walk in the fear of our God because
of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? 10I likewise, and my brothers and my servants,
might exact money and corn of them: I beseech you, let us leave off this usury. 11Restore to
them, I beseech you, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive yards and their
houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the corn, the wine and the oil, that you
exacted of them. 12Then they said , We will restore it and will require nothing of them; so we
will do as you say. Then I called the priests and took an oath from them, that they should do
according to this promise. 13Also I shook my lap and said, So God shake out every man from his
house and from his labor, who does not perform this promise, even thus shall he be shaken out,
and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen and praised the LORD. And the people did
according to this promise.
14Also from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the
twentieth year even to the thirty second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is twelve years, I and
my brothers had not eaten the bread of the governor. 15But the former governors who had been
before me were chargeable to the people and had taken bread and wine from them, beside forty
shekels of silver; yes, even their servants bore rule over the people: but I did not do so, because
of the fear of God. 16Yes, I also continued in the work of this wall, neither did we buy any land:
and all my servants were gathered there to the work. 17Also there were at my table one hundred
fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those who came to us from among the heathen who are about
us. 18Now 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 I did not
require the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy on this people. 19Think on me,
my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
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Chapter 6
1Now it was, when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arabian and the rest of
our enemies, heard that I had built the wall and that there was no gap left in it; (though at that
time I had not set up the doors on the gates;) 2That Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying,
Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they planned to
do mischief to me. 3And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I
cannot come down: why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you? 4Yet they
sent to me four times after this manner; and I answered them after the same manner. 5Then
Sanballat sent his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; 6In
which was written, It is reported among the nations and Gashmu says that you and the Jews
think to rebel: for which cause you build the wall, so that you may be their king, according to
these words. 7And you have also appointed prophets to preach for you at Jerusalem, saying,
There is a king in Judah: and now it shall be reported to the king according to these words. Come
now therefore and let us take counsel together. 8Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such
things done as you say, but you feign them out of your own heart. 9For they all made us afraid,
saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, so that it will not be done. Now therefore,
O God, strengthen my hands.
10Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, that
was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple and let us
shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to kill you; yes, in the night they will come to
kill you. 11And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would
go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. 12And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent
him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13Therefore he was hired, that I should be afraid and do so and sin and that they might have
something for an evil report, so that they might reproach me. 14My God, think on Tobiah and
Sanballat according to these their works and on the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the
prophets, who would have put me in fear.
15So the wall was finished in the twenty fifth day of the month of Elul, in fifty two days.
16And it was, that when all our enemies heard of it and all the nations who were about
us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this
work was worked by our God. 17Also in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to
Tobiah and the letters of Tobiah came to them. 18For there were many in Judah sworn to 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. 19Also they reported his good deeds before me and
uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
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Chapter 7
1Now it was, when the wall was built and I had set up the doors and the porters and
the singers and the Levites were appointed, 2That 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. 3And I said to them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and
while they stand by, let them shut the doors and bar them: and appoint watches from the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch and every one opposite his house. 4Now the city
was large and great: but the people were few in it and the houses were not built.
5And 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 I found a register of the genealogy of them who
came up at the first and found what was written in it, 6These are the children of the province,
who went up out of the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar
the king of Babylon had carried away and returned again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one
to his city; 7Who came with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani,
Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of
Israel was: 8The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy two. 9The children of
Shephatiah, three hundred seventy two. 10The children of Arah, six hundred fifty two. 11The
children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred
eighteen. 12The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty four. 13The children of Zattu,
eight hundred forty five. 14The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty. 15The children of Binnui,
six hundred forty eight. 16The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty eight. 17The children of
Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty two. 18The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty
seven. 19The children of Bigvai, two thousand sixty seven. 20The children of Adin, six hundred
fifty five. 21The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety eight. 22The children of Hashum, three
hundred twenty eight. 23The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty four. 24The children of
Hariph, one hundred twelve. 25The children of Gibeon, ninety five. 26The men of Bethlehem and
Netophah, one hundred eighty eight. 27The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty eight. 28The
men of Bethazmaveth, forty two. 29The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah and Beeroth, seven
hundred forty three. 30The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty one. 31The men of
Michmas, one hundred twenty two. 32The men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred twenty three. 33The
men of the other Nebo, fifty two. 34The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred
fifty four. 35The children of Harim, three hundred twenty. 36The children of Jericho, three
hundred forty five. 37The children of Lod, Hadid and Ono, seven hundred twenty one. 38The
children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred thirty. 39The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of
the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy three. 40The children of Immer, one thousand fifty
two. 41The children of Pashur, one thousand two hundred forty seven. 42The children of Harim,
one thousand seventeen. 43The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of
Hodevah, seventy four. 44The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred forty eight. 45The
porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of
Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, one hundred thirty eight. 46The Nethinims:
the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 47The children of
Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon, 48The children of Lebana, the children of
Hagaba, the children of Shalmai, 49The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of
Gahar, 50The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 51The children of
Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah, 52The children of Besai, the children of
Meunim, the children of Nephishesim, 53The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the
children of Harhur, 54The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah, 56The children of
Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 57The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the
children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, 58The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the
children of Giddel, 59The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth
of Zebaim, the children of Amon. 60All the Nethinims and the children of Solomon's servants,
were three hundred ninety two. 61And these were they who went up also from Telmelah,
Telharesha, Cherub, Addon and Immer: but they could not show their father's house, nor their
seed, whether they were of Israel. 62The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children
of Nekoda, six hundred forty two. 63And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of
Koz, the children of Barzillai, who took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife,
and was called after their name. 64These sought their register among those who were reckoned by
genealogy, but it was not found: therefore, as polluted, they were put out of the priesthood.
65And
the Tirshatha said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a
priest with Urim and Thummim. 66The whole congregation together was forty two thousand
three hundred sixty, 67Beside their man servants and their maidservants, of whom there were
seven thousand three hundred thirty seven: and they had two hundred forty five singing men and
singing women. 68Their horses, seven hundred thirty six: their mules, two hundred forty five:
69Their camels, four hundred thirty five: six thousand seven hundred twenty asses. 70And some of
the chief of the fathers gave to the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of
gold, fifty basins, five hundred thirty priests' garments. 71And some of the chief of the fathers
gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold and two thousand two hundred
pound of silver. 72And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold,
and two thousand pound of silver and sixty seven priests' garments. 73So the priests and the
Levites and the porters and the singers and some of the people and the Nethinims and all
Israel, dwelled in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in
their cities.
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Chapter 8
1And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before
the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which
the LORD had commanded to Israel. 2And Ezra the priest brought the law before the
congregation both of men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first
day of the seventh month. 3And he read in it before the street that was before the water gate
from the morning until midday, before the men and the women and those who could
understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4And Ezra the
scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for that purpose; and beside him stood
Mattithiah and Shema and Anaiah and Urijah and Hilkiah and Maaseiah, on his right hand;
and on his left hand, Pedaiah and Mishael and Malchiah and Hashum and Hashbadana,
Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he
was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: 6And Ezra blessed the
LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands:
and they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7Also
Joshua and Bani and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita,
Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and
the people stood in their place. 8So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly and gave
the sense and caused them to understand the reading.
9And Nehemiah, who is the Tirshatha and Ezra the priest the scribe and the Levites who
taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn
nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10Then he said to
them, Go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet and send portions to them for whom nothing
is prepared: for this day is holy to our Lord: neither be sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your
strength. 11So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy;
neither be grieved. 12And all the people went their way to eat and to drink and to send portions,
and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
13And on the second day the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests and the Levites
were gathered together to Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law. 14And 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: 15And that they should publish and
proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth to the mount and bring olive
branches and pine branches and myrtle branches and palm branches and branches of thick
trees, to make booths, as it is written. 16So the people went out and brought them and made
themselves booths, every one on the roof of his house and in their courts and in the courts of
the house of God and in the street of the water gate and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
17And all the congregation of those who were come again out of the captivity made booths and
sat under the booths: for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day the children of Israel
had not done so. And there was very great gladness. 18Also day by day, from the first day to the
last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the
eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the manner.
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Chapter 9
1Now in the twenty fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with
fasting and with sackcloth and earth on them. 2And the seed of Israel separated themselves
from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3And
they stood up in their place and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth
part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.
4Then the Levites, Joshua and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani
stood on the stairs and cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God. 5Then the Levites,
Joshua and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said,
Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be your glorious name,
which is exalted above all blessing and praise. 6You, even you, are LORD alone; you have made
heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are in it, the seas,
and all that is in it and you preserve them all; and the host of heaven worships you. 7You are the
LORD the God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees and gave him the
name of Abraham; 8And found his heart faithful before you and made a covenant with him to
give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Jebusites,
and the Girgashites, to give it to his seed and you have performed your words; for you are
righteous: 9And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry by the Red
Sea; 10And showed signs and wonders on Pharaoh and on all his servants and on all the people
of his land: for you knew that they dealt proudly against them. So you made a name for yourself,
as it is this day. 11And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of
the sea on the dry land; and you threw their persecutors into the depths, as a stone into the
mighty waters. 12Also you led them by day by a cloudy pillar; and at night by a pillar of fire, to
give them light in the way in which they should go. 13You came down also on Mount Sinai and
spoke with them from heaven and gave them right judgments and true laws, good statutes and
commandments: 14And made known to them your holy sabbath and commanded them precepts,
statutes and laws, by the hand of Moses your servant: 15And gave them bread from heaven for
their hunger and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst and commanded
them that they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them. 16But they
and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their necks and did not listen to your
commandments, 17And refused to obey, neither were mindful of your wonders that you did
among them; but hardened their necks and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to
their bondage: but you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of
great kindness and you did not forsake them. 18Yes, when they had made a molten calf and
said, This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt and they worked great provocations;
19Yet in your manifold mercies you did not forsake them in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud
did not depart from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to
show them light and the way in which they should go. 20You also gave your good spirit to
instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their
thirst. 21Yes, you sustained them forty years in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their
clothes did not grow old and their feet did not swell. 22Also you gave them kingdoms and
nations and divided them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon and the land of the
king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. 23 You also multiplied their children as the
stars of heaven and brought them into the land, concerning which you had promised to their
fathers, that they should go in to possess it. 24So the children went in and possessed the land and
you subdued the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land before them and gave them into their
hands, with their kings and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would.
25And they took strong cities and a fat land and possessed houses full of all goods, wells dug,
vineyards and olive yards and fruit trees in abundance: so they ate and were filled and became
fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness. 26But they were disobedient and rebelled
against you and cast your law behind their backs and killed your prophets who testified against
them to return them to you and they worked great provocations. 27Therefore you delivered them
into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried
to you, you heard them from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them
saviors, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies. 28But after they had rest, they did evil
again before you: therefore you left them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the
dominion over them: yet when they returned and cried to you, you heard them from heaven; and
many times you delivered them according to your mercies; 29And testified against them, that you
might bring them again to your law: yet they dealt proudly and did not listen to your
commandments, but sinned against your judgments, (which if a man does, he shall live by them;)
and they withdrew their shoulder and hardened their neck and would not listen. 30Yet you
forbore them many years and testified against them by your spirit in your prophets: yet they
would not give ear: therefore you gave them into the hand of the people of the lands. 31But for
your great mercies' sake you did not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for you are a
gracious and merciful God. 32Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty and the terrible
God, who keeps covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before you, that has come
on us, on our kings, on our princes and on our priests and on our prophets and on our fathers,
and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day. 33But you are just in
all that is brought on us; for you have done right, but we have done wickedly: 34Neither have our
kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept your law, nor listened to your
commandments and your testimonies, with which you testified against them. 35For they have not
served you in their kingdom and in your great goodness that you gave them and in the large and
fat land which you gave before them, neither did they turn from their wicked works. 36Behold,
we are servants this day and for the land that you gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its good,
behold, we are servants in it: 37And it yields much increase to the kings whom you have set over
us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies and over our cattle, at their
pleasure and we are in great distress. 38And because of all this we make a sure covenant and
write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal it.
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Chapter 10
1Now those who were sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah and
Zidkijah, 2Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4Hattush, Shebaniah,
Malluch, 5Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7Meshullam, Abijah,
Mijamin, 8Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests. 9And the Levites: Jeshua the son
of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; 10And their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodijah,
Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13Hodijah,
Bani, Beninu. 14The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani, 15Bunni,
Azgad, Bebai, 16Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur, 18Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
19Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub, 24Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek, 25Rehum,
Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, 27Malluch, Harim, Baanah. 28And the rest of
the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims and all they who had
separated themselves from the people of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and
their daughters, every one having knowledge and having understanding; 29They clung to their
brothers, their nobles and entered into a curse and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which
was given by Moses the servant of God and to observe and do all the commandments of the
LORD our Lord and his judgments and his statutes; 30And that we would not give our daughters
to the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons: 31And if the people of the land
bring wares or any food on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it from them on the
sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year and the exaction of every
debt.
32Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel
for the service of the house of our God; 33For the show bread and for the continual meat
offering and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set
feasts and for the holy things and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel and for
all the work of the house of our God. 34And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites and
the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our
fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is
written in the law: 35And to bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all fruit of
all trees, year by year, to the house of the LORD: 36Also the firstborn of our sons and of our
cattle, as it is written in the law and the first born of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the
house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God: 37And that we should
bring the first fruits of our dough and our offerings and the fruit of all kinds of trees, of wine
and of oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground to
the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. 38And the
priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites
shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure
house. 39For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of
the new wine and the oil, to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are and the priests
who minister and the porters and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.
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Chapter 11
1And the rulers of the people dwelled at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to
bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city and nine parts to dwell in other cities. 2And
the people blessed all the men, who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. 3Now
these are the chief of the province who dwelled in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah every one
of Israel dwelled in his possession in their cities, even the priests and the Levites and the
Nethinims and the children of Solomon's servants. 4And certain of the children of Judah and of
the children of Benjamin dwelled at Jerusalem. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of
Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel,
of the children of Perez; 5And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of
Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni. 6All the
sons of Perez who dwelled at Jerusalem were four hundred sixty eight valiant men. 7And these
are the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the
son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah. 8And after him Gabbai,
Sallai, nine hundred twenty eight. 9And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the
son of Senuah was second over the city. 10Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.
11Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the
son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God. 12And their brothers who did the work of the
house were eight hundred twenty two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the
son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah, 13And his brothers,
chief of the fathers, two hundred forty two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai,
the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14And their brothers, mighty men of valor, one
hundred twenty eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men. 15Also of
the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of
Bunni; 16And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outer
business of the house of God. 17And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of
Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among
his brothers and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18All the
Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty four. 19Also the porters, Akkub, Talmon and
their brothers who kept the gates, were a hundred seventy two.
20And the rest of Israel and of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah,
every one in his inheritance. 21But the Nethinims dwelled in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were
over the Nethinims. 22The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani,
the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers
were over the business of the house of God. 23For it was the king's commandment concerning
them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day. 24And Pethahiah the son
of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters
concerning the people. 25And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah
dwelled at Kirjatharba and in its villages and at Dibon and in its villages and at Jekabzeel and
in its the villages, 26And at Jeshua and at Moladah and at Bethphelet, 27And at Hazarshual and
at Beersheba and in its villages, 28And at Ziklag and at Mekonah and in its villages, 29And at
Enrimmon and at Zareah and at Jarmuth, 30Zanoah, Adullam and in their villages, at Lachish,
and its fields it, at Azekah and in its villages. And they dwelled from Beersheba to the valley of
Hinnom. 31The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelled at Michmash and Aija and
Bethel and in their villages, 32And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35Lod and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36And there were divisions
of the Levites in Judah, and in Benjamin.
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Chapter 12
1Now these are the priests and the Levites who went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel,
and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3Shechaniah, Rehum,
Meremoth, 4Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah, 5Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6Shemaiah and Joiarib,
Jedaiah, 7Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brothers
in the days of Jeshua. 8Also the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and
Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brothers. 9Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their
brothers, were opposite them in the watches. 10And Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim
also was the father of Eliashib and Eliashib was the father of Joiada, 11And Joiada was the father
of Jonathan and Jonathan was the father of Jaddua. 12And in the days of Joiakim there were
priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13Of Ezra,
Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15Of Harim,
Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17Of Abijah, Zichri;
of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; 18Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19And of
Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah;
of Jedaiah, Nethaneel. 22The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada and Johanan and Jaddua,
were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian. 23The sons
of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of
Johanan the son of Eliashib. 24And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah and Jeshua the
son of Kadmiel, with their brothers opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the
commandment of David the man of God, position opposite position. 25Mattaniah and
Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the position at the
thresholds of the gates. 26These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Joshua, the son of
Jozadak and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.
27And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their
places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with
thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries and with harps. 28And the sons of the
singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem and
from the villages of Netophathi; 29Also from the house of Gilgal and out of the fields of Geba
and Azmaveth: for the singers had built villages round about Jerusalem. 30And the priests and the
Levites purified themselves and purified the people and the gates and the wall. 31Then I
brought up the princes of Judah on the wall and appointed two great companies who gave
thanks, one went on the right hand on the wall toward the dung gate: 32And after them Hoshaiah,
and half of the princes of Judah went, 33And Azariah, Ezra and Meshullam, 34Judah and
Benjamin and Shemaiah and Jeremiah, 35And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets;
namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of
Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph: 36And his brothers, Shemaiah and Azarael,
Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the
man of God and Ezra the scribe before them. 37And at the fountain gate, which was opposite
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 east of the water gate. 38And the other company who gave thanks went opposite
them. And I and the half of the people on the wall went after them, from beyond the tower of the
furnaces even to the broad wall; 39And from above the gate of Ephraim and above the old gate,
and above the fish gate and the tower of Hananeel and the tower of Meah, even to the sheep
gate: and they stood still in the prison gate. 40So the two companies of those who gave thanks and
I and the half of the rulers with me stood in the house of God,: 41And the priests; Eliakim,
Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42And
Maaseiah and Shemaiah and Eleazar and Uzzi and Jehohanan and Malchijah and Elam and
Ezer. And the singers sang loudly, with Jezrahiah their overseer. 43They also offered great
sacrifices and rejoiced that day: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also
and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
44And at that time some were appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the
offerings, for the first fruits and for the tithes, to gather into them the portions, according to the
law, for the priests and Levites out of the fields of the cities: for Judah rejoiced for the priests
and for the Levites who waited. 45And both the singers and the porters kept the position of their
God and the position of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of
Solomon his son. 46For in the days of David and Asaph of old there was a chief of the singers,
and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in
the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, his portion every day: and
they sanctified holy things to the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them to the children of
Aaron.
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Chapter 13
1On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and in it was
found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God
for ever; 2Because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired
Balaam against them, that he should curse them: but our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3Now it was, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed
multitude. 4And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house
of our God, was allied to Tobiah: 5And he had prepared a great chamber for him , where
previously they had laid the meat offerings, the frankincense and the vessels and the tithes of
the corn, the new wine and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites and the
singers and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. 6But in all that time I was not in
Jerusalem: for in the thirty second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to the king and
after certain days I obtained leave of the king: 7And I came to Jerusalem and understood the
evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
8And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast out all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9Then I commanded and they cleansed the chambers: and I brought there the vessels of the
house of God again, with the meat offering and the frankincense.
10And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them: for the Levites
and the singers, who did the work had fled every one to his field. 11Then I contended with the
rulers and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together and set them
in their place. 12Then all Judah brought the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil to the
treasuries. 13And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the
scribe and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of
Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful and their office was to distribute to their brothers.
14Remember me, O my God, concerning this and do not wipe out my good deeds that I did for
the house of my God and for its offices.
15In those days I saw in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath and bringing in
sheaves and loading asses; and also wine, grapes and figs and all manner of burdens, which
they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day in which
they sold provisions. 16There dwelled also in it men of Tyre, who brought fish and all manner of
wares and sold to the children of Judah and in Jerusalem on the sabbath . 17Then I contended
with the nobles of Judah and said to them, What evil thing is this that you are doing and
profane the sabbath day? 18Did not your fathers thus and did not our God bring all this evil on
us and on this city? yet you bring more anger on Israel by profaning the sabbath. 19And it came
to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that
the gates should be shut and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and
some of my servants I set at the gates, so that there would be no burden brought in on the sabbath
day. 20So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged out side Jerusalem once or twice.
21Then I testified against them and said to them, Why do you lodge about the wall? if you do so
again, I will lay hands on you. From that time onward they no longer came on the sabbath.
22And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and that they should come
and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also,
and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy.
23In those days I also saw Jews who had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
24And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod and could not speak in the Jews'
language, but according to the language of each people. 25And I contended with them and
cursed them and struck certain of them and plucked off their hair and made them swear by
God, saying, you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your
sons, or for yourselves. 26Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many
nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God and God made him king over
all Israel: but outlandish women caused even him to sin. 27Shall we then listen to you to do all
this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying foreign wives? 28And one of the sons of
Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I
chased him from me. 29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood,
and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites. 30Thus I cleansed them from all
foreigners and appointed the positions of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
31And for the wood offering, at times appointed and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my
God, for good.
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