BACK
TOP BOOK TITLES
Ezra 1
1Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus
king of Persia so that the word of the LORD by the mouth of
Jeremiah might be fulfilled, so that he
made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing, saying,
2Thus says
Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and
he has charged me to build a house for him at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3Who is there
among you of all his people? his God be with him and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in
Judah and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
4And who ever remains in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place help him with
silver and with gold and with goods and with animals, beside the freewill offering for the
house of God that is in Jerusalem.
5Then the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin rose up and the priests and the
Levites, with all those whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD
which is in Jerusalem. 6And all those who were about them strengthened their
hands with vessels
of silver, with gold, with goods and with animals and with precious things, beside all that was
willingly offered. 7Also Cyrus the king brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD,
which Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem and had put them in the house of his
gods; 8Even those Cyrus king of Persia brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer and
numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. 9And this is the number of them: thirty
chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, twenty nine knives, 10Thirty basins of gold, four
hundred ten silver basins of a second sort, and a thousand. other vessels
11All the vessels of gold
and of silver were five thousand four hundred. All these Sheshbazzar brought up with
them of
the captivity who were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
BACK
TOP BOOK TITLES
Chapter 2
1Now these are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity,
of those who
had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to
Babylon and came again to Jerusalem and Judah, every one to his city; 2Who came with
Zerubbabel: Joshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum,
Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3The children of Parosh, two thousand
one hundred seventy two. 4The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy two. 5The children
of Arah, seven hundred seventy five. 6The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Joshua and
Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve. 7The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty
four. 8The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty five. 9The children of Zaccai, seven hundred
sixty. 10The children of Bani, six hundred forty two. 11The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty
three. 12The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty two. 13The children of Adonikam,
six hundred sixty six. 14The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty six. 15The children of Adin,
four hundred fifty four. 16The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety eight. 17The children of Bezai,
three hundred twenty three. 18The children of Jorah, one hundred twelve. 19The children of
Hashum, two hundred twenty three. 20The children of Gibbar, ninety five. 21The children of
Bethlehem, one hundred twenty three. 22The men of Netophah, fifty six. 23The men of Anathoth,
one hundred twenty eight. 24The children of Azmaveth, forty two. 25The children of Kirjatharim,
Chephirah and Beeroth, seven hundred forty three. 26The children of Ramah and Gaba, six
hundred twenty one. 27The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty two. 28The men of Bethel and
Ai, two hundred twenty three. 29The children of Nebo, fifty two. 30The children of Magbish, one
hundred fifty six. 31The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty four. 32The
children of Harim, three hundred twenty. 33The children of Lod, Hadid and Ono, seven hundred
twenty five. 34The children of Jericho, three hundred forty five. 35The children of Senaah, three
thousand six hundred thirty.
36The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Joshua, nine hundred seventy three.
37The children of Immer, one thousand fifty two. 38The children of Pashur, one thousand two
hundred forty seven. 39The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen. 40The Levites: the
children of Joshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy four. 41The singers: the
children of Asaph, pne hundred twenty eight. 42The children of the 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, in all one hundred thirty nine. 43The Nethinims: the children of
Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 44The children of Keros, the children of
Siaha, the children of Padon, 45The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children
of Akkub, 46The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan, 47The
children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah, 48The children of Rezin, the
children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, 49The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the
children of Besai, 50The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim,
51The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 52The children of
Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 53The children of Barkos, the children
of Sisera, the children of Thamah, 54The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 55The
children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of
Peruda, 56The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 57The children
of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.
58All the Nethinims and the children of Solomon's servants,
were three hundred ninety two.
59And these were they who went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and
Immer: but
they could not show their father's house and their seed, whether they were of Israel:
60The
children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty two. 61And
of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of
Barzillai; who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called after their
name: 62These sought their register among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but they
were not found: therefore they were put from the priesthood as polluted.
63And the Tirshatha said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things,
till there stood up a priest with Urim and
with Thummim.
64The whole congregation together was forty two thousand three hundred sixty, 65Beside their
servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty seven: and
there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women. 66Their horses were seven
hundred thirty six; their mules, two hundred forty five; 67Their camels, four hundred thirty five;
their asses, six thousand seven hundred twenty. 68And some of the chief of the fathers, when they
came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set
it up in his place: 69They gave after their ability to the treasure of the work sixty one thousand
drams of gold and five thousand pounds of silver and one hundred priests' garments. 70So the
priests and the Levites and some of the people and the singers and the porters and the
Nethinims, dwelled in their cities and all Israel in their cities.
BACK
TOP BOOK TITLES
Chapter 3
1And when the seventh month was come and the children of Israel were in the cities, the
people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. 2Then Joshua the son of Jozadak
stood up and his brothers the priests and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers and
built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of
Moses the man of God. 3And they set the altar on its bases; for fear was on them because of the
people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, even burnt
offerings morning and evening. 4They also kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written,
and
offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day
required; 5And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons and of all
the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated and of every one who willingly offered a
freewill offering to the LORD. 6From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt
offerings to the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.
7They
gave money also to the masons and to the carpenters; and meat and drink and oil, to them of
Sidon and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to
the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
8Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second
month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Jozadak and the remnant of their
brothers the priests and the Levites and all they who were come out of the captivity to Jerusalem
began to set forward the work of the house of the LORD and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and
upward. 9Then Joshua stood with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons,
the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of
Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites. 10And when the builders laid the
foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets and the
Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals to praise the LORD after the ordinance of David king
of Israel. 11And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks to the LORD; because
he is good, for his mercy toward Israel endures for ever. And all the people shouted with a great
shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
12But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men,
who had
seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a
loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13So that the people could not discern the noise of
the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud
shout and the noise was heard far off.
BACK
TOP BOOK TITLES
Chapter 4
1Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity
built the temple to the LORD God of Israel;
2Then they came to Zerubbabel and to the chief of
the fathers and said to them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as you do; and we
sacrifice to him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, who brought us up here. 3But
Zerubbabel and Joshua and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said to them, you have
nothing to do with us to build a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to the
LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us. 4Then the people of
the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah and troubled them in building, 5And hired
counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even
until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation to him
against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam,
Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the
writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
8Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes
the king in this sort: 9Then Rehum the chancellor wrote and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of
their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the
Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
10And the rest of
the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over and set in the cities of Samaria,
and the rest that are on this side the river and at such a time. 11This is
the copy of the letter that
they sent to him, even to Artaxerxes the king; Your servants the men on this side the river and at
such a time. 12Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from you to us are come to
Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city and have set up its walls and joined the
foundations. 13Be it known now to the king, that, if this city is built and the walls set up again,
then they will not pay toll, tribute and custom and you shall damage the revenue of the
kings. 14Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace and it was not fitting
for us
to see the king's dishonor, therefore we have sent and certified the king; 15That search may be
made in the book of the records of your fathers: and you shall find in the book of the records and
know that this city is a rebellious city and hurtful to kings and provinces and that they have
moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause this city was destroyed. 16We
certify the king that, if this city is built again and its walls set up, by this means you shall
have no portion on this side the river.
17Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor and to
Shimshai the scribe and to
the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria and to the rest beyond the river, Peace and
at such a time. 18The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.
19And I
commanded and search has been made and it is found that this city of old time has made
insurrection against kings and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it. 20There have
also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and
toll, tribute and custom, was paid to them. 21Now give commandment to cause these men to
cease and that this city not be built, until another commandment shall be given from me.
22Take heed now that you do not fail to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the
kings? 23Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai
the scribe and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews and made them
cease by force and power. 24Then the work of the house of God who is at Jerusalem ceased.
So it ceased to the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
BACK
TOP BOOK TITLES
Chapter 5
1Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the
Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even to them. 2Then
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the
house of God which is at Jerusalem: and the prophets of God were with them helping them.
3At the same time Tatnai, governor on this side the river came to them and Shetharboznai,
and their companions and said thus to them, Who has commanded you to build this house and
to make up this wall? 4Then we said to them after this manner, What are the names of the men
who make this building? 5But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, that they could
not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter
concerning this matter. 6The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the
river and
Shetharboznai and his companions the Apharsachites, who were on this side the river, sent to
Darius the king: 7They sent a letter to him, in which was written thus; to Darius the king, all
peace. 8Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the
great God, which is built with great stones and timber is laid in the walls and this work goes on
fast and prospers in their hands. 9Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, Who
commanded you to build this house and to make up these walls? 10We asked their names also, to
certify you, that we might write the names of the men who were the chief of them.
11And thus
they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and build
the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and set up. 12But
after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to anger, he gave them into the hand of
Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the
people away into Babylon. 13But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon
the same king
Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. 14And also the vessels of gold and silver of the
house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought
them into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon and
they were delivered to one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
15And
said to him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem and let the
house of God be built in its place. 16Then the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundation of
the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now it has been in
building and yet it is not finished. 17Now therefore, if it seems good to the king,
let a search be
made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so, that a decree was
made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem and let the king send his
pleasure to us concerning this matter.
BACK
TOP BOOK TITLES
Chapter 6
1Then Darius the king made a decree and search was made in the house of the rolls, where
the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is
in the province of the Medes, a roll and in it was a record thus written: 3In the first year of
Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at
Jerusalem, Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices and let its foundations
be strongly laid; its height sixty cubits, and its breadth sixty cubits;
4With three
rows of great stones and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's
house: 5And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar
took out of the temple which was at Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought
again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place and place them
in the house of
God. 6Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai and your
companions
the Apharsachites, who are beyond the river, get far from there: 7Let the work of this
house of
God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its
place. 8Also I make a decree of what you shall do to the elders of these Jews for building this
house of God: that expenses be given quickly to these men, of the king's goods, even of the
tribute beyond the river, so that they are not hindered. 9And that which they have need of, both
young bullocks and rams and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt,
wine and oil, according to the appointment of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given
them day by day without fail: 10So that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savors to the God of
heaven and pray for the life of the king and of his sons. 11Also I have made a decree, that who
ever shall alter this word, let a timber be pulled down from his house and being set up, let him be
hanged on it; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. 12And the God who has caused his
name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, who shall put to their hand to alter and to
destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with
speed.
13Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai and their companions,
according to
that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. 14And the elders of the Jews built and
they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo.
And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel and
according to the commandment of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15And this
house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign
of Darius the king. 16And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the
children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, 17And offered at the
dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and
for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
18And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses, for the service of
God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses. 19And the children of
the
captivity kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 20For the priests and the
Levites were purified together, all of them were pure and killed the passover for all the children
of the captivity and for their brothers the priests and for themselves. 21And the children of
Israel, who were come again out of captivity and all such as had separated themselves to them
from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, ate,
22And kept
the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful and
turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house
of God, the God of Israel.
BACK
TOP BOOK TITLES
Chapter 7
1Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the
son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4The son of Zerahiah, the son of
Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of
Aaron the chief priest: 6This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of
Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request,
according to the hand of the LORD his God on him. 7And some of the children of Israel and of
the priests and the Levites and the singers and the porters and the Nethinims went up, to
Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 8And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth
month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9For on the first day of the
first month he
began to go up from Babylon and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem,
according to the good hand of his God on him. 10For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law
of the LORD and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
11Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest,
the scribe,
even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD and of his statutes to Israel.
12Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect
peace and at such a time. 13I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel and of theit
priests and Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go
with you. 14Forasmuch as you are sent by the king and by his seven counselors, to enquire
concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand;
15And
to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of
Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16And all the silver and gold that you can find
in all the
province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people and of the priests, offering
willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem: 17That you may speedily buy
with this
money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings and offer them
on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18And what ever shall seem
good to
you and to your brothers, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of
your God. 19The vessels also that are given you for the service of the house of your God, deliver
those before the God of Jerusalem. 20And what ever more shall be needful for the house
of your
God, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house. 21And
I, even I Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the river, that
what ever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, let it
be done speedily, 22To a hundred talents of silver and to a hundred measures of wheat and to a
hundred baths of wine and to a hundred baths of oil and salt without prescribing how much.
23What ever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the
God of heaven: for why should there be anger against the realm of the king and his sons? 24Also
we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or
ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, on them.
25And you, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God, that is in your hand, set magistrates and judges,
who may judge all the people who are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of your God;
and teach them who do not know them. 26And whoever will not do the law of your God and the
law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it is to death, or to
banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this
in the king's
heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem: 28And has extended mercy
to me
before the king and his counselors and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was
strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was on me and I gathered together out of Israel
chief men to go up with me.
BACK
TOP BOOK TITLES
Chapter 8
1These now are the chief of their fathers and this is the genealogy of them who went up with
me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. 2Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the
sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush. 3Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of
Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty.
4Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah and with him two hundred males.
5Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel and with him three hundred males. 6Of the sons
also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan and with him fifty males. 7And of the sons of Elam;
Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah and with him seventy males. 8And of the sons of Shephatiah;
Zebadiah the son of Michael and with him eighty males. 9Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son
of Jehiel and with him two hundred eighteen males. 10And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of
Josiphiah and with him one hundred sixty males. 11And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son
of Bebai and with him twenty eight males. 12And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of
Hakkatan and with him one hundred ten males. 13And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose
names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel and Shemaiah and with them sixty males. 14Of the sons also of
Bigvai; Uthai and Zabbud and with them seventy males. 15And I gathered them together to the
river that runs to Ahava; and there we abode in tents three days: and I viewed the people and the
priests and found none of the sons of Levi there. 16Then I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for
Shemaiah and for Elnathan and for Jarib and for Elnathan and for Nathan and for Zechariah,
and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib and for Elnathan, men of understanding. 17And I
sent them with commandment to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia and I told them what they
should say to Iddo, and to his brothers the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should
bring to us ministers for the house of our God. 18And by the good hand of our God on us they
brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and
Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen; 19And Hashabiah and with him Jeshaiah of
the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty; 20Also of the Nethinims, whom David and
the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred twenty Nethinims: all of
them were expressed by name.
21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before
our God, to seek of him a right way for us and for our little ones and for all our substance. 22For
I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the
enemy in the way: because we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our God is for good
on all those who seek him; but his power and his anger is against all those who forsake him. 23So
we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.
24Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah and ten of their
brothers with them, 25And weighed the silver and the gold to them and the vessels, even the
offering of the house of our God, which the king and his counselors and his lords and all Israel
there present, had offered: 26I even weighed to their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver and
silver vessels a hundred talents, and a hundred talents of gold; 27Also twenty basins of gold, of a
thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold. 28And I said to them, you are
holy to the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to
the LORD God of your fathers. 29Watch and keep them, until you weigh them before the chief of
the priests and the Levites and chief of the fathers of Israel, in the chambers of the house of the
LORD at Jerusalem. 30So the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver and the gold,
and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.
31Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to
Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was on us and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy,
and from such as lay in wait by the way. 32And we came to Jerusalem and abode there three
days. 33Now on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels was weighed in the house of
our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son
of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Joshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui,
Levites; 34By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.
35Also the children of those who had been carried away, who were come out of the captivity,
offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety six rams,
seventy seven lambs, twelve male goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering to the
LORD. 36And they delivered the king's commissions to the king's lieutenants and to the
governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people and the house of God.
BACK
TOP BOOK TITLES
Chapter 9
1Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel and
the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing
according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the
Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians and the Amorites. 2For they have taken
of their daughters for themselves and for their sons: so that the holy seed has mingled
themselves with the people of those lands: yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief
in this trespass. 3And when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my mantle and plucked off
the hair of my head and of my beard and sat down astonished. 4Then every one who trembled at
the words of the God of Israel were assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who
had been carried away; and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.
5And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having torn my garment and
my mantle, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God, 6And said, O my
God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God: for our iniquities are increased
over our head and our trespass is grown up to the heavens. 7Since the days of our
fathers we
have been in a great trespass to this day; and for our iniquities and our kings, and our priests, we
have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity and to a
spoil and to confusion of face, as it is this day. 8And now for a little space grace
has been shown
from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape and to give us a nail in his holy place,
that our God may lighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage. 9For we were
bondmen; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended mercy to us in the
sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God and to repair
its desolations and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. 10And now, O our God,
what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken your commandments, 11Which you have
commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, The land, to which you go to possess it, is an
unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have
filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness. 12Now therefore do not give your
daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth
for ever: that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to
your children for ever. 13And after all that is come on us for our evil deeds and for our great
trespass, seeing that you our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have
given us such deliverance as this; 14Should we again break your commandments and join in
affinity with the people in these abominations? would you not be angry with us till you had
consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? 15O LORD God of Israel, you are
righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before you in our
trespasses: for we cannot stand before you because of this.
BACK
TOP BOOK TITLES
Chapter 10
1Now when Ezra had prayed and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down
before the house of God, there assembled to him out of Israel a very great congregation of men
and women and children: for the people wept very sore. 2And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one
of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have trespassed against our God and have
taken foreign wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this
thing. 3Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives and such as
are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the
commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. 4Arise; for this matter
belongs to you: we also will be with you: be of good courage and do it. 5Then Ezra arose and
made the chief priests, the Levites and all Israel swear that they should do according to this
word. And they swore.
6Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God and went into the chamber of Johanan the
son of Eliashib: and when he came there, he did not eat bread, nor drink water: for he mourned
because of the transgression of those who had been carried away. 7And they made proclamation
throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather
themselves together to Jerusalem; 8And that whoever would not come within three days,
according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited and
he himself separated from the congregation of those who had been carried away. 9Then all the men
of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within three days. It was the
ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house
of God, trembling because of this matter and for the great rain. 10And Ezra the priest
stood up,
and said to them, you have transgressed and have taken foreign wives, to increase the trespass of
Israel. 11Now therefore make a confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do his pleasure:
and separate yourselves from the people of the land and from the foreign wives. 12Then all the
congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As you have said, so we must do. 13But the
people are many and it is a time of much rain and we are not able to stand outside,
neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many who have transgressed in this thing.
14Let our rulers of all the congregatio nown stand and let all them who have taken foreign
wives in our cities come at appointed times and with them the elders of every city and its judges, until the
fierce anger of our God for this matter is turned from us.
15Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this
matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. 16And the children of the
captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their
fathers and all of them by their names, were separated and sat down in the first day of the tenth
month to examine the matter. 17And they made an end with all the men who had taken foreign
wives by the first day of the first month. 18And among the sons of the priests there were found
those who had taken foreign wives: namely, of the sons of Joshua the son of Jozadak and his
brothers; Maaseiah and Eliezer and Jarib and Gedaliah. 19And they gave their hands that they
would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their
trespass.
20And of the sons of Immer; Hanani and Zebadiah. 21And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah,
and
Elijah and Shemaiah and Jehiel and Uzziah. 22And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah,
Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad and Elasah. 23Also of the Levites; Jozabad and Shimei and
Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer. 24Of the singers also;
Eliashib: and
of the porters; Shallum and Telem and Uri. 25Also of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah and
Jeziah and Malchiah and Miamin and Eleazar and Malchijah and Benaiah. 26And of the sons
of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah and Jehiel and Abdi and Jeremoth and Eliah. 27And of the sons
of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah and Jeremoth and Zabad and Aziza. 28Of the sons also
of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. 29And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam,
Malluch and Adaiah, Jashub and Sheal and Ramoth. 30And of the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna,
and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel and Binnui and Manasseh. 31And of the
sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32Benjamin, Malluch, and
Shemariah. 33Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh,
and Shimei. 34Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram and Uel, 35Benaiah, Bedeiah,
Chelluh,
36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37Mattaniah, Mattenai and Jaasau, 38And Bani,
and Binnui,
Shimei, 39And Shelemiah and Nathan and Adaiah, 40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41Azareel,
and Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. 43Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel,
Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau and Joel, Benaiah. 44All these had taken foreign wives: and
some of them had wives by whom they had children.
BACK
TOP BOOK TITLES