He kepeth a fast. CHAP. VII. They come to Jerusalim. whose names are these, Eliphalet, 25 And weighed unto them the silJeiel, and Shemaiab, and with them ver, and the gold, and the vessels, even threescore males. the offering of the Louse of our God which the king, and his counsellors and his lords, ac all Israel there pre sent, had offerea: 14 Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males. L 15 T And I gathered them together 26 I even weighed unto their band o the river that runneth to Abava; six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and there abode we in tents three and silver vessels a hundred talents, days: aud 1 viewed the people, and and of gold a hundred talents; 27 Also twenty basons of gold, of a the priests, and found there one of thousand drams; and two vessels of the sons of Levi. fine copper, precious as gold. 28 And I said unto thein, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold ari a free-will-offering unto the Lord God of your fathers. 16 Then seut I 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. 29 Watch ye, and keep them, until 17 And I sent them with commaud- ye weigh them before the chief of the inent unto Iddo the chief at the place priests and the Levites, and the chief Casiphia, and I told them what they of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, should say unto Iddo, and to his breth- in the chamoers of the house of the ren the Nithinim, at the place Casi-LORD. phia, that they s ould bring unto us ministers for the use of our God. 30 So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the go.d, 18 And by the good hand of our God and the vessels, to bring them to Jeru upon us they brought us a man of un-salem, unto the house of our God. derstanding, of the sons of Mahli, the 31 T Then we departed from the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and She-[river of Ahava on the twelfth day of rebiab, with his sous and his brethren, eighteen ; 19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty. 20 Also of the Netbinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundre and twenty Nethiniins: all of them were expressed by name. | the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way. and 32 And we came to Jerusalem, abode there three days. 33 Now on the fourth day was the silver, and the gokl, and the vessels, weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him rous Eleazar the son of Phinehas: and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, L:• tes; 31 By number and by weigit cf every one: and all the weight was written at that time, 21 ¶ Then I prociaimed a fast there, at the river of Alava, that we might Alict ourselves before our God, to seek Am a right way for us, and for our *le ones, and for all our substance. 22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horse men to help us against the enemy in the way; because we had spoken unto 35. Also the children of those that had the king, saying, The hand of our God[been carried away, which were come is upon all them for good that seek out of the captivity, offered burnt-ofhim; but his power and his wrath is ferings unto De P ́d of lazael, twelve against all thein that forsake mm. builocks for all Israel, ninety and six 23 So we fasted and besought our God¦ rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve for this: and he was entreated of us. 24 T Then I separated twelve of the¦ chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with thein, he-goats for a sin-offering: all this was Ezra's prayer and EZRA. confession of sins. the river; and they furthered the peo-¡give us a reviving, to set up the house ple, and the house of God. of our God, and to repair the desolaCHAP. IX. tions thereof, and to give us a wall in NOW when these things were done, Judah and in Jerusalem. the princes came to me, saying, 10 And now, O our God, what shall The people of Israel, and the priests, we say after this? for we have forsakand the Levites, have not separated en thy commandments, themselves from the people of the 11 Which thou hast commanded by lands, doing according to their abom-thy servants the prophets, saying, The inations, even of the Canaanites, the land, unto which ye go to possess it, is Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, an unclean land with the filthiness of the Ammonites, the Moabites, the the people of the lands, with their Egyptians, and the Amorites. abominations, which have filled it 2 For they have taken of their daugh- from one end to another with their unters for themselves, and for their sons; cleanness. so that the holy seed have mingled 12 Now therefore give not your themselves with the people of those daughters unto their sous, neithertake luids: yea, the hand of the princes their daughters unto your sons, nor and rulers hath been chief in this tres- seek their peace nor their wealth for pass. 3 And when I heard this thing, rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked of the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonished. 4 Then were assembled unto me eve ry one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice. lever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever. 13. And afterall that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this: 14 Should we again break thy com5 T And at the evening sacrifice Imandments, and join in affinity with arose up from my heaviness; and hav-the people of these abominatious? ng rent my garment and my mantle, wouldest not thou be angry with us I fell upon my knees, and spread out till thou hast consumed us, so that my hands unto the LORD my God, there should be no remnant nor escap6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed ing? and blush to lift up my face to thee, 15 O LORD God of Israel, thou art my God: for our iniquities are increas-righteous; for we remain yet escaped, ed over our head, and our trespass is as it is this day; behold, we are before grown up unto the heavens. 7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been deliv ered 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. 3 And now for a little space grace nath been showed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in bis holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. thee in our trespasses; for we cannot stand before thee because of this. CHAP. X. OW when Ezra had prayed, and When he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of inen and women and children: for the people wept very sore. 2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. 9 For we were hondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bon- 3 Now therefore let us make a cove dage, but hath extended mercy unto us nant with our God to put away all the the sight of the kings of Persia, tolwives, and such as are born of thei Those who mz-ied CHAP. X. strange wolves according to the counsel of my lord,, have taken strange wives in our cities and of those that tremble at the com- come at appointed times, and with mandment of our God: and let it be them the elders of every city, and the done according to the law. judges thereof, until the fierce wrath 4 Arise; for this matter belongeth of our God for this matter be turned unto thee: we also will be with thee: from us. De of good courage, and do it. 15 ↑ Only Jonathan the son of Asa5 Then arose Ezra, and made the hel, and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah chief priests, the Levites, and all Is-were employed about this matter: racl, to swear that they should do ac-and Meshullam and Shabbethai the cording to this word. And they sware. Levite helped them. 6 ¶ Then Ezra rose up from before 16 And the children of the captivity the house of God, and went into the did so. And Ezra the priest,with cerchamber of Johanan the son of Eli-tain chief of the fathers, after the ashib; and when he came thither, he house of their fathers, and all of them did eat no bread,nor drink water: for by their names, were separated, and ne mourned because of the trangress-sat down in the first day of the tenth ion of them that had been carried month to examine the matter. 17 And they made an end with all the away. 7 And they made proclamation men that had taken strange wives by throughout Judah andJerusalem unto the first day of the first month. all the children of the captivity, that 18 And among the sons of the they should gather themselves togeth-priests there were found that had ta er unto Jerusalem; ken strange wives: namely, of the 8 And that whosoever would not sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak,and come within three days, according to his brethren; Maaseiab, and Eliezer, the counsel of the princes and the el-and Jarib, and Gedaliah. ders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away. 19 And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a rain of the flock for their trospass. 9 T Then all the men of Judalı and 20 And of the sons of Immer; HaBenjamin gathered themselves togeth- nani, and Zebadiah. er unto Jerusalem within three days. 21 And of the sons of Harim ; Maa It was the ninth month, and the twen-seiab, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, tieth day of the month; and all the Jehiel, and Uzziah. people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. and 22 And of the sons of Pasbur; Elio enai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah. 10 And Ezra the priest stood up,and] 23 Also of the Levites; Jozabad,and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Keaud have taken strange wives, to in-lita,) Pethaliah, Judab, and Eliezer. crease the trespass of Israel. 24 of the singers also; Eliashib: and 11 Now therefore make confession of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, unto the Lono God of your fathers, and Uri. and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. 12 Then all he congregation answer-Malchijab, and Bevaiah. ed and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. 25 Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Mal chiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and 26 And of the soñsol Elam; Matta niah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah. 13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are 37 And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenot able to stand without, neither is nai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jerethis a work of one day or two; for we moth, and Zabad, and Aziza. are many that have transgressed in this thing. 14 Let now our rulers of all the conZregation stand, and let all them which 28 Of the sons also of Bebai; Jebo hanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and All lai. 29 And of the sons of Bani; Meshw fasteth, and prayıth. 35 Benaiab, Bedeiah, Chellub, 36 Vaniab, Meremota, Eliashib, 37 Matteniah, Mattenai, and Jansau, 38 And Baui, and Binnui, Shimei, 39 And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shema riali, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. 43 of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel,Mat tithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Ju 33 Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathal, Zabad, Eliphelet, Je-el, Benaiab. remai, Manasseh, and Shimei, 44 All these had taken strange wives 34 Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, [and some of them had wives by whơn Amram, and Uel, they had children. T The Book of NEHEMIAH. CHAP. I. THE Nehemia the sun of Hachaliah. And it came to pass, in the mouth of Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, the judgments, which thou commandeust thy servent uses. S Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses,saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the na tions: 2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; 9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep and I asked them concerning the Jews my commandments, and do them; that had escaped, which were left of though they were of you cast out unto the captivity, and concerning Jerusa-the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will gather them from thence, an: km. 3 And they said unto me, The rem will bring them unto the place that nant that are left of the captivity there have chosen to set my name there. in the province are in great affliction 10 Now these are thy servants and and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem thy people, whom thou hast redeemed also is broken down, and the gates by thy great power, and by thy strong thereof are burned with Gre. hand. 4. And it came to pass, when I beard 11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now these words, that I sat down and wept, thine ear be attentive to the prayer of and mourneil certain days, and fasted, thy servant, and to the prayer of thự and prayed before the God of heaven, servants, who desire to fear thy name : 5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant God of heaven, the great and terrible this day, and grant him mercy in the God,that keepeth covenant and mercy sight of this man. For I was the for them that love him and observe his king's cup-bearer. commandments: CHAP. II. 6 Let thine ear now he attentive, and AND it came to pass in the month thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear Nisan, in the twentieth year of the prayer of thy servant, which Artaxerxes the king, that wine was pray before the now, day and night,[before him: and I took up the wine, for the children of Israel thy servants, and gave it unto the king. Now I had and confess the sins of the children of not been beforetime sad in his presIsrael, which we have sinned against ence. thee: both I and my father's house 2 Wherefore the king said unto me, have sinned. Why is thy countenance sad, seeing 7 We have dealt very corruptly thou art not sick? this is nothing else against thee, and have not kept the but sorrow of heart. Then I was very commandments, nor the statutes, norjsore afraid, 3 And said unto the king, Let the king live forever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my father's sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire ? 4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. Jerusalem 14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. 15 Then went I 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. 16 And the rulers knew not whither 5 And I said unto the king, If it I went, or what I did; neither had I please the king, and if thy servant as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the have found favour in thy sight, that priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the thou wouldest send me unto Judah, rulers, nor to the rest that did the unto the city of my fathers'sépulchres, work. that I may build it. 6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and 1 set him a time. 7 Moreover 1 said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; 17 ¶ Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jeru salem licth waste, and the gates thereof are buried with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. 18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had speken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthen 8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper ed their bands for this good work, of the king's forest, that he may give 19 But when Sanballat the Horon ine timber to make beams for the ite, and Tobiah the servant, the Amgates of the palaces which appertained monite, and Geshem the Arabian, to the house, and for the wall of the heard it, they laughed us to scoro, and city, and for the house that I shall en-despised us, and said, What is this ter into. Aud the king granted me, thing that ye do? will ye rebel against according to the good hand of my God, the king ? upon me. 20 Then answered I them, and said 9¶ Then I came to the governors unto them, The God of heaven, he will beyond the river, and gave them the prosper us; therefore we lus servants king's letters. Now the king had sent will arise and build: but ye have no captains of the army and borsemen portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem. with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammouite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. 11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. CHAP. III. HEN Eliashib the high priest rose TH up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep-gates; they [sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the towerof Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hana necl. 12 ¶ And I arose in the night, I and 2 And next unto him builded the men some few men with me; neither told of Jericho. And next to them builded Lany man what my God had_put_in]Zacchur the son of Imri. my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither 3 But the fish-gate did the sons of was there any beast with ine, save the Hassenaah build, who also laid the beast that I rode upon, beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. 13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the aragon-well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were comumed with fire. 4 And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the |