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The Holy
Bible
Ezra
Chapter 1
1 Now in the first year
of Cyrus king of Persia, that the
word of the LORD by the mouth of
Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the
LORD stirred up the spirit of
Cyrus king of Persia, that he
made a proclamation throughout
all his kingdom, and put it also
in writing, saying,
2 Thus saith Cyrus king of
Persia, The LORD God of heaven
hath given me all the kingdoms of
the earth; and he hath charged me
to build him an house at
Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3 Who 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.
4 And whosoever remaineth
in any place where he sojourneth,
let the men of his place help him
with silver, and with gold, and
with goods, and with beasts,
beside the freewill offering for
the house of God that is in
Jerusalem.
5 Then rose up the chief
of the fathers of Judah and
Benjamin, and the priests, and
the Levites, with all them whose
spirit God had raised, to go up
to build the house of the LORD
which is in Jerusalem.
6 And all they that were
about them strengthened their
hands with vessels of silver,
with gold, with goods, and with
beasts, and with precious things,
beside all that was willingly
offered.
7 Also Cyrus the king
brought forth the vessels of the
house of the LORD, which
Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth
out of Jerusalem, and had put
them in the house of his
gods;
8 Even those did Cyrus
king of Persia bring forth by the
hand of Mithredath the treasurer,
and numbered them unto
Sheshbazzar, the prince of
Judah.
9 And this is the number
of them: thirty chargers of gold,
a thousand chargers of silver,
nine and twenty knives,
10 Thirty basons of gold,
silver basons of a second sort
four hundred and ten, and other
vessels a thousand.
11 All the vessels of gold
and of silver were five thousand
and four hundred. All these did
Sheshbazzar bring up with them of
the captivity that were brought
up from Babylon unto
Jerusalem.
Chapter 2
1 Now these are the
children of the province that
went up out of the captivity, of
those which had been carried
away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the
king of Babylon had carried away
unto Babylon, and came again unto
Jerusalem and Judah, every one
unto his city;
2 Which came with
Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah,
Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai,
Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum,
Baanah. The number of the men of
the people of Israel:
3 The children of Parosh,
two thousand an hundred seventy
and two.
4 The children of
Shephatiah, three hundred seventy
and two.
5 The children of Arah,
seven hundred seventy and
five.
6 The children of
Pahath-moab, of the children of
Jeshua and Joab, two thousand
eight hundred and twelve.
7 The children of Elam, a
thousand two hundred fifty and
four.
8 The children of Zattu,
nine hundred forty and five.
9 The children of Zaccai,
seven hundred and threescore.
10 The children of Bani,
six hundred forty and two.
11 The children of Bebai,
six hundred twenty and three.
12 The children of Azgad,
a thousand two hundred twenty and
two.
13 The children of
Adonikam, six hundred sixty and
six.
14 The children of Bigvai,
two thousand fifty and six.
15 The children of Adin,
four hundred fifty and four.
16 The children of Ater of
Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
17 The children of Bezai,
three hundred twenty and
three.
18 The children of Jorah,
an hundred and twelve.
19 The children of Hashum,
two hundred twenty and three.
20 The children of Gibbar,
ninety and five.
21 The children of
Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and
three.
22 The men of Netophah,
fifty and six.
23 The men of Anathoth, an
hundred twenty and eight.
24 The children of
Azmaveth, forty and two.
25 The children of
Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, and
Beeroth, seven hundred and forty
and three.
26 The children of Ramah
and Geba, six hundred twenty and
one.
27 The men of Michmas, an
hundred twenty and two.
28 The men of Bethel and
Ai, two hundred twenty and
three.
29 The children of Nebo,
fifty and two.
30 The children of
Magbish, an hundred fifty and
six.
31 The children of the
other Elam, a thousand two
hundred fifty and four.
32 The children of Harim,
three hundred and twenty.
33 The children of Lod,
Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred
twenty and five.
34 The children of
Jericho, three hundred forty and
five.
35 The children of Senaah,
three thousand and six hundred
and thirty.
36 The priests: the
children of Jedaiah, of the house
of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy
and three.
37 The children of Immer,
a thousand fifty and two.
38 The children of Pashur,
a thousand two hundred forty and
seven.
39 The children of Harim,
a thousand and seventeen.
40 The Levites: the
children of Jeshua and Kadmiel,
of the children of Hodaviah,
seventy and four.
41 The singers: the
children of Asaph, an hundred
twenty and eight.
42 The 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 an
hundred thirty and nine.
43 The Nethinims: the
children of Ziha, the children of
Hasupha, the children of
Tabbaoth,
44 The children of Keros,
the children of Siaha, the
children of Padon,
45 The children of
Lebanah, the children of Hagabah,
the children of Akkub,
46 The children of Hagab,
the children of Shalmai, the
children of Hanan,
47 The children of Giddel,
the children of Gahar, the
children of Reaiah,
48 The children of Rezin,
the children of Nekoda, the
children of Gazzam,
49 The children of Uzza,
the children of Paseah, the
children of Besai,
50 The children of Asnah,
the children of Mehunim, the
children of Nephusim,
51 The children of Bakbuk,
the children of Hakupha, the
children of Harhur,
52 The children of
Bazluth, the children of Mehida,
the children of Harsha,
53 The children of Barkos,
the children of Sisera, the
children of Thamah,
54 The children of Neziah,
the children of Hatipha.
55 The children of
Solomon's servants: the children
of Sotai, the children of
Sophereth, the children of
Peruda,
56 The children of Jaalah,
the children of Darkon, the
children of Giddel,
57 The children of
Shephatiah, the children of
Hattil, the children of Pochereth
of Zebaim, the children of
Ami.
58 All the Nethinims, and
the children of Solomon's
servants, were three hundred
ninety and two.
59 And these were they
which went up from Tel-melah,
Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addan, and
Immer: but they could not shew
their father's house, and their
seed, whether they were of
Israel:
60 The children of
Delaiah, the children of Tobiah,
the children of Nekoda, six
hundred fifty and two.
61 And of the children of
the priests: the children of
Habaiah, the children of Koz, the
children of Barzillai; which took
a wife of the daughters of
Barzillai the Gileadite, and was
called after their name:
62 These sought their
register among those that were
reckoned by genealogy, but they
were not found: therefore were
they, as polluted, put from the
priesthood.
63 And the Tirshatha said
unto them, that they should not
eat of the most holy things, till
there stood up a priest with Urim
and with Thummim.
64 The whole congregation
together was forty and two
thousand three hundred and
threescore,
65 Beside their servants
and their maids, of whom there
were seven thousand three hundred
thirty and seven: and there were
among them two hundred singing
men and singing women.
66 Their horses were seven
hundred thirty and six; their
mules, two hundred forty and
five;
67 Their camels, four
hundred thirty and five; their
asses, six thousand seven hundred
and twenty.
68 And 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:
69 They gave after their
ability unto the treasure of the
work threescore and one thousand
drams of gold, and five thousand
pound of silver, and one hundred
priests' garments.
70 So the priests, and the
Levites, and some of the people,
and the singers, and the porters,
and the Nethinims, dwelt in their
cities, and all Israel in their
cities.
Chapter 3
1 And 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.
2 Then stood up Jeshua the
son of Jozadak, and his brethren
the priests, and Zerubbabel the
son of Shealtiel, and his
brethren, and builded the altar
of the God of Israel, to offer
burnt offerings thereon, as it is
written in the law of Moses the
man of God.
3 And they set the altar
upon his bases; for fear was upon
them because of the people of
those countries: and they offered
burnt offerings thereon unto the
LORD, even burnt offerings
morning and evening.
4 They kept also 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;
5 And 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 that willingly offered a
freewill offering unto the
LORD.
6 From the first day of
the seventh month began they to
offer burnt offerings unto the
LORD. But the foundation of the
temple of the LORD was not yet
laid.
7 They gave money also
unto the masons, and to the
carpenters; and meat, and drink,
and oil, unto them of Zidon, 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.
8 Now in the second year
of their coming unto the house of
God at Jerusalem, in the second
month, began Zerubbabel the son
of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son
of Jozadak, and the remnant of
their brethren the priests and
the Levites, and all they that
were come out of the captivity
unto Jerusalem; and appointed the
Levites, from twenty years old
and upward, to set forward the
work of the house of the
LORD.
9 Then stood Jeshua with
his sons and his brethren,
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 brethren the
Levites.
10 And 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.
11 And they sang together
by course in praising and giving
thanks unto the LORD; because he
is good, for his mercy endureth
for ever toward Israel. 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.
12 But many of the priests
and Levites and chief of the
fathers, who were ancient men,
that 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:
13 So 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
afar off.
Chapter 4
1 Now when the
adversaries of Judah and Benjamin
heard that the children of the
captivity builded the temple unto
the LORD God of Israel;
2 Then they came to
Zerubbabel, and to the chief of
the fathers, and said unto them,
Let us build with you: for we
seek your God, as ye do; and we
do sacrifice unto him since the
days of Esar-haddon king of
Assur, which brought us up
hither.
3 But Zerubbabel, and
Jeshua, and the rest of the chief
of the fathers of Israel, said
unto them, Ye have nothing to do
with us to build an house unto
our God; but we ourselves
together will build unto the LORD
God of Israel, as king Cyrus the
king of Persia hath commanded
us.
4 Then the people of the
land weakened the hands of the
people of Judah, and troubled
them in building,
5 And hired counsellers
against them, to frustrate their
purpose, all the days of Cyrus
king of Persia, even until the
reign of Darius king of
Persia.
6 And in the reign of
Ahasuerus, in the beginning of
his reign, wrote they unto him an
accusation against the
inhabitants of Judah and
Jerusalem.
7 And in the days of
Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam,
Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest
of their companions, unto
Artaxerxes king of Persia; and
the writing of the letter was
written in the Syrian tongue, and
interpreted in the Syrian
tongue.
8 Rehum the chancellor and
Shimshai the scribe wrote a
letter against Jerusalem to
Artaxerxes the king in this
sort:
9 Then wrote Rehum the
chancellor, 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,
10 And 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.
11 This is the copy of the
letter that they sent unto him,
even unto Artaxerxes the king;
Thy servants the men on this side
the river, and at such a
time.
12 Be it known unto the
king, that the Jews which came up
from thee to us are come unto
Jerusalem, building the
rebellious and the bad city, and
have set up the walls thereof,
and joined the foundations.
13 Be it known now unto
the king, that, if this city be
builded, and the walls set up
again, then will they not pay
toll, tribute, and custom, and so
thou shalt endamage the revenue
of the kings.
14 Now because we have
maintenance from the king's
palace, and it was not meet for
us to see the king's dishonour,
therefore have we sent and
certified the king;
15 That search may be made
in the book of the records of thy
fathers: so shalt thou find in
the book of the records, and know
that this city is a rebellious
city, and hurtful unto kings and
provinces, and that they have
moved sedition within the same of
old time: for which cause was
this city destroyed.
16 We certify the king
that, if this city be builded
again, and the walls thereof set
up, by this means thou shalt have
no portion on this side the
river.
17 Then sent the king an
answer unto Rehum the chancellor,
and to Shimshai the scribe, and
to the rest of their companions
that dwell in Samaria, and unto
the rest beyond the river, Peace,
and at such a time.
18 The letter which ye
sent unto us hath been plainly
read before me.
19 And I commanded, and
search hath been made, and it is
found that this city of old time
hath made insurrection against
kings, and that rebellion and
sedition have been made
therein.
20 There have been mighty
kings also over Jerusalem, which
have ruled over all countries
beyond the river; and toll,
tribute, and custom, was paid
unto them.
21 Give ye now commandment
to cause these men to cease, and
that this city be not builded,
until another commandment shall
be given from me.
22 Take heed now that ye
fail not to do this: why should
damage grow to the hurt of the
kings?
23 Now 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 unto the Jews, and made
them to cease by force and
power.
24 Then ceased the work of
the house of God which is at
Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the
second year of the reign of
Darius king of Persia.
Chapter 5
1 Then the prophets,
Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah
the son of Iddo, prophesied unto
the Jews that were in Judah and
Jerusalem in the name of the God
of Israel, even unto them.
2 Then rose up Zerubbabel
the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua
the son of Jozadak, and began to
build the house of God which is
at Jerusalem: and with them were
the prophets of God helping
them.
3 At the same time came to
them Tatnai, governor on this
side the river, and
Shethar-boznai, and their
companions, and said thus unto
them, Who hath commanded you to
build this house, and to make up
this wall?
4 Then said we unto them
after this manner, What are the
names of the men that make this
building?
5 But the eye of their God
was upon 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.
6 The copy of the letter
that Tatnai, governor on this
side the river, and
Shethar-boznai, and his
companions the Apharsachites,
which were on this side the
river, sent unto Darius the
king:
7 They sent a letter unto
him, wherein was written thus;
Unto Darius the king, all
peace.
8 Be it known unto the
king, that we went into the
province of Judea, to the house
of the great God, which is
builded with great stones, and
timber is laid in the walls, and
this work goeth fast on, and
prospereth in their hands.
9 Then asked we those
elders, and said unto them thus,
Who commanded you to build this
house, and to make up these
walls?
10 We asked their names
also, to certify thee, that we
might write the names of the men
that were the chief of them.
11 And thus they returned
us answer, saying, We are the
servants of the God of heaven and
earth, and build the house that
was builded these many years ago,
which a great king of Israel
builded and set up.
12 But after that our
fathers had provoked the God of
heaven unto wrath, 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.
13 But in the first year
of Cyrus the king of Babylon the
same king Cyrus made a decree to
build this house of God.
14 And the vessels also 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 did
Cyrus the king take out of the
temple of Babylon, and they were
delivered unto one, whose name
was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made
governor;
15 And said unto him, Take
these vessels, go, carry them
into the temple that is in
Jerusalem, and let the house of
God be builded in his place.
16 Then came the same
Sheshbazzar, and laid the
foundation of the house of God
which is in Jerusalem: and since
that time even until now hath it
been in building, and yet it is
not finished.
17 Now therefore, if it
seem good to the king, let there
be search made in the king's
treasure house, which is there at
Babylon, whether it be so, that a
decree was made of Cyrus the king
to build this house of God at
Jerusalem, and let the king send
his pleasure to us concerning
this matter.
Chapter 6
1 Then Darius the king
made a decree, and search was
made in the house of the rolls,
where the treasures were laid up
in Babylon.
2 And there was found at
Achmetha, in the palace that is
in the province of the Medes, a
roll, and therein was a record
thus written:
3 In 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 builded, the place
where they offered sacrifices,
and let the foundations thereof
be strongly laid; the height
thereof threescore cubits, and
the breadth thereof threescore
cubits;
4 With three rows of great
stones, and a row of new timber:
and let the expences be given out
of the king's house:
5 And also let the golden
and silver vessels of the house
of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took
forth out of the temple which is
at Jerusalem, and brought unto
Babylon, be restored, and brought
again unto the temple which is at
Jerusalem, every one to his
place, and place them in the
house of God.
6 Now therefore, Tatnai,
governor beyond the river,
Shethar-boznai, and your
companions the Apharsachites,
which are beyond the river, be ye
far from thence:
7 Let 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 his place.
8 Moreover I made a decree
what ye shall do to the elders of
these Jews for the building of
this house of God: that of the
king's goods, even of the tribute
beyond the river, forthwith
expences be given unto these men,
that they be not hindered.
9 And 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 which are at
Jerusalem, let it be given them
day by day without fail:
10 That they may offer
sacrifices of sweet savours unto
the God of heaven, and pray for
the life of the king, and of his
sons.
11 Also I have made a
decree, that whosoever shall
alter this word, let timber be
pulled down from his house, and
being set up, let him be hanged
thereon; and let his house be
made a dunghill for this.
12 And the God that hath
caused his name to dwell there
destroy all kings and people,
that 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.
13 Then Tatnai, governor
on this side the river,
Shethar-boznai, and their
companions, according to that
which Darius the king had sent,
so they did speedily.
14 And the elders of the
Jews builded, and they prospered
through the prophesying of Haggai
the prophet and Zechariah the son
of Iddo. And they builded, 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.
15 And 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.
16 And 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,
17 And offered at the
dedication of this house of God
an hundred bullocks, two hundred
rams, four hundred lambs; and for
a sin offering for all Israel,
twelve he goats, according to the
number of the tribes of
Israel.
18 And 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.
19 And the children of the
captivity kept the passover upon
the fourteenth day of the first
month.
20 For 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
brethren the priests, and for
themselves.
21 And the children of
Israel, which were come again out
of captivity, and all such as had
separated themselves unto them
from the filthiness of the
heathen of the land, to seek the
LORD God of Israel, did eat,
22 And 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 unto them, to
strengthen their hands in the
work of the house of God, the God
of Israel.
Chapter 7
1 Now after these
things, in the reign of
Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra
the son of Seraiah, the son of
Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2 The son of Shallum, the
son of Zadok, the son of
Ahitub,
3 The son of Amariah, the
son of Azariah, the son of
Meraioth,
4 The son of Zerahiah, the
son of Uzzi, the son of
Bukki,
5 The son of Abishua, the
son of Phinehas, the son of
Eleazar, the son of Aaron the
chief priest:
6 This 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 upon him.
7 And there went up some
of the children of Israel, and of
the priests, and the Levites, and
the singers, and the porters, and
the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in
the seventh year of Artaxerxes
the king.
8 And he came to Jerusalem
in the fifth month, which was in
the seventh year of the king.
9 For upon the first day
of the first month began he to go
up from Babylon, and on the first
day of the fifth month came he to
Jerusalem, according to the good
hand of his God upon him.
10 For Ezra had prepared
his heart to seek the law of the
LORD, and to do it, and to teach
in Israel statutes and
judgments.
11 Now this is the copy of
the letter that the king
Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the
priest, the scribe, even a scribe
of the words of the commandments
of the LORD, and of his statutes
to Israel.
12 Artaxerxes, king of
kings, unto Ezra the priest, a
scribe of the law of the God of
heaven, perfect peace, and at
such a time.
13 I make a decree, that
all they of the people of Israel,
and of his priests and Levites,
in my realm, which are minded of
their own freewill to go up to
Jerusalem, go with thee.
14 Forasmuch as thou art
sent of the king, and of his
seven counsellers, to inquire
concerning Judah and Jerusalem,
according to the law of thy God
which is in thine hand;
15 And to carry the silver
and gold, which the king and his
counsellers have freely offered
unto the God of Israel, whose
habitation is in Jerusalem,
16 And all the silver and
gold that thou canst 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:
17 That thou mayest buy
speedily with this money
bullocks, rams, lambs, with their
meat offerings and their drink
offerings, and offer them upon
the altar of the house of your
God which is in Jerusalem.
18 And whatsoever shall
seem good to thee, and to thy
brethren, to do with the rest of
the silver and the gold, that do
after the will of your God.
19 The vessels also that
are given thee for the service of
the house of thy God, those
deliver thou before the God of
Jerusalem.
20 And whatsoever more
shall be needful for the house of
thy God, which thou shalt have
occasion to bestow, bestow it out
of the king's treasure house.
21 And I, even I
Artaxerxes the king, do make a
decree to all the treasurers
which are beyond the river, that
whatsoever Ezra the priest, the
scribe of the law of the God of
heaven, shall require of you, it
be done speedily,
22 Unto an hundred talents
of silver, and to an hundred
measures of wheat, and to an
hundred baths of wine, and to an
hundred baths of oil, and salt
without prescribing how much.
23 Whatsoever 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 wrath against the realm
of the king and his sons?
24 Also 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, upon them.
25 And thou, Ezra, after
the wisdom of thy God, that is in
thine hand, set magistrates and
judges, which may judge all the
people that are beyond the river,
all such as know the laws of thy
God; and teach ye them that know
them not.
26 And whosoever will not
do the law of thy God, and the
law of the king, let judgment be
executed speedily upon him,
whether it be unto death, or to
banishment, or to confiscation of
goods, or to imprisonment.
27 Blessed be the LORD God
of our fathers, which hath put
such a thing as this in the
king's heart, to beautify the
house of the LORD which is in
Jerusalem:
28 And hath extended mercy
unto me before the king, and his
counsellers, and before all the
king's mighty princes. And I was
strengthened as the hand of the
LORD my God was upon me, and I
gathered together out of Israel
chief men to go up with me.
Chapter 8
1 These are now the
chief of their fathers, and this
is the genealogy of them that
went up with me from Babylon, in
the reign of Artaxerxes the
king.
2 Of the sons of Phinehas;
Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar;
Daniel: of the sons of David;
Hattush.
3 Of the sons of
Shechaniah, of the sons of
Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him
were reckoned by genealogy of the
males an hundred and fifty.
4 Of the sons of
Pahath-moab; Elihoenai the son of
Zerahiah, and with him two
hundred males.
5 Of the sons of
Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel,
and with him three hundred
males.
6 Of the sons also of
Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan,
and with him fifty males.
7 And of the sons of Elam;
Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and
with him seventy males.
8 And of the sons of
Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of
Michael, and with him fourscore
males.
9 Of the sons of Joab;
Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and
with him two hundred and eighteen
males.
10 And of the sons of
Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah,
and with him an hundred and
threescore males.
11 And of the sons of
Bebai; Zechariah the son of
Bebai, and with him twenty and
eight males.
12 And of the sons of
Azgad; Johanan the son of
Hakkatan, and with him an hundred
and ten males.
13 And of the last sons of
Adonikam, whose names are these,
Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah,
and with them threescore
males.
14 Of the sons also of
Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and
with them seventy males.
15 And I gathered them
together to the river that
runneth to Ahava; and there abode
we in tents three days: and I
viewed the people, and the
priests, and found there none of
the sons of Levi.
16 Then sent 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.
17 And I sent them with
commandment unto Iddo the chief
at the place Casiphia, and I told
them what they should say unto
Iddo, and to his brethren the
Nethinims, at the place Casiphia,
that they should bring unto us
ministers for the house of our
God.
18 And by the good hand of
our God upon 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 brethren,
eighteen;
19 And Hashabiah, and with
him Jeshaiah of the sons of
Merari, his brethren and their
sons, twenty;
20 Also of the Nethinims,
whom David and the princes had
appointed for the service of the
Levites, two hundred and twenty
Nethinims: all of them were
expressed by name.
21 Then 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.
22 For 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 unto the
king, saying, The hand of our God
is upon all them for good that
seek him; but his power and his
wrath is against all them that
forsake him.
23 So we fasted and
besought our God for this: and he
was intreated of us.
24 Then I separated twelve
of the chief of the priests,
Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of
their brethren with them,
25 And weighed unto them
the silver, and the gold, and the
vessels, even the offering of the
house of our God, which the king,
and his counsellers, and his
lords, and all Israel there
present, had offered:
26 I even weighed unto
their hand six hundred and fifty
talents of silver, and silver
vessels an hundred talents, and
of gold an hundred talents;
27 Also twenty basons of
gold, of a thousand drams; and
two vessels of fine copper,
precious as gold.
28 And I said unto them,
Ye are holy unto the LORD; the
vessels are holy also; and the
silver and the gold are a
freewill offering unto the LORD
God of your fathers.
29 Watch ye, and keep
them, until ye weigh them before
the chief of the priests and the
Levites, and chief of the fathers
of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the
chambers of the house of the
LORD.
30 So took the priests and
the Levites the weight of the
silver, and the gold, and the
vessels, to bring them to
Jerusalem unto the house of our
God.
31 Then we departed from
the river of Ahava on the twelfth
day of 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.
32 And we came to
Jerusalem, and abode there three
days.
33 Now on the fourth day
was the silver and the gold and
the vessels 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
Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of
Binnui, Levites;
34 By number and by weight
of every one: and all the weight
was written at that time.
35 Also the children of
those that had been carried away,
which were come out of the
captivity, offered burnt
offerings unto the God of Israel,
twelve bullocks for all Israel,
ninety and six rams, seventy and
seven lambs, twelve he goats for
a sin offering: all this was a
burnt offering unto the LORD.
36 And they delivered the
king's commissions unto the
king's lieutenants, and to the
governors on this side the river:
and they furthered the people,
and the house of God.
Chapter 9
1 Now 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.
2 For they have taken of
their daughters for themselves,
and for their sons: so that the
holy seed have mingled themselves
with the people of those lands:
yea, the hand of the princes and
rulers hath been chief in this
trespass.
3 And when I heard this
thing, I rent my garment and my
mantle, and plucked off the hair
of my head and of my beard, and
sat down astonied.
4 Then were assembled unto
me every 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 astonied until the
evening sacrifice.
5 And at the evening
sacrifice I arose up from my
heaviness; and having rent my
garment and my mantle, I fell
upon my knees, and spread out my
hands unto the LORD my God.
6 And said, O my God, I am
ashamed and blush to lift up my
face to thee, my God: for our
iniquities are increased over our
head, and our trespass is 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
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.
8 And now for a little
space grace hath been shewed 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.
9 For we were bondmen; yet
our God hath not forsaken us in
our bondage, but hath extended
mercy unto 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 the
desolations thereof, and to give
us a wall in Judah and in
Jerusalem.
10 And now, O our God,
what shall we say after this? for
we have forsaken thy
commandments,
11 Which thou hast
commanded by thy servants the
prophets, saying, The land, unto
which ye 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.
12 Now therefore give not
your daughters unto their sons,
neither take their daughters unto
your sons, nor seek their peace
or their wealth for ever: 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 after all 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 commandments, and join in
affinity with the people of these
abominations? wouldest not thou
be angry with us till thou hadst
consumed us, so that there should
be no remnant nor escaping?
15 O LORD God of Israel,
thou art righteous: for we remain
yet escaped, as it is this day:
behold, we are before thee in our
trespasses: for we cannot stand
before thee because of this.
Chapter 10
1 Now 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 men 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.
3 Now 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 that tremble at the
commandment of our God; and let
it be done according to the
law.
4 Arise; for this matter
belongeth unto thee: we also will
be with thee: be of good courage,
and do it.
5 Then arose Ezra, and
made the chief priests, the
Levites, and all Israel, to swear
that they should do according to
this word. And they sware.
6 Then Ezra rose up from
before the house of God, and went
into the chamber of Johanan the
son of Eliashib: and when he came
thither, he did eat no bread, nor
drink water: for he mourned
because of the transgression of
them that had been carried
away.
7 And they made
proclamation throughout Judah and
Jerusalem unto all the children
of the captivity, that they
should gather themselves together
unto Jerusalem;
8 And that whosoever would
not come within three days,
according to the counsel of the
princes and the elders, all his
substance should be forfeited,
and himself separated from the
congregation of those that had
been carried away.
9 Then all the men of
Judah and Benjamin gathered
themselves together unto
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.
10 And Ezra the priest
stood up, and said unto them, Ye
have transgressed, and have taken
strange wives, to increase the
trespass of Israel.
11 Now therefore make
confession unto the LORD God of
your fathers, and do his
pleasure: and separate yourselves
from the people of the land, and
from the strange wives.
12 Then all the
congregation answered and said
with a loud voice, As thou hast
said, so must we do.
13 But the people are
many, and it is a time of much
rain, and we are not able to
stand without, neither is this a
work of one day or two: for we
are many that have transgressed
in this thing.
14 Let now our rulers of
all the congregation stand, and
let all them which have taken
strange wives in our cities come
at appointed times, and with them
the elders of every city, and the
judges thereof, until the fierce
wrath of our God for this matter
be turned from us.
15 Only Jonathan the son
of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of
Tikvah were employed about this
matter: and Meshullam and
Shabbethai the Levite helped
them.
16 And 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.
17 And they made an end
with all the men that had taken
strange wives by the first day of
the first month.
18 And among the sons of
the priests there were found that
had taken strange wives: namely,
of the sons of Jeshua the son of
Jozadak, and his brethren;
Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib,
and Gedaliah.
19 And they gave their
hands that they would put away
their wives; and being guilty,
they offered a ram of the flock
for their trespass.
20 And of the sons of
Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
21 And of the sons of
Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and
Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and
Uzziah.
22 And of the sons of
Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah,
Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and
Elasah.
23 Also of the Levites;
Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah,
(the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah,
Judah, and Eliezer.
24 Of the singers also;
Eliashib: and of the porters;
Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.
25 Moreover of Israel: of
the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and
Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin,
and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and
Benaiah.
26 And of the sons of
Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and
Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth,
and Eliah.
27 And of the sons of
Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib,
Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and
Zabad, and Aziza.
28 Of the sons also of
Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah,
Zabbai, and Athlai.
29 And of the sons of
Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and
Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and
Ramoth.
30 And of the sons of
Pahath-moab; Adna, and Chelal,
Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah,
Bezaleel, and Binnui, and
Manasseh.
31 And of the sons of
Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah,
Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32 Benjamin, Malluch, and
Shemariah.
33 Of the sons of Hashum;
Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad,
Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and
Shimei.
34 Of the sons of Bani;
Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
35 Benaiah, Bedeiah,
Chelluh,
36 Vaniah, Meremoth,
Eliashib,
37 Mattaniah, Mattenai,
and Jaasau,
38 And Bani, and Binnui,
Shimei,
39 And Shelemiah, and
Nathan, and Adaiah,
40 Machnadebai, Shashai,
Sharai,
41 Azareel, and Shelemiah,
Shemariah,
42 Shallum, Amariah, and
Joseph.
43 Of the sons of Nebo;
Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina,
Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.
44 All these had taken
strange wives: and some of them
had wives by whom they had
children.
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