Nehemiah
Nehemiah 1 (The Message)
1
The memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, had just
arrived from Judah with some fellow Jews. I asked them about the conditions
among the Jews there who had survived the exile, and about Jerusalem. 3 They
told me, "The exile survivors who are left there in the province are in bad
shape. Conditions are appalling. The wall of Jerusalem is still rubble; the
city gates are still cinders." 4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. I
mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God-of-Heaven. 5 I said,
"God, God-of-Heaven, the great and awesome God, loyal to his covenant and
faithful to those who love him and obey his commands: 6 Look at me, listen to
me. Pay attention to this prayer of your servant that I'm praying day and night
in intercession for your servants, the People of Israel, confessing the sins of
the People of Israel. And I'm including myself, I and my ancestors, among those
who have sinned against you. 7 "We've treated you like dirt: We haven't
done what you told us, haven't followed your commands, and haven't respected
the decisions you gave to Moses your servant. 8 All the same, remember the
warning you posted to your servant Moses: 'If you betray me, I'll scatter you
to the four winds, 9 but if you come back to me and do what I tell you, I'll
gather up all these scattered peoples from wherever they ended up and put them
back in the place I chose to mark with my Name.' 10 "Well, there they are
- your servants, your people whom you so powerfully and impressively redeemed.
11 O Master, listen to me, listen to your servant's prayer - and yes, to all
your servants who delight in honoring you - and make me successful today so
that I get what I want from the king." I was cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah 2 (The Message)
1
It was the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king. At the
hour for serving wine I brought it in and gave it to the king. I had never been
hangdog in his presence before, 2 so he asked me, "Why the long face?
You're not sick are you? Or are you depressed?" 3 I said, "Long live
the king! And why shouldn't I be depressed when the city, the city where all my
family is buried, is in ruins and the city gates have been reduced to
cinders?" 4 The king then asked me, "So what do you want?" 5 I
said, "If it please the king, and if the king thinks well of me, send me
to Judah, to the city where my family is buried, so that I can rebuild
it." 6 The king, with the queen sitting alongside him, said, "How
long will your work take and when would you expect to return?" I gave him
a time, and the king gave his approval to send me. 7 Then I said, "If it
please the king, provide me with letters to the governors across the Euphrates
that authorize my travel through to Judah; 8 and also an order to Asaph, keeper
of the king's forest, to supply me with timber for the beams of The Temple
fortress, the wall of the city, and the house where I'll be living." 9
When I met the governors across The River (the Euphrates) I showed them the
king's letters. The king even sent along a cavalry escort. 10 When Sanballat the
Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very
upset, angry that anyone would come to look after the interests of the People
of Israel. "Come - Let's Build the Wall of Jerusalem" 11 And so I
arrived in Jerusalem. After I had been there three days, 12 I got up in the
middle of the night, I and a few men who were with me. I hadn't told anyone
what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal with us
was the one I was riding. 13 Under cover of night I went past the Valley Gate
toward the Dragon's Fountain to the Dung Gate looking over the walls of
Jerusalem, which had been broken through and whose gates had been burned up. 14
I then crossed to the Fountain Gate and headed for the King's Pool but there
wasn't enough room for the donkey I was riding to get through. 15 So I went up
the valley in the dark continuing my inspection of the wall. I came back in
through the Valley Gate. 16 The local officials had no idea where I'd gone or
what I was doing - I hadn't breathed a word to the Jews, priests, nobles, local
officials, or anyone else who would be working on the job. 17 Then I gave them
my report: "Face it: we're in a bad way here. Jerusalem is a wreck; its
gates are burned up. Come - let's build the wall of Jerusalem and not live with
this disgrace any longer." 18 I told them how God was supporting me and
how the king was backing me up. They said, "We're with you. Let's get
started." They rolled up their sleeves, ready for the good work. 19 When
Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard
about it, they laughed at us, mocking, "Ha! What do you think you're
doing? Do you think you can cross the king?" 20 I shot back, "The
God-of-Heaven will make sure we succeed. We're his servants and we're going to
work, rebuilding. You can keep your nose out of it. You get no say in this -
Jerusalem's none of your business!"
Nehemiah 3 (The Message)
1
The high priest Eliashib and his fellow priests were up and at it: They went to
work on the Sheep Gate; they repaired it and hung its doors, continuing on as
far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel. 2 The men of Jericho
worked alongside them; and next to them, Zaccur son of Imri. 3 The Fish Gate
was built by the Hassenaah brothers; they repaired it, hung its doors, and
installed its bolts and bars. 4 Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz,
worked; next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel; next to
him Zadok son of Baana; 5 and next to him the Tekoites (except for their nobles,
who wouldn't work with their master and refused to get their hands dirty with
such work). 6 The Jeshanah Gate was rebuilt by Joiada son of Paseah and
Meshullam son of Besodeiah; they repaired it, hung its doors, and installed its
bolts and bars. 7 Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, and the men of
Gibeon and Mizpah, which was under the rule of the governor from across the
Euphrates, worked alongside them. 8 Uzziel son of Harhaiah of the goldsmiths'
guild worked next to him, and next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers. They
rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 The next section was
worked on by Rephaiah son of Hur, mayor of a half-district of Jerusalem. 10
Next to him Jedaiah son of Harumaph rebuilt the front of his house; Hattush son
of Hashabneiah worked next to him. 11 Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of
Pahath-Moab rebuilt another section that included the Tower of Furnaces. 12
Working next to him was Shallum son of Hallohesh, mayor of the other
half-district of Jerusalem, along with his daughters. 13 The Valley Gate was
rebuilt by Hanun and villagers of Zanoah; they repaired it, hung its doors, and
installed its bolts and bars. They went on to repair 1,500 feet of the wall, as
far as the Dung Gate. 14 The Dung Gate itself was rebuilt by Malkijah son of
Recab, the mayor of the district of Beth Hakkerem; he repaired it, hung its
doors, and installed its bolts and bars. 15 The Fountain Gate was rebuilt by
Shallun son of Col-Hozeh, mayor of the Mizpah district; he repaired it, roofed
it, hung its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. He also rebuilt the wall
of the Pool of Siloam at the King's Garden as far as the steps that go down
from the City of David. 16 After him came Nehemiah son of Azbuk, mayor of half
the district of Beth Zur. He worked from just in front of the Tomb of David as
far as the Pool and the House of Heroes. 17 Levites under Rehum son of Bani
were next in line. Alongside them, Hashabiah, mayor of half the district of
Keilah, represented his district in the rebuilding. 18 Next to him their
brothers continued the rebuilding under Binnui son of Henadad, mayor of the
other half-district of Keilah. 19 The section from in front of the Ascent to
the Armory as far as the Angle was rebuilt by Ezer son of Jeshua, the mayor of
Mizpah. 20 From the Angle to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest
was done by Baruch son of Zabbai. 21 Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz,
took it from the door of Eliashib's house to the end of Eliashib's house. 22 Priests
from the neighborhood went on from there. 23 Benjamin and Hasshub worked on the
wall in front of their house, and Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah,
did the work alongside his house. 24 The section from the house of Azariah to
the Angle at the Corner was rebuilt by Binnui son of Henadad. 25 Palal son of
Uzai worked opposite the Angle and the tower that projects from the Upper
Palace of the king near the Court of the Guard. Next to him Pedaiah son of
Parosh 26 and The Temple support staff who lived on the hill of Ophel worked up
to the point opposite the Water Gate eastward and the projecting tower. 27 The
men of Tekoa did the section from the great projecting tower as far as the wall
of Ophel. 28 Above the Horse Gate the priests worked, each priest repairing the
wall in front of his own house. 29 After them Zadok son of Immer rebuilt in
front of his house and after him Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the
East Gate; 30 then Hananiah son of Shelemiah and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph;
then Meshullam son of Berekiah rebuilt the wall in front of his storage shed.
31 Malkijah the goldsmith repaired the wall as far as the house of The Temple
support staff and merchants, up to the Inspection Gate, and the Upper Room at
the Corner. 32 The goldsmiths and the merchants made the repairs between the
Upper Room at the Corner and the Sheep Gate.
Nehemiah 4 (The Message)
1
When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he exploded in anger,
vilifying the Jews. 2 In the company of his Samaritan cronies and military he
let loose: "What are these miserable Jews doing? Do they think they can
get everything back to normal overnight? Make building stones out of
make-believe?" 3 At his side, Tobiah the Ammonite jumped in and said,
"That's right! What do they think they're building? Why, if a fox climbed
that wall, it would fall to pieces under his weight." 4 Nehemiah prayed,
"Oh listen to us, dear God. We're so despised: Boomerang their ridicule on
their heads; have their enemies cart them off as war trophies to a land of no
return; 5 don't forgive their iniquity, don't wipe away their sin - they've
insulted the builders!" 6 We kept at it, repairing and rebuilding the
wall. The whole wall was soon joined together and halfway to its intended height
because the people had a heart for the work. 7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, the
Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairs of the walls of
Jerusalem were going so well - that the breaks in the wall were being fixed -
they were absolutely furious. 8 They put their heads together and decided to
fight against Jerusalem and create as much trouble as they could. 9 We
countered with prayer to our God and set a round-the-clock guard against them.
10 But soon word was going around in Judah, The builders are pooped, the
rubbish piles up; We're in over our heads, we can't build this wall. 11 And all
this time our enemies were saying, "They won't know what hit them. Before
they know it we'll be at their throats, killing them right and left. That will
put a stop to the work!" 12 The Jews who were their neighbors kept
reporting, "They have us surrounded; they're going to attack!" If we
heard it once, we heard it ten times. 13 So I stationed armed guards at the
most vulnerable places of the wall and assigned people by families with their
swords, lances, and bows. 14 After looking things over I stood up and spoke to
the nobles, officials, and everyone else: "Don't be afraid of them. Put
your minds on the Master, great and awesome, and then fight for your brothers,
your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes." 15 Our enemies
learned that we knew all about their plan and that God had frustrated it. And
we went back to the wall and went to work. 16 From then on half of my young men
worked while the other half stood guard with lances, shields, bows, and mail
armor. Military officers served as backup for everyone in Judah who was at work
rebuilding the wall. 17 The common laborers held a tool in one hand and a spear
in the other. 18 Each of the builders had a sword strapped to his side as he
worked. I kept the trumpeter at my side to sound the alert. 19 Then I spoke to
the nobles and officials and everyone else: "There's a lot of work going
on and we are spread out all along the wall, separated from each other. 20 When
you hear the trumpet call, join us there; our God will fight for us." 21
And so we kept working, from first light until the stars came out, half of us
holding lances. 22 I also instructed the people, "Each person and his
helper is to stay inside Jerusalem - guards by night and workmen by day."
23 We all slept in our clothes - I, my brothers, my workmen, and the guards
backing me up. And each one kept his spear in his hand, even when getting
water.
Nehemiah 5 (The Message)
1
A great protest was mounted by the people, including the wives, against their
fellow Jews. 2 Some said, "We have big families, and we need food just to
survive." 3 Others said, "We're having to mortgage our fields and
vineyards and homes to get enough grain to keep from starving." 4 And
others said, "We're having to borrow money to pay the royal tax on our
fields and vineyards. 5 Look: We're the same flesh and blood as our brothers
here; our children are just as good as theirs. Yet here we are having to sell
our children off as slaves - some of our daughters have already been sold - and
we can't do anything about it because our fields and vineyards are owned by
somebody else." 6 I got really angry when I heard their protest and
complaints. 7 After thinking it over, I called the nobles and officials on the
carpet. I said, "Each one of you is gouging his brother." 8 I told
them, "We did everything we could to buy back our Jewish brothers who had
to sell themselves as slaves to foreigners. And now you're selling these same
brothers back into debt slavery! Does that mean that we have to buy them back
again?" They said nothing. What could they say? 9 "What you're doing
is wrong. Is there no fear of God left in you? Don't you care what the nations
around here, our enemies, think of you? 10 "I and my brothers and the
people working for me have also loaned them money. But this gouging them with
interest has to stop. 11 Give them back their foreclosed fields, vineyards,
olive groves, and homes right now. And forgive your claims on their money,
grain, new wine, and olive oil." 12 They said, "We'll give it all
back. We won't make any more demands on them. We'll do everything you
say." 13 Then I emptied my pockets, turning them inside out, and said,
"So may God empty the pockets and house of everyone who doesn't keep this
promise - turned inside out and emptied." Everyone gave a wholehearted
"Yes, we'll do it!" and praised God. And the people did what they
promised. "Remember in My Favor, O My God" 14 From the time King
Artaxerxes appointed me as their governor in the land of Judah - from the
twentieth to the thirty-second year of his reign, twelve years - neither I nor
my brothers used the governor's food allowance. 15 Governors who had preceded
me had oppressed the people by taxing them forty shekels of silver (about a
pound) a day for food and wine while their underlings bullied the people
unmercifully. But out of fear of God I did none of that. 16 I had work to do; I
worked on this wall. All my men were on the job to do the work. We didn't have
time to line our own pockets. 17 I fed one hundred and fifty Jews and officials
at my table in addition to those who showed up from the surrounding nations. 18
One ox, six choice sheep, and some chickens were prepared for me daily, and
every ten days a large supply of wine was delivered. Even so, I didn't use the
food allowance provided for the governor - the people had it hard enough as it
was. 19 Remember in my favor, O my God, Everything I've done for these people.
Nehemiah 6 (The Message)
1
When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that
I had rebuilt the wall and that there were no more breaks in it - even though I
hadn't yet installed the gates 2 - Sanballat and Geshem sent this message:
"Come and meet with us at Kephirim in the valley of Ono." 3 so I sent
messengers back with this: "I'm doing a great work; I can't come down. Why
should the work come to a standstill just so I can come down to see you?"
4 Four times they sent this message and four times I gave them my answer. 5 The
fifth time - same messenger, same message - Sanballat sent an unsealed letter 6
with this message: 7 and that you have appointed prophets to announce in
Jerusalem, 'There's a king in Judah!' The king is going to be told all this -
don't you think we should sit down and have a talk?" 8 I sent him back
this: "There's nothing to what you're saying. You've made it all up."
9 They were trying to intimidate us into quitting. They thought, "They'll
give up; they'll never finish it." I prayed, "Give me strength."
10 Then I met secretly with Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, at
his house. He said: Let's meet at the house of God, inside The Temple; Let's
find safety behind locked doors because they're coming to kill you, Yes, coming
by night to kill you. 11 I said, "Why would a man like me run for cover?
And why would a man like me use The Temple as a hideout? I won't do it."
12 I sensed that God hadn't sent this man. The so-called prophecy he spoke to
me was the work of Tobiah and Sanballat; they had hired him. 13 He had been
hired to scare me off - trick me - a layman, into desecrating The Temple and
ruining my good reputation so they could accuse me. 14 "O my God, don't
let Tobiah and Sanballat get by with all the mischief they've done. And the
same goes for the prophetess Noadiah and the other prophets who have been
trying to undermine my confidence." 15 The wall was finished on the
twenty-fifth day of Elul. It had taken fifty-two days. 16 When all our enemies
heard the news and all the surrounding nations saw it, our enemies totally lost
their nerve. They knew that God was behind this work. 17 All during this time
letters were going back and forth constantly between the nobles of Judah and
Tobiah. 18 Many of the nobles had ties to him because he was son-in-law to
Shecaniah son of Arah and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of
Meshullam son of Berekiah. 19 They kept telling me all the good things he did
and then would report back to him anything I would say. And then Tobiah would
send letters to intimidate me.
Nehemiah 7 (The Message)
1
After the wall was rebuilt and I had installed the doors, and the security
guards, the singers, and the Levites were appointed, 2 I put my brother Hanani,
along with Hananiah the captain of the citadel, in charge of Jerusalem because
he was an honest man and feared God more than most men. 3 I gave them this
order: "Don't open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is up. And shut
and bar the gates while the guards are still on duty. Appoint the guards from
the citizens of Jerusalem and assign them to posts in front of their own
homes." 4 The city was large and spacious with only a few people in it and
the houses not yet rebuilt. 5 God put it in my heart to gather the nobles, the officials,
and the people in general to be registered. I found the genealogical record of
those who were in the first return from exile. This is the record I found: 6
These are the people of the province who returned from the captivity of the
Exile, the ones Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried off captive; they
came back to Jerusalem and Judah, each going to his own town. 7 They came back
in the company of Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani,
Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The numbers of the men
of the People of Israel by families of origin: 8 Parosh, 2,172 9 Shephatiah,
372 10 Arah, 652 11 Pahath-Moab (sons of Jeshua and Joab), 2,818 12 Elam, 1,254
13 Zattu, 845 14 Zaccai, 760 15 Binnui, 648 16 Bebai, 628 17 Azgad, 2,322 18
Adonikam, 667 19 Bigvai, 2,067 20 Adin, 655 21 Ater (sons of Hezekiah), 98 22
Hashum, 328 23 Bezai, 324 24 Hariph, 112 25 Gibeon, 95. 26 Israelites
identified by place of origin: Bethlehem and Netophah, 188 27 Anathoth, 128 28
Beth Azmaveth, 42 29 Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth, 743 30 Ramah and
Geba, 621 31 Micmash, 122 32 Bethel and Ai, 123 33 Nebo (the other one), 52 34
Elam (the other one), 1,254 35 Harim, 320 36 Jericho, 345 37 Lod, Hadid, and
Ono, 721 38 Senaah, 3,930. 39 Priestly families: Jedaiah (sons of Jeshua), 973
40 Immer, 1,052 41 Pashhur, 1,247 42 Harim, 1,017. 43 Levitical families:
Jeshua (sons of Kadmiel and of Hodaviah), 74. 44 Singers: Asaph's family line,
148. 45 Security guard families: Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and
Shobai, 138. 46 Families of support staff: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, 47 Keros,
Sia, Padon, 48 Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai, 49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, 50 Reaiah,
Rezin, Nekoda, 51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, 52 Besai, Meunim, Nephussim, 53 Bakbuk,
Hakupha, Harhur, 54 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, 55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah, 56
Neziah, and Hatipha. 57 Families of Solomon's servants: Sotai, Sophereth,
Perida, 58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, 59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim,
and Amon. 60 The Temple support staff and Solomon's servants added up to 392.
61 These are those who came from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and
Immer. They weren't able to prove their ancestry, whether they were true
Israelites or not: 62 The sons of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, 642. 63 Likewise
with these priestly families: -The sons of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai, who
had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and took that name. 64 They
looked high and low for their family records but couldn't find them. And so
they were barred from priestly work as ritually unclean. 65 The governor ruled
that they could not eat from the holy food until a priest could determine their
status by using the Urim and Thummim. 66 The total count for the congregation
was 42,360. 67 That did not include the male and female slaves who numbered
7,337. There were also 245 male and female singers. 68 And there were 736
horses, 245 mules, 69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. 70 Some of the heads of
families made voluntary offerings for the work. The governor made a gift to the
treasury of 1,000 drachmas of gold (about nineteen pounds), 50 bowls, and 530
garments for the priests. 71 Some of the heads of the families made gifts to
the treasury for the work; it came to 20,000 drachmas of gold and 2,200 minas
of silver (about one and a third tons). 72 Gifts from the rest of the people
totaled 20,000 drachmas of gold (about 375 pounds), 2,000 minas of silver, and
67 garments for the priests. 73 The priests, Levites, security guards, singers,
and Temple support staff, along with some others, and the rest of the People of
Israel, all found a place to live in their own towns.
Nehemiah 8 (The Message)
1
By the time the seventh month arrived, the People of Israel were settled in
their towns. Then all the people gathered as one person in the town square in
front of the Water Gate and asked the scholar Ezra to bring the Book of The
Revelation of Moses that God had commanded for Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest
brought The Revelation to the congregation, which was made up of both men and
women - everyone capable of understanding. It was the first day of the seventh
month. 3 He read it facing the town square at the Water Gate from early dawn
until noon in the hearing of the men and women, all who could understand it.
And all the people listened - they were all ears - to the Book of The
Revelation. 4 The scholar Ezra stood on a wooden platform constructed for the
occasion. He was flanked on the right by Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah,
Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and on the left by Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum,
Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the book. Every eye was
on him (he was standing on the raised platform) and as he opened the book
everyone stood. 6 Then Ezra praised God, the great God, and all the people
responded, "Oh Yes! Yes!" with hands raised high. And then they fell
to their knees in worship of God, their faces to the ground. 7 Jeshua, Bani,
Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah,
Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, all Levites, explained The Revelation while people
stood, listening respectfully. 8 They translated the Book of The Revelation of
God so the people could understand it and then explained the reading. 9
Nehemiah the governor, along with Ezra the priest and scholar and the Levites
who were teaching the people, said to all the people, "This day is holy to
God, your God. Don't weep and carry on." They said this because all the
people were weeping as they heard the words of The Revelation. 10 He continued,
"Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with
those who don't have anything: This day is holy to God. Don't feel bad. The joy
of God is your strength!" 11 The Levites calmed the people, "Quiet
now. This is a holy day. Don't be upset." 12 So the people went off to
feast, eating and drinking and including the poor in a great celebration. Now
they got it; they understood the reading that had been given to them. 13 On the
second day of the month the family heads of all the people, the priests, and
the Levites gathered around Ezra the scholar to get a deeper understanding of
the words of The Revelation. 14 They found written in The Revelation that God
commanded through Moses that the People of Israel are to live in booths during
the festival of the seventh month. 15 So they published this decree and had it
posted in all their cities and in Jerusalem: "Go into the hills and
collect olive branches, pine branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and any
other leafy branches to make booths, as it is written." 16 So the people
went out, brought in branches, and made themselves booths on their roofs,
courtyards, the courtyards of The Temple of God, the Water Gate plaza, and the
Ephraim Gate plaza. 17 The entire congregation that had come back from exile
made booths and lived in them. The People of Israel hadn't done this from the
time of Joshua son of Nun until that very day - a terrific day! Great joy! 18
Ezra read from the Book of The Revelation of God each day, from the first to
the last day - they celebrated the feast for seven days. On the eighth day they
held a solemn assembly in accordance with the decree.
Nehemiah 9 (The Message)
1
Then on the twenty-fourth day of this month, the People of Israel gathered for
a fast, wearing burlap and faces smudged with dirt as signs of repentance. 2
The Israelites broke off all relations with foreigners, stood up, and confessed
their sins and the iniquities of their parents. 3 While they stood there in
their places, they read from the Book of The Revelation of God, their God, for
a quarter of the day. For another quarter of the day they confessed and
worshiped their God. 4 A group of Levites - Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah,
Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani - stood on the platform and cried out to
God, their God, in a loud voice. 5 The Levites Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani,
Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said, "On your
feet! Bless God, your God, for ever and ever!" Blessed be your glorious
name, exalted above all blessing and praise! 6 You're the one, God, you alone;
You made the heavens, the heavens of heavens, and all angels; The earth and
everything on it, the seas and everything in them; You keep them all alive;
heaven's angels worship you! 7 You're the one, God, the God who chose Abram And
brought him from Ur of the Chaldees and changed his name to Abraham. 8 You
found his heart to be steady and true to you and signed a covenant with him, A
covenant to give him the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the
Amorites, The Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites, - to give it to his
descendants. And you kept your word because you are righteous. 9 You saw the
anguish of our parents in Egypt. You heard their cries at the Red Sea; 10 You
amazed Pharaoh, his servants, and the people of his land with wonders and
miracle-signs. You knew their bullying arrogance against your people; you made
a name for yourself that lasts to this day. 11 You split the sea before them;
they crossed through and never got their feet wet; You pitched their pursuers into
the deep; they sank like a rock in the storm-tossed sea. 12 By day you led them
with a Pillar of Cloud, and by night with a Pillar of Fire To show them the way
they were to travel. 13 You came down onto Mount Sinai, you spoke to them out
of heaven; You gave them instructions on how to live well, true teaching, sound
rules and commands; 14 You introduced them to your Holy Sabbath; Through your
servant Moses you decreed commands, rules, and instruction. 15 You gave bread
from heaven for their hunger, you sent water from the rock for their thirst.
You told them to enter and take the land, which you promised to give them. 16
But they, our ancestors, were arrogant; bullheaded, they wouldn't obey your
commands. 17 They turned a deaf ear, they refused to remember the miracles you
had done for them; They turned stubborn, got it into their heads to return to
their Egyptian slavery. And you, a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate,
Incredibly patient, with tons of love - you didn't dump them. 18 Yes, even when
they cast a sculpted calf and said, "This is your god Who brought you out
of Egypt," and continued from bad to worse, 19 You in your amazing
compassion didn't walk off and leave them in the desert. The Pillar of Cloud
didn't leave them; daily it continued to show them their route; The Pillar of
Fire did the same by night, showed them the right way to go. 20 You gave them
your good Spirit to teach them to live wisely. You never stinted with your
manna, gave them plenty of water to drink. 21 You supported them forty years in
that desert; they had everything they needed; Their clothes didn't wear out and
their feet never blistered. 22 You gave them kingdoms and peoples, establishing
generous boundaries. They took over the country of Sihon king of Heshbon and the
country of Og king of Bashan. 23 You multiplied children for them, rivaling the
stars in the night skies, And you brought them into the land that you promised
their ancestors they would get and own. 24 Well, they entered all right, they
took it and settled in. The Canaanites who lived there you brought to their
knees before them. You turned over their land, kings, and peoples to do with as
they pleased. 25 They took strong cities and fertile fields, they took over
well-furnished houses, Cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, and lush, extensive
orchards. And they ate, grew fat on the fat of the land; they reveled in your
bountiful goodness. 26 But then they mutinied, rebelled against you, threw out
your laws and killed your prophets, The very prophets who tried to get them
back on your side - and then things went from bad to worse. 27 You turned them
over to their enemies, who made life rough for them. But when they called out
for help in their troubles you listened from heaven; And in keeping with your
bottomless compassion you gave them saviors: Saviors who saved them from the
cruel abuse of their enemies. 28 But as soon as they had it easy again they
were right back at it - more evil. So you turned away and left them again to
their fate, to the enemies who came right back. They cried out to you again; in
your great compassion you heard and helped them again. This went on over and
over and over. 29 ou warned them to return to your Revelation, they responded
with haughty arrogance: They flouted your commands, spurned your rules - the
very words by which men and women live! They set their jaws in defiance, they
turned their backs on you and didn't listen. 30 You put up with them year after
year and warned them by your spirit through your prophets; But when they refused
to listen you abandoned them to foreigners. 31 Still, because of your great
compassion, you didn't make a total end to them. You didn't walk out and leave
them for good; yes, you are a God of grace and compassion. 32 And now, our God,
the great God, God majestic and terrible, loyal in covenant and love, Don't
treat lightly the trouble that has come to us, to our kings and princes, our
priests and prophets, Our ancestors, and all your people from the time of the
Assyrian kings right down to today. 33 You are not to blame for all that has
come down on us; You did everything right, we did everything wrong. 34 None of
our kings, princes, priests, or ancestors followed your Revelation; They
ignored your commands, dismissed the warnings you gave them. 35 Even when they
had their own kingdom and were enjoying your generous goodness, Living in that
spacious and fertile land that you spread out before them, They didn't serve
you or turn their backs on the practice of evil. 36 And here we are, slaves
again today; and here's the land you gave our ancestors So they could eat well
and enjoy a good life, and now look at us - no better than slaves on this land.
37 Its wonderful crops go to the kings you put over us because of our sins;
They act like they own our bodies and do whatever they like with our cattle.
We're in deep trouble. 38 "Because of all this we are drawing up a binding
pledge, a sealed document signed by our princes, our Levites, and our
priests."
Nehemiah 10 (The Message)
1
The sealed document bore these signatures: Nehemiah the governor, son of
Hacaliah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah, 4
Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6 Daniel, Ginnethon,
Baruch, 7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8 Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These
were the priests. 9 The Levites: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of
Henadad, Kadmiel, 10 and their kinsmen: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah,
Hanan, 11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13 Hodiah,
Bani, and Beninu. 14 The heads of the people: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu,
Bani, 15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17 Ater, Hezekiah,
Azzur, 18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, 19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20 Magpiash,
Meshullam, Hezir, 21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23
Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, 24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, 25 Rehum, Hashabnah,
Maaseiah, 26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, 27 Malluch, Harim, and Baanah. 28 The rest of
the people, priests, Levites, security guards, singers, Temple staff, and all
who separated themselves from the foreign neighbors to keep The Revelation of
God, together with their wives, sons, daughters - everyone old enough to
understand 29 - all joined their noble kinsmen in a binding oath to follow The Revelation
of God given through Moses the servant of God, to keep and carry out all the
commandments of God our Master, all his decisions and standards. 30 Thus: We
will not marry our daughters to our foreign neighbors nor let our sons marry
their daughters. 31 When the foreign neighbors bring goods or grain to sell on
the Sabbath we won't trade with them - not on the Sabbath or any other holy
day. Every seventh year we will leave the land fallow and cancel all debts. 32
We accept the responsibility for paying an annual tax of one-third of a shekel
(about an eighth ounce) for providing The Temple of our God with 33 read for
the Table regular Grain-Offerings regular Whole-Burnt-Offerings offerings for
the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts Dedication-Offerings
Absolution-Offerings to atone for Israel maintenance of The Temple of our God.
34 We - priests, Levites, and the people - have cast lots to see when each of
our families will bring wood for burning on the Altar of our God, following the
yearly schedule set down in The Revelation. 35 We take responsibility for
delivering annually to The Temple of God the firstfruits of our crops and our
orchards, 36 our firstborn sons and cattle, and the firstborn from our herds
and flocks for the priests who serve in The Temple of our God - just as it is
set down in The Revelation. 37 We will bring the best of our grain, of our
contributions, of the fruit of every tree, of wine, and of oil to the priests
in the storerooms of The Temple of our God. 38 We'll see to it that a priest
descended from Aaron will supervise the Levites as they collect the tithes and
make sure that they take a tenth of the tithes to the treasury in The Temple of
our God. 39 We'll see to it that the People of Israel and Levites bring the
grain, wine, and oil to the storage rooms where the vessels of the Sanctuary
are kept and where the priests who serve, the security guards, and the choir
meet. We will not neglect The Temple of our God.
Nehemiah 11 (The Message)
1
The leaders of the people were already living in Jerusalem, so the rest of the
people drew lots to get one out of ten to move to Jerusalem, the holy city,
while the other nine remained in their towns. 2 The people applauded those who
voluntarily offered to live in Jerusalem. 3 These are the leaders in the
province who resided in Jerusalem (some Israelites, priests, Levites, Temple
staff, and descendants of Solomon's slaves lived in the towns of Judah on their
own property in various towns; 4 others from both Judah and Benjamin lived in
Jerusalem): From the family of Judah: 5 Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of
Col-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son
of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite. 6 The descendants of Perez who lived in
Jerusalem numbered 468 valiant men. 7 From the family of Benjamin: 8 and his
brothers Gabbai and Sallai: 928 men. 9 Joel son of Zicri was their chief and
Judah son of Hassenuah was second in command over the city. 10 From the
priests: 11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the
son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, supervisor of The Temple of God, 12 along
with their associates responsible for work in The Temple: 822 men. Also Adaiah
son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the
son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah, 13 and his associates who were heads of
families: 242 men; Amashsai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of
Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 and his associates, all valiant men: 128
men. Their commander was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim. 15 From the Levites: 16
Shabbethai and Jozabad, two of the leaders of the Levites who were in charge of
the outside work of The Temple of God; 17 Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of
Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the director who led in thanksgiving and prayer;
Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of
Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 The Levites in the holy city totaled 284. 19
From the security guards: Akkub, Talmon, and their associates who kept watch
over the gates: 172 men. 20 The rest of the Israelites, priests, and Levites
were in all the towns of Judah, each on his own family property. 21 The Temple
staff lived on the hill Ophel. Ziha and Gishpa were responsible for them. 22
The chief officer over the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son
of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica. Uzzi was one of Asaph's
descendants, singers who led worship in The Temple of God. 23 The singers got
their orders from the king, who drew up their daily schedule. 24 Pethahiah son
of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, represented the people's
concerns at the royal court. 25 Some of the Judeans lived in the villages near
their farms: Kiriath Arba (Hebron) and suburbs Dibon and suburbs Jekabzeel and
suburbs 26 eshua Moladah Beth Pelet 27 Hazar Shual Beersheba and suburbs 28
Ziklag Meconah and suburbs 29 En Rimmon Zorah Jarmuth 30 Zanoah Adullam and
their towns Lachish and its fields Azekah and suburbs. They were living all the
way from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom. 31 The Benjaminites from Geba lived
in: Micmash Aijah Bethel and its suburbs 32 Anathoth Nob and Ananiah 33 Hazor
Ramah and Gittaim 34 Hadid, Zeboim, and Neballat 35 Lod and Ono and the Valley of
the Craftsmen. 36 Also some of the Levitical groups of Judah were assigned to
Benjamin.
Nehemiah 12 (The Message)
1
These are the priests and Levites who came up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel
and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3
Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Moadiah,
Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah.
These were the leaders of the priests during the time of Jeshua. 8 And the
Levites: 9 and their brothers Bakbukiah and Unni stood opposite them in the
services of worship. 10 Jeshua fathered Joiakim, Joiakim fathered Eliashib,
Eliashib fathered Joiada, 11 Joiada fathered Jonathan, and Jonathan fathered
Jaddua. 12 During the time of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly
families: of the family of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 of Ezra,
Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 of Malluch, Jonathan; of Shecaniah,
Joseph; 15 of Harim, Adna; of Meremoth, Helkai; 16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of
Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 of Abijah, Zicri; of Miniamin and Moadiah, Piltai; 18
of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of
Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 of Sallu, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah;
and of Jedaiah, Nethanel. 22 During the time of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and
Jaddua, the Levites were registered as heads of families. During the reign of
Darius the Persian, the priests were registered. 23 The Levites who were heads
of families were registered in the Book of the Chronicles until the time of
Johanan son of Eliashib. These were: 24 Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of
Kadmiel. Their brothers stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving,
one side responding to the other, as had been directed by David the man of God.
25 The security guards included: Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam,
Talmon, and Akkub. 26 They lived during the time of Joiakim son of Jeshua, the
son of Jozadak, the time of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest and
scholar. Dedication of the Wall 27 When it came time for the dedication of the
wall, they tracked down and brought in the Levites from all their homes in
Jerusalem to carry out the dedication exuberantly: thanksgiving hymns, songs,
cymbals, harps, and lutes. 28 The singers assembled from all around Jerusalem,
from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth Gilgal, from the farms at
Geba and Azmaveth - the singers had built villages for themselves all around
Jerusalem. 30 The priests and Levites ceremonially purified themselves; then
they did the same for the people, the gates, and the wall. 31 I had the leaders
of Judah come up on the wall, and I appointed two large choirs. One proceeded
on the wall to the right toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hashaiah and half the leaders
of Judah followed them, 33 including Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah,
Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah. 35 Some of the young priests had trumpets.
Next, playing the musical instruments of David the man of God, came Zechariah
son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah,
the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his brothers Shemaiah, Azarel,
Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani. Ezra the scholar led them.
37 At the Fountain Gate they went straight ahead, up the steps of the City of
David using the wall stairway above the house of David to the Water Gate on the
east. 38 The other choir proceeded to the left. I and half of the people
followed them on the wall from the Tower of Furnaces to the Broad Wall, 39 over
the Ephraim Gate, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and
the Tower of the Hundred as far as the Sheep Gate, stopping at the Prison Gate.
40 The two choirs then took their places in The Temple of God. I was there with
half of the officials, 41 along with the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin,
Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah with their trumpets. 42 Also
Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam, and Ezer. The
singers, directed by Jezrahiah, made the rafters ring. 43 That day they offered
great sacrifices, an exuberant celebration because God had filled them with
great joy. The women and children raised their happy voices with all the rest.
Jerusalem's jubilation was heard far and wide. 44 That same day men were
appointed to be responsible for the storerooms for the offerings, the
firstfruits, and the tithes. They saw to it that the portion directed by The
Revelation for the priests and Levites was brought in from the farms connected
to the towns. Judah was so appreciative of the priests and Levites and their
service; 45 they, along with the singers and security guards, had done
everything so well, conducted the worship of their God and the ritual of
ceremonial cleansing in a way that would have made David and his son Solomon
proud. 46 That's the way it was done in the olden days, the days of David and
Asaph, when they had choir directors for singing songs of praise and
thanksgiving to God. 47 During the time of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel contributed
the daily allowances for the singers and security guards. They also set aside
what was dedicated to the Levites, and the Levites did the same for the
Aaronites.
Nehemiah 13 (The Message)
1 Also on that same day there was a reading from
the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. It was found written there that
no Ammonite or Moabite was permitted to enter the congregation of God, 2
because they hadn't welcomed the People of Israel with food and drink; they
even hired Balaam to work against them by cursing them, but our God turned the
curse into a blessing. 3 When they heard the reading of The Revelation, they
excluded all foreigners from Israel. 4 Some time before this, Eliashib the
priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of The Temple of God. He was
close to Tobiah 5 and had made available to him a large storeroom that had been
used to store Grain-Offerings, incense, worship vessels, and the tithes of
grain, wine, and oil for the Levites, singers, and security guards, and the
offerings for the priests. 6 When this was going on I wasn't there in
Jerusalem; in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon, I had
traveled back to the king. But later I asked for his permission to leave again.
7 I arrived in Jerusalem and learned of the wrong that Eliashib had done in
turning over to him a room in the courts of The Temple of God. 8 I was angry,
really angry, and threw everything in the room out into the street, all of
Tobiah's stuff. 9 Then I ordered that they ceremonially cleanse the room. Only
then did I put back the worship vessels of The Temple of God, along with the
Grain-Offerings and the incense. 10 And then I learned that the Levites hadn't
been given their regular food allotments. So the Levites and singers who led
the services of worship had all left and gone back to their farms. 11 I called
the officials on the carpet, "Why has The Temple of God been
abandoned?" I got everyone back again and put them back on their jobs 12
so that all Judah was again bringing in the tithe of grain, wine, and oil to
the storerooms. 13 I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite
named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms. I made Hanan son of Zaccur, the son
of Mattaniah, their right-hand man. These men had a reputation for honesty and
hard work. They were responsible for distributing the rations to their
brothers. 14 Remember me, O my God, for this. Don't ever forget the devoted
work I have done for The Temple of God and its worship. 15 During those days,
while back in Judah, I also noticed that people treaded wine presses, brought
in sacks of grain, and loaded up their donkeys on the Sabbath. They brought
wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of stuff to sell on the Sabbath. So I spoke
up and warned them about selling food on that day. 16 Tyrians living there
brought in fish and whatever else, selling it to Judeans - in Jerusalem, mind
you! - on the Sabbath. 17 I confronted the leaders of Judah: "What's going
on here? This evil! Profaning the Sabbath! 18 Isn't this exactly what your ancestors
did? And because of it didn't God bring down on us and this city all this
misery? And here you are adding to it - accumulating more wrath on Jerusalem by
profaning the Sabbath." 19 As the gates of Jerusalem were darkened by the
shadows of the approaching Sabbath, I ordered the doors shut and not to be
opened until the Sabbath was over. I placed some of my servants at the gates to
make sure that nothing to be sold would get in on the Sabbath day. 20 Traders
and dealers in various goods camped outside the gates once or twice. 21 But I
took them to task. I said, "You have no business camping out here by the
wall. If I find you here again, I'll use force to drive you off." And that
did it; they didn't come back on the Sabbath. 22 Then I directed the Levites to
ceremonially cleanse themselves and take over as guards at the gates to keep
the sanctity of the Sabbath day. Remember me also for this, my God. Treat me
with mercy according to your great and steadfast love. 23 Also in those days I
saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 Half the
children couldn't even speak the language of Judah; all they knew was the
language of Ashdod or some other tongue. 25 So I took those men to task, gave
them a piece of my mind, even slapped some of them and jerked them by the hair.
I made them swear to God: "Don't marry your daughters to their sons; and
don't let their daughters marry your sons - and don't you yourselves marry
them! 26 Didn't Solomon the king of Israel sin because of women just like these?
Even though there was no king quite like him, and God loved him and made him
king over all Israel, foreign women were his downfall. 27 Do you call this
obedience - engaging in this extensive evil, showing yourselves faithless to
God by marrying foreign wives?" 28 One of the sons of Joiada, the son of
Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; I drove
him out of my presence. 29 Remember them, O my God, how they defiled the
priesthood and the covenant of the priests and Levites. 30 All in all I
cleansed them from everything foreign. I organized the orders of service for
the priests and Levites so that each man knew his job. 31 I arranged for a
regular supply of altar wood at the appointed times and for the firstfruits.
Remember me, O my God, for good.
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