1. Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.

2. For there were that said, "We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live."

3. There were also some that said, "We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine."

4. There were also some who said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral.

5. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring our sons and our daughters into bondage to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. It is also not in our power to help it, because other men have our fields and our vineyards."

6. I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

7. Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, "You exact usury, everyone of his brother." I held a great assembly against them.

8. I said to them, "We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?" Then they held their peace, and found not a word to say.

9. Also I said, "The thing that you do is not good. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?

10. I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury.

11. Please restore to them, even today, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you are charging them."

12. Then they said, "We will restore them, and will require nothing of them. We will do so, even as you say."Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.

13. Also I shook out my lap, and said, "So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn't perform this promise; even be he shaken out, and emptied like this."All the assembly said, "Amen," and praised The LORD. The people did according to this promise.

14. Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.

15. But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, plus forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people; but I didn't do so, because of the fear of God.

16. Yes, I also continued in the work of this wall. We didn't buy any land. All my servants were gathered there to the work.

17. Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, besides those who came to us from among the nations that were around us.

18. Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days a store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this, I didn't demand the governor's pay, because the bondage was heavy on this people.

19. Remember to me, my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.

1. Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates)

2. Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono." But they intended to harm me.

3. I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I can't come down. Why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?"

4. They sent to me four times like this; and I answered them the same way.

5. Then Sanballat sent his servant to me the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,

6. in which was written, "It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words.

7. You have also appointed prophets to proclaim of you at Jerusalem, saying, 'There is a king in Judah!' Now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together."

8. Then I sent to him, saying, "There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart."

9. For they all would have made us afraid, saying, "Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done." But now, strengthen my hands.

10. I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home; and he said, "Let us meet together in God's house, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to kill you. Yes, in the night will they come to kill you."

11. I said, "Should a man like me flee? Who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in."

12. I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13. He hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, and that they might have material for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

14. "Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear."

15. So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.

16. When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations that were around us were afraid, and they lost their confidence; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

17. Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them.

18. For there were many in Judah sworn to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife.

19. Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

1. All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the wide place that was in front of the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

2. Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.

3. He read from it before the wide place that was in front of the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand. The ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

4. Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

5. Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people), and when he opened it, all the people stood up.

6. Then Ezra blessed The LORD, the great God.All the people answered, "Amen, Amen," with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

7. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law; and the people stayed in their place.

8. They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.

9. NEHEMIAH, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, "Today is holy to the LORD your God. Don't mourn, nor weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.

10. Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don't be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

11. So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Hold your peace, for the day is holy. Don't be grieved."

12. All the people went their way to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to celebrate, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

13. On the second day, the heads of fathers' households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered together to Ezra the scribe, to study the words of the law.

14. They found written in the law how the LORD had commanded by Moses that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month;

15. and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the mountain, and get olive branches, branches of wild olive, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make temporary shelters, as it is written."

16. So the people went out, and brought them, and made themselves temporary shelters, everyone on the roof of his house, in their courts, in the courts of God's house, in the wide place of the water gate, and in the wide place of Ephraim's gate.

17. All the assembly of those who had come back out of the captivity made temporary shelters, and lived in the booths; for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the children of Israel had not done so. There was very great gladness.

18. Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.

1. Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, with sackcloth, and dirt on them.

2. The offspring of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

3. They stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God a fourth part of the day; and a fourth part they confessed, and worshiped the LORD their God.

4. Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani of the Levites stood up on the stairs, and cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God.

5. Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, "Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting! Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!

6. You are The LORD, even you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their army, the earth and all things that are on it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all. The army of heaven worships you.

7. You are The LORD, the God who chose Abram, brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, gave him the name of Abraham,

8. found his heart faithful before you, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it to his offspring, and have performed your words; for you are righteous.

9. "You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea,

10. and showed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, and against all his servants, and against all the people of his land; for you knew that they dealt proudly against them, and made a name for yourself, as it is today.

11. You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the middle of the sea on the dry land; and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.

12. Moreover, in a pillar of cloud you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go.

13. "You also came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,

14. and made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them commandments, statutes, and a law, by Moses your servant,

15. and gave them bread from the sky for their hunger, and brought water out of the rock for them for their thirst, and commanded them that they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them.

16. "But they and our fathers behaved proudly, hardened their neck, didn't listen to your commandments,

17. and refused to obey. They weren't mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn't forsake them.

18. Yes, when they had made themselves a molten calf, and said, 'This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,' and had committed awful blasphemies;

19. yet you in your manifold mercies didn't forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud didn't depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither did the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go.

20. You gave also your good Spirit to instruct them, and didn't withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.

21. "Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. Their clothes didn't grow old, and their feet didn't swell.

22. Moreover you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you allotted according to their portions. So they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

23. You also multiplied their children as the stars of the sky, and brought them into the land concerning which you said to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

24. "So the children went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they pleased.

25. They took fortified cities and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns dug out, vineyards, and olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled, became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.

26. "Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, cast your law behind their back, killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies.

27. Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them. In the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors who saved them out of the hands of their adversaries.

28. But after they had rest, they did evil again before you; therefore left you them in the hands of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them; yet when they returned, and cried to you, you heard from heaven; and many times you delivered them according to your mercies,

29. and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they were arrogant, and didn't listen to your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances (which if a man does, he shall live in them), turned their backs, stiffened their neck, and would not hear.

30. Yet many years you put up with them, and testified against them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet would they not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.

31. "Nevertheless in your manifold mercies you did not make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful God.

32. Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness, don't let all the travail seem little before you, that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, on our priests, on our prophets, on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.

33. However you are just in all that has come on us; for you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly.

34. Also our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies with which you testified against them.

35. For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land which you gave before them. They did not turn from their wicked works.

36. "Behold, we are servants today, and as for the land that you gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its good, behold, we are servants in it.

37. It yields much increase to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. Also they have power over our bodies and over our livestock, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

38. Yet for all this, we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, seal it."

1. Now those who sealed were: NEHEMIAH the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,

2. Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

3. Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,

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: namely, Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;

10. and their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

11. Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,

12. Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

13. Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.

14. The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

15. Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

16. Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

17. Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

18. Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

19. Hariph, Anathoth, Nobai,

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. and Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,

27. Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

28. The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge, and understanding-

29. they joined with their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes;

30. and that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;

31. and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy from them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

32. Also we made ordinances for ourselves, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;

33. for the show bread, for the continual meal offering, for the continual burnt offering, for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.

34. We cast lots, the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the LORD our God's altar, as it is written in the law;

35. and to bring the first fruits of our ground, and the first fruits of all fruit of all kinds of trees, year by year, to The LORD's house;

36. also the firstborn of our sons, and of our livestock, as it is written in the law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God;

37. and that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, our wave offerings, the fruit of all kinds of trees, and the new wine and the oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground to the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

38. The priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes. The Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms, into the treasure house.

39. For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the wave offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, to the rooms, where the vessels of the sanctuary are, and the priests who minister, with the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not forsake the house of our God.

1. The princes of the people lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities.

2. The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.

3. Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the cities of Judah everyone lived in his possession in their cities: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the children of Solomon's servants.

4. Some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of Perez;

5. and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite.

6. All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men.

7. These are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah.

8. After him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty-eight.

9. Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.

10. Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin,

11. Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of God's house,

12. and their brothers who did the work of the house, eight hundred twenty-two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,

13. and his brothers, chiefs of fathers' households, two hundred forty-two; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,

14. and their brothers, mighty men of valor, one hundred twenty-eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.

15. Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;

16. and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the outward business of God's house;

17. and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

18. All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four.

19. Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were one hundred seventy-two.

20. The residue of Israel, of the priests, the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance.

21. But the temple servants lived in Ophel: and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.

22. The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the business of God's house.

23. For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.

24. Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.

25. As for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and its towns, in Dibon and its towns, in Jekabzeel and its villages,

26. in Jeshua, in Moladah, Beth Pelet,

27. in Hazar Shual, in Beersheba and its towns,

28. in Ziklag, in Meconah and in its towns,

29. in En Rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth,

30. Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.

31. The children of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, and at Bethel and its towns,

32. at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

33. Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

34. Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

35. Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

36. Of the Levites, certain divisions in Judah settled in Benjamin's territory.