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Nehemiah 2:1-20 During the month Nisan [Jewish Nissan 30 days March-April] , in the 12th year of Artaxerxes' reign ---- wine was before him. Nehemiah [the taste tester] took the wine and gave it to the king. Nehemiah was very sad and Artaxerxes ask, "Why do you look sad, seeing that you are not sick? This is nothing else but a broken spirit." Nehemiah was very afraid and said unto the king, "Let the king live for ever; why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my ancestors’ graves, lies in waste, and its gates are burned?"

The king said< "Tell me what is it that you want." Nehemiah prayed to the God of the heavens. And then told Artaxerxes, that if it pleased the king, and if Nehemiah, a slave has found favour in the king's sight, that Nehemiah be sent to Judah, to Jerusalem to rebuild it.

The king asked Nehemiah with the queen also sitting by him, "For how long shall your journey be, and when will you return?" So the matter pleased the king, and he sent Nehemiah; and set time.

In addition, Nehemiah asked of the king, for letters be given Nehemiah for the governors on the other side of the river, that they convey Nehemiah until he arrives in Judah. This included a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace of the house and for the wall of the city and for the house that Nehemiah will reside. And the king granted Nehemiah, everything he requested because of God.

Nehemiah came to the leaders of the other side of the river and gave them Artaxerxes letters. The king had sent commanders of the army and horsemen with Nehemiah.

When Sanballat, the Horonite, and Tobiah, the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it really bothered them that there was someone seeking for the welfare of the children of Israel.

Nehemiah came to Jerusalem, and was there 3 days.

Nehemiah got up in the night, along with some men with him. Nehemiah didn't tell any man what God had put in his heart to do at Jerusalem; neither was there any beast with me, except for the animal that Nehemiah rode. Nehemiah went out by night through the gate of the valley, in front of the dragon fountain and on to the dung port to considered the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates being destroyed.

Nehemiah went on to the gate of the fountain and to the king’s pool, but there was no place for Nehemiah's animal to pass. Then went he traveled in the night by the brook and considered the wall and turned back and entered by the gate of the valley --- finishing his inspection.

And the rulers did not know where Nehemiah had gone or what he had done; neither did he mention it to the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the rulers nor to the rest that did the work.

Nehemiah said to them, "See the trouble that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste and its gates burned; come, and let's reconstruct the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no longer criticized."

Nehemiah explained to them how the hand of God had helped and also the king’s words that he had spoken to Nehemiah. They were in agreement to rise up and rebuild. So they began the task.

But when Sanballat, the Horonite, and Tobiah, the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem, the Arabian, heard it, they laughed at them and despised them and asked, "What is this thing that you do? Will you revolt against the king?"

Nehemiah replied and said to them, "The God of the heavens, will prosper us. We, his servants, will arise and build; but you will have no portion or righteousness, nor monument in Jerusalem."


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And it cometh to pass, in the month of Nisan, the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, wine [is] before him, and I lift up the wine, and give to the king, and I had not been sad before him;

2 and the king saith to me, `Wherefore [is] thy face sad, and thou not sick? this is nothing except sadness of heart;' and I fear very much,

3 and say to the king, `Let the king to the age live! wherefore should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of the graves of my fathers, [is] a waste, and its gates have been consumed with fire?'

4 And the king saith to me, `For what art thou seeking?' and I pray unto the God of the heavens,

5 and say to the king, `If to the king [it be] good, and if thy servant be pleasing before thee, that thou send me unto Judah, unto the city of the graves of my fathers, and I built it.'

6 And the king saith to me (and the queen is sitting near him), `How long is thy journey? and when dost thou return?' and it is good before the king, and he sendeth me away, and I set to him a time.

7 And I say to the king, `If to the king [it be] good, letters let be given to me for the governors beyond the River, that they let me pass over till that I come in unto Judah:

8 and a letter unto Asaph, keeper of the paradise that the king hath, that he give to me trees for beams [for] the gates of the palace that the house hath, and for the wall of the city, and for the house into which I enter;' and the king giveth to me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

9 And I come in unto the governors beyond the River, and give to them the letters of the king; and the king sendeth with me heads of a force, and horsemen;

10 and Sanballat the Horonite heareth, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and it is evil to them -- a great evil -- that a man hath come in to seek good for the sons of Israel.

11 And I come in unto Jerusalem, and I am there three days,

12 and I rise by night, I and a few men with me, and have not declared to a man what my God is giving unto my heart to do for Jerusalem, and there is no beast with me except the beast on which I am riding.

13 And I go out through the gate of the valley by night, and unto the front of the fountain of the dragon, and unto the gate of the dunghill, and I am measuring about the walls of Jerusalem, that are broken down, and its gates consumed with fire.

14 And I pass over unto the gate of the fountain, and unto the pool of the king, and there is no place for the beast under me to pass over,

15 and I am going up through the brook by night, and am measuring about the wall, and turn back, and come in through the gate of the valley, and turn back.

16 And the prefects have not known whither I have gone, and what I am doing; and to the Jews, and to the priests, and to the freemen, and to the prefects, and to the rest of those doing the work, hitherto I have not declared [it];

17 and I say unto them, `Ye are seeing the evil that we are in, in that Jerusalem [is] waste, and its gates have been burnt with fire; come and we build the wall of Jerusalem, and we are not any more a reproach.'

18 And I declare to them the hand of my God that is good upon me, and also the words of the king that he said to me, and they say, `Let us rise, and we have built;' and they strengthen their hands for good.

19 And Sanballat the Horonite heareth, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, and they mock at us, and despise us, and say, `What [is] this thing that ye are doing? against the king are ye rebelling?'

20 And I return them word, and say to them, `The God of the heavens -- He doth give prosperity to us, and we His servants rise and have built; and to you there is no portion, and right, and memorial in Jerusalem.'

[_ludwigm]

cometh - saith - thy - thou - hath hath hath - giveth - dost - sendeth -
ENOUGH ... there are a lot

Do you understand (in general) what do you speaking about?
In which century you live in?

Nehemiah 2:1-20
...
dunghill
...

That is.

[_LittleNipper]

cometh - saith - thy - thou - hath hath hath - giveth - dost - sendeth -
ENOUGH ... there are a lot

Do you understand (in general) what do you speaking about?
In which century you live in?

Nehemiah 2:1-20
...
dunghill
...

That is.

A "dunghill" is the trash heap and garbage dump. I'm sorry, however; until the 1960's most Protestants used the King James Version of the Holy Bible. They even read from this in Public Schools, and we commonly had responsive reading at church (because we all had the same King James translation). This is likely why most people back then seemed to be more literate. And so, I came to understand the thee, thou, thy, thine, etc., etc., etc... I understand --- but I realize that you are Hungarian. I'm sure that you understand English far better than I understand Hungarian... Many people today have vocabularies consisting of 4 letter words --- so "thine" would be a bit more difficult for them.

[_LittleNipper]

Nehemiah 3:1-32 Eliashib the high priest set to work with his fellow priests and built the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set up its doors, then dedicated it between the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel.
The people of Jericho built by them, and Zaccur, Imri’s son, built alongside them.
The children of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and set up the doors with locks.
By them Meremoth, Uriah’s son and Hakkoz’s grandson, made repairs. Meshullam, Berechiah’s son and Meshezabel’s grandson, made repairs by them, and Zadok, Baana’s son, made repairs by them.
Next to them the people from Tekoa made repairs, but their officials wouldn’t help with the work of their supervisors.
Joiada, Paseah’s son, and Meshullam, Besodeiah’s son, fixed the Mishneh Gate; they laid its beams and set up its doors with locks. Next to them repairs were made by Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, and the people of Gibeon and of Mizpah, who were ruled by a governor of the province Beyond the River.

Uzziel, Harhaiah’s son (one of the goldsmiths) made repairs by them; and Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs next to him. They repaired Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. Next to them Rephaiah, Hur’s son, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. them Jedaiah, Harumaph’s son, made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush, Hashabneiah’s son, made repairs next to him.

Malchijah, Harim’s son, and Hasshub, Pahath-moab’s son, fixed another section and the Tower of the Ovens. By to them Shallum, Hallohesh’s son, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs, along with his daughters.

Hanun and the people of Zanoah fixed the Valley Gate --- building it and set up its doors with locks. They also repaired fifteen hundred feet of the wall, to the Dung Gate.

Malchiah, Rechab’s son, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, fixed the Dung Gate --- reconstructing it and set up its doors with locks.

Shallum, Col-hozeh’s son, ruler of the Mizpah district, fixed the Spring Gate --- rebuilding and covered it, and set up its doors with bars. He also built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the King’s Garden, to the stairs that go down from David’s City.

Following him, Nehemiah, Azbuk’s son, ruler of half the Beth-zur district, reconstructed from the point opposite David’s tombs as far as the artificial pool and the Warriors’ House. After him, the Levites made repairs: Rehum, Bani’s son, and next to him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district. Following, their relatives made repairs: Binnui, Henadad’s son, ruler of half the district of Keilah.

Next to him, Ezer, Jeshua’s son, ruler of Mizpah, fixed another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the Angle. Following him, Baruch, Zabbai’s son, reconstructed another section from the Angle to the door of the house of the high priest Eliashib. After him, Meremoth, Uriah’s son and Hakkoz’s grandson, repaired another section from the door to the back of Eliashib’s house.

By him, the priests from the surrounding area made repairs. Following them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs opposite their house. After them, Azariah, Maaseiah’s son and Ananiah’s grandson, repaired beside his house. Following him, Binnui, Henadad’s son, fixed another section from the house of Azariah to the Angle and to the corner. Palal, Uzai’s son, repaired from the point opposite the Angle and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court of the guard. By him, Pedaiah, Parosh’s son, and the temple servants living on Ophel made repairs up to the point opposite the Water Gate to the east and the projecting tower. After them, the people of Tekoa repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel. From the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each one opposite his own house.

Next to them, Zadok, Immer’s son, made repairs opposite his own house. by him, Shemaiah, Shecaniah’s son, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs. Following him, Hananiah, Shelemiah’s son, and Hanun, Zalaph’s sixth son, repaired another section. by them, Meshullam, Berechiah’s son, made repairs opposite his own room.

By him, Malchiah (goldsmith) made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Parade Gate, and as far as the upper room at the corner. And between the upper room of the corner and the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Eliashib the high priest riseth, and his brethren the priests, and they build the sheep-gate; they have sanctified it, and set up its doors, even unto the tower of Meah they have sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel;

2 and by his hand have men of Jericho built; and by their hand hath Zaccur son of Imri built;

3 and the fish-gate have sons of Hassenaah built, they have walled it, and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars.

4 And by their hand hath Merimoth son of Urijah, son of Koz, strengthened; and by his hand hath Meshullam son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabeel, strengthened; and by his hand hath Zadok son of Baana strengthened;

5 and by his hand have the Tekoites strengthened, and their honourable ones have not brought in their neck to the service of their Lord.

6 And the old gate have Jehoiada son of Paseah, and Meshullam son of Besodeiah, strengthened; they have walled it, and set up its doors, and its locks, and its bars.

7 And by their hand hath Melatiah the Gibeonite strengthened, and Jadon the Meronothite, men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, to the throne of the governor beyond the River.

8 By his hand hath Uzziel son of Harhaiah of the refiners strengthened; and by his hand hath Hananiah son of [one of] the compounders strengthened; and they leave Jerusalem unto the broad wall.

9 And by their hand hath Rephaiah son of Hur, head of the half of the district of Jerusalem, strengthened.

10 And by their hand hath Jedaiah son of Harumaph strengthened, and over-against his own house; and by his hand hath Hattush son of Hashabniah strengthened.

11 A second measure hath Malchijah son of Harim strengthened, and Hashub son of Pahath-Moab, even the tower of the furnaces.

12 And by his hand hath Shallum son of Halohesh, head of the half of the district of Jerusalem, strengthened, he and his daughters.

13 The gate of the valley hath Hanun strengthened, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they have built it, and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars, and a thousand cubits in the wall unto the dung-gate.

14 And the dung-gate hath Malchijah son of Rechab, head of the district of Beth-Haccerem, strengthened; he doth built it, and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars.

15 And the gate of the fountain hath Shallum son of Col-Hozeh, head of the district of Mizpah, strengthened: he doth build it, and cover it, and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars, and the wall of the pool of Siloah, to the garden of the king, and unto the steps that are going down from the city of David.

16 After him hath Nehemiah son of Azbuk, head of the half of the district of Beth-Zur, strengthened, unto over-against the graves of David, and unto the pool that is made, and unto the house of the mighty ones.

17 After him have the Levites strengthened, [and] Rehum son of Bani: by his hand hath Hashabiah, head of the half of the district of Keilah, strengthened, for his district.

18 After him have their brethren strengthened, [and] Bavvai son of Henadad, head of the half of the district of Keilah.

19 And Ezer son of Jeshua, head of Mizpah, doth strengthen, by his hand, a second measure, from over-against the ascent of the armoury at the angle.

20 After him hath Baruch son of Zabbai hastened to strengthen a second measure from the angle unto the opening of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

21 After him hath Meremoth son of Urijah, son of Koz, strengthened, a second measure, from the opening of the house of Eliashib even unto the completion of the house of Eliashib.

22 And after him have the priests, men of the circuit, strengthened.

23 After them hath Benjamin strengthened, and Hashub, over-against their house; after him hath Azariah son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah, strengthened, near his house.

24 After him hath Binnui son of Henadad strengthened, a second measure, from the house of Azariah unto the angle, and unto the corner.

25 Palal son of Uzai, from over-against the angle, and the tower that is going out from the upper house of the king that [is] at the court of the prison; after him Pedaiah son of Parosh.

26 And the Nethinim have been dwelling in Ophel, unto over-against the water-gate at the east, and the tower that goeth out.

27 After him have the Tekoites strengthened, a second measure, from over-against the great tower that goeth out, and unto the wall of Ophel.

28 From above the horse-gate have the priests strengthened, each over-against his house.

29 After them hath Zadok son of Immer strengthened, over against his house; and after him hath Shemaiah son of Shechaniah, keeper of the east gate, strengthened.

30 After him hath Hananiah son of Shelemiah strengthened, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, a second measure; after him hath Meshullam son of Berechiah strengthened, over-against his chamber.

31 After him hath Malchijah son of the refiner strengthened, unto the house of the Nethinim, and of the merchants, over-against the gate of the Miphkad, and unto the ascent of the corner.

32 And between the ascent of the corner and the sheep-gate, have the refiners and the merchants strengthened.

[_LittleNipper]

Nehemiah 4:1-23 Sanballat heard of the rebuilding the wall he became very anger, and disparaged the Jews. In the company of his Samaritan close friends and military he said, “What are these miserable Jews doing? Do they think they can fix overnight? Make building stones out of the air?”

At his side, Tobiah the Ammonite agreed, “If a fox climbed that wall, it would fall to pieces under his weight.”

Nehemiah prayed, “Listen to us, dear God. We’re so despised: turn around their ridicule at them; have their enemies cart them off as war trophies to a land of no return; don’t forgive their iniquity, don’t wipe away their sin—they’ve insulted the builders!”

The Jews continued 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.

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 furious. They decided to fight against Jerusalem and create as many problems as they could. The Jews prayed to God and set a continuous guard against them.

Soon word was going around in Judah,

The builders are tired,
the rubble piles up;
The Jews are in over their heads,
They can’t finish this wall.

All this time the enemies were saying, “They won’t know what happened. We’ll be at their throats, killing them all. That will put a stop to the work!” Jews who were neighbors kept reporting that the enemy has them surrounded --- planning to attack!” This was heard constantly...

Nehemiah stationed armed guards at the most vulnerable places along the wall --- assigning men by families with their swords, lances, and bows. After an inspection Nehemiah stood up and spoke to the nobles, officials, and the citizens: “Don’t be afraid of them. Put your minds on the GOD and then fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

The enemies learned that Judah knew of their plan and that God had frustrated it. The Jews went back to the wall and went to work. From then on half the 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. Common laborers and builders had a sword strapped to his side as he worked. Nehemiah kept the trumpeter at his side to sound the alert.

Nehemiah said to everyone, “There’s a lot of work going on and we are spread out all along the wall, separated from each other. When you hear the trumpet call, join us there; our God will fight for us. Each person and his helper is to stay inside Jerusalem—guards by night and workmen by day.”

They continued working, from first light until the stars came out, half of holding lances. They all slept in their clothes— each with spear in hand --- even while taking a drink.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 And it cometh to pass, when Sanballat hath heard that we are building the wall, that it is displeasing to him, and he is very angry and mocketh at the Jews,

2 and saith before his brethren and the force of Samaria, yea, he saith, `What [are] the weak Jews doing? are they left to themselves? do they sacrifice? do they complete in a day? do they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish? -- and they burnt!'

3 And Tobiah the Ammonite [is] by him and saith, `Also, that which they are building -- if a fox doth go up, then it hath broken down their stone wall.'

4 Hear, O our God, for we have been despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, and give them for a spoil in a land of captivity;

5 and do not cover over their iniquity, and their sin from before Thee let not be blotted out, for they have provoked to anger -- over-against those building.

6 And we build the wall, and all the wall is joined -- unto its half, and the people have a heart to work.

7 And it cometh to pass, when Sanballat hath heard, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, that lengthening hath gone up to the walls of Jerusalem, that the breeches have begun to be stopped, then it is very displeasing to them,

8 and they conspire, all of them together, to come in to fight against Jerusalem, and to do to it injury.

9 And we pray unto our God, and appoint a watch against them, by day and by night, because of them.

10 And Judah saith, `The power of the burden-bearers hath become feeble, and the rubbish [is] abundant, and we are not able to build on the wall.'

11 And our adversaries say, `They do not know, nor see, till that we come in to their midst, and have slain them, and caused the work to cease.'

12 And it cometh to pass, when the Jews have come who are dwelling near them, that they say to us ten times from all the places whither ye return -- [they are] against us.

13 And I appoint at the lowest of the places, at the back of the wall, in the clear places, yea, I appoint the people, by their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

14 And I see, and rise up, and say unto the freemen, and unto the prefects, and unto the rest of the people, `Be not afraid of them; the Lord, the great and the fearful, remember ye, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.'

15 And it cometh to pass, when our enemies have heard that it hath been known to us, and God doth frustrate their counsel, and we turn back, all of us, unto the wall, each unto his work;

16 yea, it cometh to pass, from that day, half of my servants are working in the business, and half of them are keeping hold of both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the heads [are] behind all the house of Judah.

17 The builders on the wall, and the bearers of the burden, those lading, [each] with one of his hands is working in the business, and one is laying hold of the missile.

18 And the builders [are] each with his sword, girded on his loins, and building, and he who is blowing with a trumpet [is] beside me.

19 And I say unto the freemen, and unto the prefects, and unto the rest of the people, `The work is abundant, and large, and we are separated on the wall, far off one from another;

20 in the place that ye hear the voice of the trumpet thither ye are gathered unto us; our God doth fight for us.'

21 And we are working in the business, and half of them are keeping hold of the spears, from the going up of the dawn till the coming forth of the stars.

22 Also, at that time I said to the people, `Let each with his servant lodge in the midst of Jerusalem, and they have been to us by night a guard, and by day [for] the work:'

23 and there are none -- I and my brethren and my servants, the men of the guard who [are] after me -- there are none of us putting off our garments, each [hath] his vessel of water.

[_LittleNipper]

Nehemiah 5:1-19 A protest was mounted by the people, including the wives, against fellow Jews. Some said, “We've large families, and we need food to survive.”
Others said, “We’re mortgaging our fields and vineyards and homes to get enough grain to keep from starving.” Still others said that they are borrowing money to pay the royal tax on their fields and vineyards. the complained, "We’re the same as our brothers; our children are just as good as theirs. Yet we are having to sell our children off as slaves—some of our daughters have already been sold—and we can’t do anything because our fields and vineyards are owned by somebody else.”

Nehemiah became angry when I heard their protest and complaints. Thinking it over --- he called the nobles and officials and said that they were gouging their brothers. Nehemiah stated that they everything to buy back Jewish brothers who had to sell themselves as slaves to foreigners. Now they themselves are selling these same brothers back into debt slavery! They had nothing to say. What could they say?

Nehemiah said “What you’re doing is wrong. Do you not fear God? Don’t you care what our enemies, think of you? I and my brothers and the people working for me have also loaned them money. But this gouging them with interest has to stop. Give them back their foreclosed fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes. Forgive your claims on their money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.”

They said that they would return it all as Nehemiah asked. Nehemiah called the priests together and made them promise to keep their word. And Nehemiah emptied his pockets, and said, “May God empty the pockets and homes of everyone who doesn’t keep his promise.”

Everyone gave a wholeheartedly.

From the time King Artaxerxes appointed Nehemiah as governor for the land of Judah—from the 20th to the 32nd year of his reign, 12 years—neither Nehemiah nor his people used the governor’s food allowance. Governors who had preceded Nehemiah oppressed the people by taxing them 40 shekels of silver a day for food and wine while their officials bullied the people unmercifully. However all Nehemiah's men were on the job to do the work. they had no time to take money..

Nehemiah fed 150 Jews and officials at my table in addition to those who showed up from the surrounding nations. 1 ox, 6 choice sheep, and some chickens were prepared for daily, and every 10 days a large supply of wines were delivered. Nehemiah didn’t use the food allowance provided for the governor—the people having it bad as it was.

Nehemiah asks God to remember for his wellbeing, God, everything he did for the people.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And there is a great cry of the people and their wives, concerning their brethren the Jews,

2 yea, there are who are saying, `Our sons, and our daughters, we -- are many, and we receive corn, and eat, and live.'

3 And there are who are saying, `Our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, we are pledging, and we receive corn for the famine.'

4 And there are who are saying, `We have borrowed money for the tribute of the king, [on] our fields, and our vineyards;

5 and now, as the flesh of our brethren [is] our flesh, as their sons [are] our sons, and lo, we are subduing our sons and our daughters for servants, and there are of our daughters subdued, and our hand hath no might, and our fields and our vineyards [are] to others.'

6 And it is very displeasing to me when I have heard their cry and these words,

7 and my heart reigneth over me, and I strive with the freemen, and with the prefects, and say to them, `Usury one upon another ye are exacting;' and I set against them a great assembly,

8 and say to them, `We have acquired our brethren the Jews, those sold to the nations, according to the ability that [is] in us, and ye also sell your brethren, and they have been sold to us!' and they are silent, and have not found a word.

9 And I say, `Not good [is] the thing that ye are doing; in the fear of our God do ye not walk, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?

10 And also, I, my brethren, and my servants, are exacting of them silver and corn; let us leave off, I pray you, this usury.

11 Give back, I pray you, to them, as to-day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive-yards, and their houses, and the hundredth [part] of the money, and of the corn, of the new wine, and of the oil, that ye are exacting of them.'

12 And they say, `We give back, and of them we seek nothing; so we do as thou art saying.' And I call the priests, and cause them to swear to do according to this thing;

13 also, my lap I have shaken, and I say, `Thus doth God shake out every man, who doth not perform this thing, from his house, and from his labour; yea, thus is he shaken out and empty;' and all the assembly say, `Amen,' and praise Jehovah; and the people do according to this thing.

14 Also, from the day that he appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the thirty and second year of Artaxerxes the king -- twelve years -- I, and my brethren, the bread of the governor have not eaten:

15 the former governors who [are] before me have made themselves heavy on the people, and take of them in bread and wine, besides in silver forty shekels; also, their servants have ruled over the people -- and I have not done so, because of the fear of God.

16 And also, in the work of this wall I have done mightily, even a field we have not bought, and all my servants are gathered there for the work;

17 and of the Jews, and of the prefects, a hundred and fifty men, and those coming in unto us of the nations that [are] round about us, [are] at my table;

18 and that which hath been prepared for one day [is] one ox, six fat sheep, also fowls have been prepared for me, and once in ten days of all wines abundantly, and with this, the bread of the governor I have not sought, for heavy is the service on this people.

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

[_LittleNipper]

Nehemiah 6:1-19 Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest found out that the Jews had almost completed the rebuilding of the wall—though the doors of the gates were not all hung. They sent a message asking Nehemiah to meet them in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But OH no! Nehemiah realized they were plotting to murder him. He ending back this message to them: “I am doing a major task! Why should I stop to come and visit with you?”

4 times they sent the same request, and each time Nehemiah provided the same response. The 5th time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, that read:
“Geshem tells me that everywhere he goes he hears that the Jews are planning to rebel, and that is why you are building the wall. He claims you plan to become a king—that is what is being said. He also reports that you have appointed prophets to campaign for you at Jerusalem by saying, ‘Look! Nehemiah is just the man we need!’ Be very sure that I am going to pass along these interesting comments to King Artaxerxes! I suggest that you come and talk it over with me—for that is the only way you can save yourself!”

Nehemiah replied, “You know you are lying. There isn’t one bit of truth that story. You’re just trying to intimidate us into stopping our work.” A few days later Nehemiah visited Shemaiah (son of Delaiah, who was the son of Mehetabel), for he said he was receiving a message from God. “Let us hide in the Temple and bolt the door,” he exclaimed, “for they are coming tonight to kill you."

Nehemiah replied, “Should I, the governor, run away from danger? And if I go into the Temple, not being a priest, I forfeit my life. No, I won’t do it!” Nehemiah realized that God had not spoken to Shemaiah, but Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him to frighten Nehemiah and make him sin by fleeing to the Temple. Then they would be able to accuse Nehemiah.

“O God,” Nehemiah prayed, “don’t forget all the evil of Tobiah, Sanballat, Noadiah the prophetess, and all the other prophets who have tried to discourage me.”

The wall was finally finished in early September— in a mere 52 days!

When the enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were upset and humiliated, and they realized that the work had been accomplished with God's help. During those 52 days many letters went back and forth between Tobiah and the wealthy politicians of Judah. For many in Judah had sworn allegiance to him because his father-in-law was Shecaniah (son of Arah) and because his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam (son of Berechiah). They all told Nehemiah what a wonderful man Tobiah was, and then they told Tobiah everything that was said; and Tobiah sent many threatening letters.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And it cometh to pass, when it hath been heard by Sanballat, and Tobiah, and by Geshem the Arabian, and by the rest of our enemies, that I have builded the wall, and there hath not been left in it a breach, (also, till that time the doors I had not set up in the gates,)

2 that Sanballat sendeth, also Geshem, unto me, saying, `Come and we meet together in the villages, in the valley of Ono;' and they are thinking to do to me evil.

3 And I send unto them messengers, saying, `A great work I am doing, and I am not able to come down; why doth the work cease when I let it alone, and have come down unto you?'

4 and they send unto me, according to this word, four times, and I return them [word] according to this word.

5 And Sanballat sendeth unto me, according to this word, a fifth time, his servant, and an open letter in his hand;

6 it is written in it, `Among the nations it hath been heard, and Gashmu is saying: Thou and the Jews are thinking to rebel, therefore thou art building the wall, and thou hast been to them for a king -- according to these words!

7 And also, prophets thou hast appointed to call for thee in Jerusalem, saying, A king [is] in Judah, and now it is heard by the king according to these words; and now come, and we take counsel together.'

8 And I send unto him, saying, `It hath not been according to these words that thou art saying, for from thine own heart thou art devising them;'

9 for all of them are making us afraid, saying, `Their hands are too feeble for the work, and it is not done;' and now, strengthen Thou my hands.

10 And I have entered the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabeel -- and he is restrained -- and he saith, `Let us meet at the house of God, at the inside of the temple, and we shut the doors of the temple, for they are coming in to slay thee -- yea, by night they are coming in to slay thee.'

11 And I say, `A man such as I -- doth he flee? and who as I, that doth go in unto the temple, and live? -- I do not go in.'

12 And I discern, and lo, God hath not sent him, for in the prophecy he hath spoken unto me both Tobiah and Sanballat hired him,

13 so that he [is] an hireling, that I may fear and do so, and I had sinned, and it had been to them for an evil name that they may reproach me.

14 Be mindful, O my God, of Tobiah, and of Sanballat, according to these his works, and also, of Noadiah the prophetess, and of the rest of the prophets who have been making me afraid.

15 And the wall is completed in the twenty and fifth of Elul, on the fifty and second day;

16 and it cometh to pass, when all our enemies have heard, and all the nations who are round about us see, that they fall greatly in their own eyes, and know that by our God hath this work been done.

17 Also, in those days the freemen of Judah are multiplying their letters going unto Tobiah, and those of Tobiah are coming in unto them;

18 for many in Judah are sworn to him, for he [is] son-in-law to Shechaniah son of Arah, and Jehohanan his son hath taken the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah;

19 also, his good deeds they have been saying before me, and my words they have been taking out to him; letters hath Tobiah sent to make me afraid.

[_LittleNipper]

Nehemiah 7:1-73 After the wall was rebuilt and Nehemiah had the doors installed, and the security guards, the singers, and the Levites were appointed, Nehemiah put his brother Hanani and Hananiah the captain of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem because he was an honest man and feared God more than most men.

Nehemiah gave them the order to not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun rises. And shut and bar the gates while the guards are on duty. Appoint guards from the citizens of Jerusalem and assign them to posts in front of their own homes.

The city was large and spacious with few people in it and the houses not yet rebuilt. God put it Nehemiah heart to gather the nobles, the officials, and the people in general to be registered. Nehemiah found the genealogical record of those who were in the first return from exile as follows:

The people of the province who returned from the captivity of Exile, the ones Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried off captive came back to Jerusalem and Judah, each going to his own town. They returned 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:

Parosh, 2,172

Shephatiah, 372

Arah, 652

Pahath-Moab (sons of Jeshua and Joab), 2,818

Elam, 1,254

Zattu, 845

Zaccai, 760

Binnui, 648

Bebai, 628

Azgad, 2,322

Adonikam, 667

Bigvai, 2,067

Adin, 655

Ater (sons of Hezekiah), 98

Hashum, 328

Bezai, 324

Hariph, 112

Gibeon, 95.

Israelites identified by place of origin:

Bethlehem and Netophah, 188

Anathoth, 128

Beth Azmaveth, 42

Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth, 743

Ramah and Geba, 621

Micmash, 122

Bethel and A.I., 123

Nebo (the other one), 52

Elam (the other one), 1,254

Harim, 320

Jericho, 345

Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721

Senaah, 3,930.

Priestly families:

Jedaiah (sons of Jeshua), 973

Immer, 1,052

Pashhur, 1,247

Harim, 1,017.

Levitical families:

Jeshua (sons of Kadmiel and of Hodaviah), 74.

Singers:

Asaph’s family line, 148.

Security guard families:

Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai, 138.

Families of support staff:

Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,

Keros, Sia, Padon,

Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai,

Hanan, Giddel, Gahar,

Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda,

Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,

Besai, Meunim, Nephussim,

Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,

Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,

Barkos, Sisera, Temah,

Neziah, and Hatipha.

Families of Solomon’s servants:

Sotai, Sophereth, Perida,

Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,

Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and Amon.

The Temple support staff and Solomon’s servants added up to 392.

The following returned from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer. They weren’t able to prove their ancestry, whether they were true Israelites or not:

The sons of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, 642.
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.

They searched diligently for their family records but couldn’t find them. And so they were barred from priestly work as ritually unclean. The governor ruled that they could not eat the holy food until a priest could determine their status by using the Urim and Thummim.

The total count for the congregation was 42,360. This did not include the male and female slaves who numbered 7,337. There were also 245 male and female singers. And there were 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

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. 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). 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 7

1 And it cometh to pass, when the wall hath been built, that I set up the doors, and the gatekeepers are appointed, and the singers, and the Levites,

2 and I charge Hanani my brother, and Hananiah head of the palace, concerning Jerusalem -- for he [is] as a man of truth, and fearing God above many --

3 and I say to them, `Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened till the heat of the sun, and while they are standing by let them shut the doors, and fasten, and appoint guards of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each in his guard, and each over-against his house.'

4 And the city [is] broad on both sides, and great, and the people [are] few in its midst, and there are no houses builded;

5 and my God putteth it unto my heart, and I gather the freeman, and the prefects, and the people, for the genealogy, and I find a book of the genealogy of those coming up at the beginning, and I find written in it: --

6 These [are] sons of the province, those coming up of the captives of the removal that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed -- and they turn back to Jerusalem and to Judah, each to his city --

7 who are coming in with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. Number of the men of the people of Israel:

8 Sons of Parosh: two thousand a hundred and seventy and two.

9 Sons of Shephatiah: three hundred seventy and two.

10 Sons of Arah: six hundred fifty and two.

11 Sons of Pahath-Moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab: two thousand and eight hundred [and] eighteen.

12 Sons of Elam: a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

13 Sons of Zattu: eight hundred forty and five.

14 Sons of Zaccai: seven hundred and sixty.

15 Sons of Binnui: six hundred forty and eight.

16 Sons of Bebai: six hundred twenty and eight.

17 Sons of Azgad: two thousand three hundred twenty and two.

18 Sons of Adonikam: six hundred sixty and seven.

19 Sons of Bigvai: two thousand sixty and seven.

20 Sons of Adin: six hundred fifty and five.

21 Sons of Ater of Hezekiah: ninety and eight.

22 Sons of Hashum: three hundred twenty and eight.

23 Sons of Bezai: three hundred twenty and four.

24 Sons of Hariph: a hundred [and] twelve.

25 Sons of Gibeon: ninety and five.

26 Men of Beth-Lehem and Netophah: a hundred eighty and eight.

27 Men of Anathoth: a hundred twenty and eight.

28 Men of Beth-Azmaveth: forty and two.

29 Men of Kirjath-Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth: seven hundred forty and three.

30 Men of Ramah and Gaba: six hundred twenty and one.

31 Men of Michmas: a hundred and twenty and two.

32 Men of Bethel and A.I.: a hundred twenty and three.

33 Men of the other Nebo: fifty and two.

34 Sons of the other Elam: a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

35 Sons of Harim: three hundred and twenty.

36 Sons of Jericho: three hundred forty and five.

37 Sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: seven hundred and twenty and one.

38 Sons of Senaah: three thousand nine hundred and thirty.

39 The priests: sons of Jedaiah: of the house of Jeshua: nine hundred seventy and three;

40 sons of Immer: a thousand fifty and two;

41 sons of Pashur: a thousand two hundred forty and seven;

42 sons of Harim: a thousand and seventeen.

43 The Levites: sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel: of sons of Hodevah: seventy and four.

44 The singers: sons of Asaph: a hundred forty and eight.

45 The gatekeepers: sons of Shallum, sons of Ater, sons of Talmon, sons of Akkub, sons of Hatita, sons of Shobai: a hundred thirty and eight.

46 The Nethinim: sons of Ziha, sons of Hasupha, sons of Tabbaoth,

47 sons of Keros, sons of Sia, sons of Padon,

48 sons of Lebanah, sons of Hagaba, sons of Shalmai,

49 sons of Hanan, sons of Giddel, sons of Gahar,

50 sons of Reaiah, sons of Rezin, sons of Nekoda,

51 sons of Gazzam, sons of Uzza, sons of Phaseah,

52 sons of Bezai, sons of Meunim, sons of Nephishesim,

53 sons of Bakbuk, sons of Hakupha, sons of Harhur,

54 sons of Bazlith, sons of Mehida, sons of Harsha,

55 sons of Barkos, sons of Sisera, sons of Tamah,

56 sons of Neziah, sons of Hatipha.

57 Sons of the servants of Solomon: sons of Sotai, sons of Sophereth, sons of Perida,

58 sons of Jaala, sons of Darkon, sons of Giddel,

59 sons of Shephatiah, sons of Hattil, sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, sons of Amon.

60 All the Nethinim and the sons of the servants of Solomon [are] three hundred ninety and two.

61 And these [are] those coming up from Tel-Melah, Tel-Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer -- and they have not been able to declare the house of their fathers, and their seed, whether they [are] of Israel --

62 sons of Delaiah, sons of Tobiah, sons of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.

63 And of the priests: sons of Habaiah sons of Koz, sons of Barzillai, who hath taken from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite a wife, and is called by their name.

64 These have sought their register among those reckoning themselves by genealogy, and it hath not been found, and they are redeemed from the priesthood,

65 and the Tirshatha saith to them that they eat not of the most holy things till the standing up of the priest with Urim and Thummim.

66 All the assembly together [is] four myriads two thousand three hundred and sixty,

67 apart from their servants and their handmaids -- these [are] seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven; and of them [are] singers and songstresses, two hundred forty and five.

68 Their horses [are] seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred [and] forty and five;

69 camels, four hundred thirty and five; asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

70 And from the extremity of the heads of the fathers they have given to the work; the Tirshatha hath given to the treasure, of gold, drams a thousand, bowls fifty, priests' coats thirty and five hundred.

71 And of the heads of the fathers they have given to the treasure of the work, of gold, drams two myriads, and of silver, pounds two thousand and two hundred.

72 And that which the rest of the people have given [is] of gold, drams two myriads, and of silver, pounds two thousand, and of priests coats, sixty and seven.

73 And they dwell -- the priests, and the Levites, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and [some] of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel -- in their cities, and the seventh month cometh, and the sons of Israel [are] in their cities.

[_LittleNipper]

Nehemiah 8:1-18 By the seventh month, the People of Israel were settled. All the people gathered in the town square in front of the Water Gate and asked the scholar Ezra to bring the Book of The Law of Moses that God had commanded for Israel.

Ezra the priest brought This 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. He read it facing the town square at the Water Gate from dawn until noon in the hearing of the men and women. All the people listened intently.

Ezra stood on a wooden platform constructed for this event. 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.

Every eye was on Ezra standing on the raised platform, and as he opened the book everyone stood. Ezra praised God, and all the people responded, “Yes! Yes!” with hands raised high. And they fell to their knees in worship of God, their heads bowed.

Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, all Levites, explained The Law while people stood, listening respectfully. They translated the Book of The Law of God so the people could understand it and explained the reading.

Nehemiah the governor, along with Ezra the priest and scholar and the Levites who were teaching the people, declared to the people, “This day is holy to God, your God. Don’t cry and carry on.” They said this because all the people were weeping as they heard the Law.

Nehemiah 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!”

The Levites calmed the people. So the people went off to feast, eating and drinking and including the poor in a great celebration. Now they understood the reading that had been given to them.

On the second day of the month the family heads of all the people, the priests, and the Levites gathered around Ezra to get a deeper understanding of the words of The Law. 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. So they published this decree and had it proclaimed 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.”

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. The entire population that had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. The People of Israel hadn’t done this since the time of Joshua son of Nun until that day—a terrific day! Great joy!

Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God each day, from the first to the last day—they celebrated the feast for 7 days. On the 8th day they held a solemn assembly according to the decree.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And all the people are gathered as one man unto the broad place that [is] before the water-gate, and they say to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, that Jehovah commanded Israel.

2 And Ezra the priest bringeth the law before the assembly, both of men and women, and every one intelligent to hear, on the first day of the seventh month,

3 and he readeth in it before the broad place that [is] before the water-gate, from the light till the middle of the day, over-against the men, and the women, and those intelligent, and the ears of all the people [are] unto the book of the law.

4 And Ezra the scribe standeth on a tower of wood that they made for the purpose, and Mattithiah standeth near him, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right; and on his left Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddana, Zechariah, Meshullam.

5 And Ezra openeth the book before the eyes of all the people -- for above all the people he hath been -- and at his opening [it] all the people have stood up,

6 and Ezra blesseth Jehovah, the great God, and all the people answer, `Amen, Amen,' with lifting up of their hands, and they bow and do obeisance to Jehovah -- faces to the earth.

7 And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, giving the people understanding in the law, and the people, [are] on their station,

8 and they read in the book, in the law of God, explaining -- so as to give the meaning, and they give understanding to the convocation.

9 And Nehemiah -- he [is] the Tirshatha -- saith (and Ezra the priest, the scribe, and the Levites who are instructing the people) to all the people, `To-day is holy to Jehovah your God, do not mourn, nor weep:' for all the people are weeping at their hearing the words of the law.

10 And he saith to them, `Go, eat fat things, and drink sweet things, and sent portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for to-day [is] holy to our Lord, and be not grieved, for the joy of Jehovah is your strength.'

11 And the Levites are keeping all the people silent, saying, `Be silent, for to-day [is] holy, and be not grieved.'

12 And all the people go to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great joy, because they have understood concerning the words that they made known to them.

13 And on the second day have been gathered heads of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to act wisely concerning the words of the law.

14 And they find written in the law that Jehovah commanded by the hand of Moses, that the sons of Israel dwell in booths in the feast, in the seventh month,

15 and that they proclaim and cause to pass over all their cities, (and in Jerusalem,) saying, `Go ye out to the mount, and bring leaves of the olive, and leaves of the oil tree, and leaves of the myrtle, and leaves of the palms, and leaves of thick trees, to make booths as it is written.'

16 And the people go out, and bring in, and make for themselves booths, each on his roof, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water-gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.

17 And they make -- all the assembly of the captives of the captivity -- booths, and they sit in booths; for the sons of Israel had not done, from the days of Jeshua son of Nun, so unto that day, and there is very great joy.

18 And he readeth in the book of the law of God day by day, from the first day till the last day, and they make a feast seven days, and on the eighth day a restraint, according to the ordinance.

[_LittleNipper]

Nehemiah 9:1-38 The Israelites assembled on the 24th day of the month, they fasted, wore sackcloth, and covered their heads in dust. Those who were descendants of Israel separated themselves from foreigners. They stood and confessed their sins as well as the evil deeds their ancestors did. They remained in their places, and for 1/4th of the day, they listened as the Book of the Law of God being read, and for another 1/4th of the day, they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord.

Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chanani stood on the stairs built for the Levites and wept outwardly to the Lord. Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up, and thank God:

"From eternity past to eternity into the future your glorious name is praised
and lifted high above all other kinds of blessings and praise.

"You alone are the Lord.
You designed and created space and Your domain, with all its angels.
You created the earth and everything apart of it, the seas and everything in them.
You give life to them all, and the angels of heaven adore you.

"You are the Lord, who chose Abram and took him from among the pagans of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham.
You found that his heart to be faithful to you.
You made a promised him to give the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites to his descendants.
You kept your promise because you are honest and true.

"You saw how our ancestors suffered in Egypt, and you heard them cry at the Red Sea.

"You performed miraculous signs and did amazing things against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the citizen of his land because you knew how arrogantly they treated our ancestors.
You declared yourself, a name which remains to this day.

"You split the sea in front of them so that they could walk through it on dry ground.
You threw those who pursued your people into deep water as someone throws a stone into raging water.

'You guided them during the day by a column of smoke and at the night by a column of fire --- providing them with light to see the way they should go.

"You came from heaven to Mount Sinai and communicated with them from heaven.
You gave them legitimate rules, trustworthy teachings, and good regulations and commands.

'You taught them regarding your holy day of rest.
You provided commandments, laws, and teachings through your servant Moses.

"You provided them with sustenance from heaven to satisfy their hunger and made water flow from a rock to quench their thirst.
You told them to take over land that you swore you would give them.

"But our own ancestors acted arrogantly. They became stubborn and wouldn’t obey your commands.

"They refused to listen.
They forgot the miracles you performed for them.
They became stubborn and appointed a leader to return them back to slavery in Egypt.
But you are a forgiving God, one who is compassionate, merciful, patient, and always ready to forgive.
You never gave them up, even when they designed a metal statue of a calf for themselves and said, ‘This is your god who took you out of Egypt.’
They committed horrific sins.

"Because of your endless compassion, you didn’t abandon them in the desert.
The column of smoke never left them during the day, but it led them all along.
The column of fire didn’t leave them at night, but continued to provide light to show the way they should go.

"You gave them your good Spirit to train them.
You didn’t keep your manna to yourself.
You gave them water to quench their thirst.

You took care of them in the desert for 40 years, and they had everything necessary.
Their clothes didn’t wear, and their feet didn’t swell.

"You handed over kingdoms and nations to the Israelites and handed to them their riches.
They took possession of the land of Sihon, the land of the king of Heshbon and the land of King Og of Bashan.

"You made their children as numerous as the stars seen across the sky.
You brought them into the land you told their parents to enter and possess.

"Their children took possession of the land.
You defeated for them the Canaanites, who lived across the land.
You handed the Canaanite kings and their people over to them to do whatever they wished with the Canaanites.

"The Israelites captured walled cities and a rich land.
They took possession of houses filled with all sorts of good things, cisterns, vineyards, olive trees, and plenty of fruit trees.
They ate and were satisfied and grew healthy.
They enjoyed the grand supply of good things you gave them.

"But they proved to be defiant and rebelled against you.
They threw your teachings away, and killed your prophets who warned them to return to you.
They committed horrific sins.

"You handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer.
When they began to suffer, they cried to you.
You heard them from heaven.
You gave them saviors to rescue them from their enemies because of your bottomless compassion.

"As soon as they felt any relief, they were again doing what is evil.
You abandoned them to their enemies, who conquered them.
They cried to you again, and you heard them from heaven.
You rescued them again and again because you are compassionite.

"You warned them in order to bring them back to your teachings, but they became like know-it-all's and would not follow your commandments.
They sinned by not following your Laws.
If anyone follows them, he will find life.
But they gave you the cold shoulder, became impossible to deal with, and wouldn’t listen.

"You were patient with them for years.
You warned them by your Spirit through your prophets.
However, they wouldn’t listen.
So you handed them over to the people of surrounding nations.

"However your compassion is endless.
You didn’t destroy them or abandon them.
You are a merciful and compassionate God.

"And now, God, you are the great, mighty, and an awsome God.
You faithfully keep your promises.
Do not consider all the hardships that we have been dealing with as unimportant.
The hardships have come to our kings, leaders, priests, prophets, ancestors, and all your people from the time going back to the kings of Assyria until now.

"But you were correct regarding everything that has happened to us.
You have been faithful, but we have been wicked.

"Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors didn’t obey your teachings.
They disregarded your commandments and the warnings that you sent them.

"When they lived in their own kingdom and enjoyed the many good things that you provided for them in a wide, fertile land which was set before them, they didn’t serve you or retreat from their wicked lives.

"See us now. We’re slaves!
In the land you handed our ancestors, they ate its produce and enjoyed its goodness. But now we’re slaves!

"The produce from our land goes to the kings you placed over us.
This is because of our sins.
These kings have control over our lives, and they do as they please with our livestock.
We are beside ourselves.

“We are making a binding agreement in writing because of all this. Our leaders, Levites, and priests are all bound to this document.”


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And in the twenty and fourth day of this month have the sons of Israel been gathered, with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth upon them;

2 and the seed of Israel are separated from all sons of a stranger, and stand and confess concerning their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers,

3 and rise up on their station, and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God a fourth of the day, and a fourth they are confessing and bowing themselves to Jehovah their God.

4 And there stand up on the ascent, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, Chenani, and they cry with a loud voice unto Jehovah their God.

5 And the Levites say, [even] Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, Pethahiah, `Rise, bless Jehovah your God, from the age unto the age, and they bless the name of Thine honour that [is] exalted above all blessing and praise.

6 Thou [art] He, O Jehovah, Thyself -- Thou hast made the heavens, the heavens of the heavens, and all their host, the earth and all that [are] on it, the seas and all that [are] in them, and Thou art keeping all of them alive, and the host of the heavens to Thee are bowing themselves.

7 `Thou [art] He, O Jehovah God, who didst fix on Abraham, and didst bring him out from Ur of the Chaldeans, and didst make his name Abraham,

8 and didst find his heart stedfast before Thee, so as to make with him the covenant, to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give [it] to his seed. `And Thou dost establish Thy words, for Thou [art] righteous,

9 and dost see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and their cry hast heard by the sea of Suph,

10 and dost give signs and wonders on Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land, for Thou hast known that they have acted proudly against them, and Thou makest to Thee a name as [at] this day.

11 And the sea Thou hast cleaved before them, and they pass over into the midst of the sea on the dry land, and their pursuers Thou hast cast into the depths, as a stone, into the strong waters.

12 And by a pillar of cloud Thou hast led them by day, and by a pillar of fire by night, to lighten to them the way in which they go.

13 `And on mount Sinai Thou hast come down, even to speak with them from the heavens, and Thou dost give to them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commands.

14 And Thy holy sabbath Thou hast made known to them, and commands, and statutes, and law, Thou hast commanded for them, by the hand of Moses Thy servant;

15 and bread from the heavens Thou hast given to them for their hunger, and water from a rock hast brought out to them for their thirst, and dost say to them to go in to possess the land that Thou hast lifted up Thy hand to give to them.

16 `And they and our fathers have acted proudly, and harden their neck, and have not hearkened unto Thy commands,

17 yea, they refuse to hearken, and have not remembered Thy wonders that Thou hast done with them, and harden their neck and appoint a head, to turn back to their service, in their rebellion; and Thou [art] a God of pardons, gracious, and merciful, long-suffering, and abundant in kindness, and hast not forsaken them.

18 `Also, when they have made to themselves a molten calf, and say, this [is] thy god that brought thee up out of Egypt, and do great despisings,

19 and Thou, in Thine abundant mercies, hast not forsaken them in the wilderness -- the pillar of the cloud hath not turned aside from off them by day, to lead them in the way, and the pillar of the fire by night, to give light to them and the way in which they go.

20 `And Thy good Spirit Thou hast given, to cause them to act wisely; and Thy manna Thou hast not withheld from their mouth, and water Thou hast given to them for their thirst,

21 and forty years Thou hast nourished them in a wilderness; they have not lacked; their garments have not worn out, and their feet have not swelled.

22 `And Thou givest to them kingdoms, and peoples, and dost apportion them to the corner, and they possess the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

23 And their sons Thou hast multiplied as the stars of the heavens, and bringest them in unto the land that Thou hast said to their fathers to go in to possess.

24 `And the sons come in, and possess the land, and Thou humblest before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and givest them into their hand, and their kings, and the peoples of the land, to do with them according to their pleasure.

25 And they capture fenced cities, and fat ground, and possess houses full of all good, digged-wells, vineyards, and olive-yards, and fruit-trees in abundance, and they eat, and are satisfied, and become fat, and delight themselves in Thy great goodness.

26 `And they are disobedient, and rebel against Thee, and cast Thy law behind their back, and Thy prophets they have slain, who testified against them, to bring them back unto Thee, and they do great despisings,

27 and Thou givest them into the hand of their adversaries, and they distress them, and in the time of their distress they cry unto Thee, and Thou, from the heavens, dost hear, and, according to Thine abundant mercies, dost give to them saviours, and they save them out of the hand of their adversaries.

28 `And when they have rest, they turn back to do evil before Thee, and Thou dost leave them in the hand of their enemies, and they rule over them; and they turn back, and call Thee, and Thou from the heavens dost hear, and dost deliver them, according to Thy mercies, many times,

29 and dost testify against them, to bring them back unto Thy law; and they -- they have acted proudly, and have not hearkened to Thy commands, and against Thy judgments have sinned, -- which man doth and hath lived in them -- and they give a refractory shoulder, and their neck have hardened, and have not hearkened.

30 `And Thou drawest over them many years, and testifiest against them by Thy Spirit, by the hand of Thy prophets, and they have not given ear, and Thou dost give them into the hand of peoples of the lands,

31 and in Thine abundant mercies Thou hast not made them a consumption, nor hast forsaken them; for a God, gracious and merciful, [art] Thou.

32 `And now, O our God -- God, the great, the mighty, and the fearful, keeping the covenant and the kindness -- let not all the travail that hath found us be little before Thee, for our kings, for our heads, and for our priests, and for our prophets, and for our fathers, and for all Thy people, from the days of the kings of Asshur unto this day;

33 and Thou [art] righteous concerning all that hath come upon us, for truth Thou hast done, and we have done wickedly;

34 and our kings, our heads, our priests, and our fathers, have not done Thy law, nor attended unto Thy commands, and to Thy testimonies, that Thou hast testified against them;

35 and they, in their kingdom, and in Thine abundant goodness, that Thou hast given to them, and in the land, the large and the fat, that Thou hast set before them, have not served Thee, nor turned back from their evil doings.

36 `Lo, we -- to-day -- [are] servants, and the land that Thou hast given to our fathers, to eat its fruit and its good -- lo, we [are] servants on it,

37 and its increase it is multiplying to the kings whom Thou hast set over us in our sins; and over our bodies they are ruling, and over our cattle, according to their pleasure, and we [are] in great distress.

38 And for all this we are making a stedfast covenant, and are writing, and over him who is sealed [are] our heads, our Levites, our priests.'