 厄下:1.(neh) [厄斯德拉下]   [Nehemiah]   [共 13 章]  (亦稱乃赫米雅)
    
 厄下:1.1    [歸國後慘狀]  哈加里亞的兒子乃赫米雅的言行錄：在第二十年「基斯婁」月，我在穌撒禁城時，
 厄下:1.2    有我的一個兄弟哈納尼，和幾個人由猶大上來，我問及他們，關於那些由充軍回國的猶太遺民，和耶路撒冷的情形；
 厄下:1.3    他們回答我說：「充軍回國的那些遺民，在省裏遭大難，受污辱；耶路撒冷城垣坍塌，城門為火焚毀。」
 厄下:1.4    [乃赫米雅的哀禱]  我一聽說這些事，就坐下涕哭，悲痛了幾天，同時也在上主天主前，禁食祈禱，
 厄下:1.5    說：「唉! 上主，天上的天主! 偉大可畏的天主! 那對愛你和守你誡命的人，履行信約，施行慈愛的，
 厄下:1.6    求你側耳，求你睜眼，俯聽你僕人的祈禱即我，現今在你面前，日夜為你的僕人以色列子民所行的祈禱。我承認以色列子民對你所犯的罪過，因為我和我父家都犯了罪。
 厄下:1.7    我們的確作惡得罪了你，沒有遵守你吩咐你的僕人梅瑟，所立定的誡命、律令和典章。
 厄下:1.8    求你記憶你向你的僕人梅瑟所吩咐的話說：如果你們不忠實，我要將你們分散在萬民之中；
 厄下:1.9    但如果你們又回心歸向我，遵守履行我的誡命，即便你們分散到天涯地角，我也要從那裏，將你們聚集起來，領你們到我所選，為作我名居所的地方去。──
 厄下:1.10   他們都是你的僕人，你的人民，是你用強力和大能的手，所拯救出來的。
 厄下:1.11   我主，求你側耳俯聽你僕人的祈禱，傾聽這些喜愛敬畏你名的僕人的祈禱! 求你今天使你的僕人順利，使他在那人前獲得寵遇。」我當時是君王的酒政。
    
 厄下:2.1    [王允所請]  在阿塔薛西斯王二十年「尼散」月，輪到我掌酒時，我拿起酒來，獻 給國王。我不願在王面前現出憂愁，
 厄下:2.2    王卻問我說：「你不像有病，為什麼 面帶愁容﹖沒有別的，你心中一定有愁事! 」我很是驚慌，
 厄下:2.3    便向君王說： 「大王萬歲! 我祖先墳墓所在的城池，成了廢墟，城門為火焚毀，我怎能不 面帶愁容呢﹖」
 厄下:2.4    王問我說：「你要求什麼﹖」我向天上的天主祈禱之後，
 厄下:2.5    回答君王說：「大王若看著好，你僕人在你面前若獲得寵遇，就打發我回猶大去，到我祖先墳墓所在的城去，重修那城。」
 厄下:2.6    那時，皇后也在旁坐著； 王便向我說：「你旅行需要多久﹖你幾時能回來﹖」 我向君王說了一個時期；王以為好，就准許我去。
 厄下:2.7    我又向王說：「大王若看著好，請賜我一詔書，通知河西州長放我通行，直到猶大；
 厄下:2.8    另一詔書，通知護守王家園林的阿 撒夫，令他給我木料，為做聖殿堡壘的門戶、城牆和我要住的房舍之用。」賴我的天主慈善的手扶助我，君王都賜給了我。
 厄下:2.9    [回國呈遞詔書]  我一來到河西州長那裏，便向他們呈上君王的詔書。同時君王還派了隊長和馬兵協助我。
 厄下:2.10   曷龍人桑巴拉特和作臣僕的阿孟人托彼雅，聽說此事，很不高興有人來為以色列子民謀圖福利。夜間巡視城垣。
 厄下:2.11   我到了耶路撒冷，在那裏停留了三天之後，
 厄下:2.12   夜間，我和跟隨我的幾個人起來；當時我並沒有告訴任何人，有關我的天主激發我的心，要為耶路撒冷所作的事；除了我騎的一頭牲口外，也沒有別的牲口。
 厄下:2.13   夜間我出來，經過谷門到了龍泉前，又到了糞門，觀察耶路撒冷城牆那裏有缺口，並見城門已被火焚毀。
 厄下:2.14   以後，又到了泉門，到了王池，但那 地方不能騎我的牲口過去，
 厄下:2.15   遂在夜間，由山澗攀登而上，視察了城垣， 然後轉身，由谷門進來，回了家。
 厄下:2.16   [決議重修城垣]  我到過那裏，或作什麼，官員都不知道；直到此時，我也沒有告訴過猶太人、司祭、權貴、官員和其他工作人員 。
 厄下:2.17   於是我向他們說：「你們都清楚我們所處的苦境：耶路撒冷成了廢墟，城門為火焚毀。來，讓我們重修耶路撒冷的城垣，免得再受人恥笑! 」
 厄下:2.18   隨後，我又向他們報告：我的天主慈善的手怎樣扶助了我，以及君王向我說過什麼話。他們遂說道：「起來，大家一同修建! 」眾人勇氣倍增，遂著手進行。
 厄下:2.19   [初遇阻難]  當曷龍人桑巴拉特、作臣僕的阿孟人托彼雅，和阿剌伯人革笙聽說這事，就譏笑我們，侮辱我們說：「你們在那裏幹什麼﹖要背叛君王嗎﹖」
 厄下:2.20   我答覆他們說：「天上的天主必要使我們成功；我們是他的僕役，要動工興建；至於你們，在耶路撒冷無分無權，也無可留念的事物。」
    
 厄下:3.1    [修建北垣]  大司祭厄肋雅史布和他的弟兄司祭們動工，修建羊門；上了門框，安裝了門、插關和門閂，一直修到默阿堡，又修到哈納乃耳堡。
 厄下:3.2    在他們旁邊，有耶里哥人修理；在他們旁邊，有依默黎的兒子匝雇爾修建。
 厄下:3.3    色納阿的子孫修建魚門；他們上了門框，安裝了門、插關和門閂；
 厄下:3.4    在他們旁邊，有哈科茲的孫子，烏黎雅的兒子默勒摩特修理；在他旁邊，有默舍匝貝耳的孫子，貝勒革雅的兒子默叔藍修理；在他旁邊，有巴阿納的兒子匝多克修理；
 厄下:3.5    在他旁邊，有特科亞人修理，但是他們中有權勢的人，在這工程上，不肯服從主管人。
 厄下:3.6    [西北垣]  帕色亞的兒子約雅達和貝索德雅的兒子默叔藍，修理新市區的城門；他們上了門框，安裝了門、插關和門閂。
 厄下:3.7    靠著他們，有基貝紅人默拉提雅和默洛諾特人雅東冬，以及基貝紅人和米茲帕人修理，經費出自河西州長。
 厄下:3.8    在他們旁邊，有金業工會的會員烏齊耳修理；在他旁邊，有製藥工會的哈納尼雅修理；他們修理耶路撒冷城牆，直至廣場。
 厄下:3.9    在他們旁邊，有胡爾的兒子勒法雅修理，他是耶路撒冷半市區的區長。
 厄下:3.10   在他旁邊，有哈魯瑪夫的兒子耶達雅，對著自己的房子修理；在他旁邊，有哈沙貝乃雅的兒子哈突士修理。
 厄下:3.11   哈陵的兒子瑪耳基雅和帕哈特摩阿布的兒子哈叔布，修理下一段，直到爐堡。
 厄下:3.12   在他們旁邊，有哈羅赫士的兒子，耶路撒冷另一半市區的區長沙隆，和他的女兒們一起修理。
 厄下:3.13   [西垣與南垣]  哈農和匝諾亞的居民修理谷門，他們修起來，安上了門、插關和門閂，又修了一千肘長的牆，直到糞門。
 厄下:3.14   勒加布的兒子貝特革楞區的區長瑪耳基雅，和他的兒子們修理了糞門，安裝了門、插關和門閂。
 厄下:3.15   [東南垣]  苛耳曷則的兒子，即米茲帕區的區長沙隆，修理了泉門，修起來蓋了頂，安裝了門、插關和門閂；他又由靠近御苑的史羅亞池，修理城牆，直到由達味城下來的石級前。
 厄下:3.16   其後由阿次步克的兒子，即貝特族爾半區的區長乃赫米雅修理，直到達味陵的對面，經人造持池，直到御林軍營。
 厄下:3.17   其後由肋未人巴尼的兒子勒洪修理；在他旁邊，有刻依拉半區的區長哈沙彼雅，為自己的地區修理；
 厄下:3.18   其後由他們的兄弟，赫納達得的兒子彼奴依，即刻依拉另一半區的區長修理；
 厄下:3.19   在他旁邊，有耶叔亞的兒子厄則爾，即米茲帕的區長，修理另一段，即面對軍械庫上坡的轉角。
 厄下:3.20   其後由匝拜的兒子巴魯客修理另一段，即由轉角，直到大司祭厄樂雅史布的府門。
 厄下:3.21   其後由哈科茲的孫子，烏黎雅的兒子莫勒摩特修理另一段，即由厄樂雅史布的府門，至厄樂雅史布家的盡頭。
 厄下:3.22   其後由住在耶里哥平原的司祭修理。
 厄下:3.23   其後由本雅名和哈叔布，對著自己的家修理；其後由阿納尼雅的孫子，瑪阿色雅的兒子阿匝黎雅，修理自己家旁的一段；
 厄下:3.24   其後由赫納達得的兒子彼奴依修理另一段，即由阿匝黎雅家至轉角。
 厄下:3.25   其後由烏齋的兒子帕拉耳修理轉角對面，即上王宮監獄廣場上那突出的城堡；其後由帕洛士的兒子培達雅修理；
 厄下:3.26   直到水門，在轉向東，直到突出的城堡前的一段。
 厄下:3.27   其後由特科亞人修理從突出的城堡對面，直到敖斐耳牆的另一段。
 厄下:3.28   [東北垣]  自馬門以上，司祭各對著自己的房屋修理；
 厄下:3.29   其後由依默爾的兒子匝多克，對著自己的房屋修理；其後由舍加尼雅的兒子舍瑪雅，及東門的守衛修理；
 厄下:3.30   其後由舍肋米雅的兒子哈納尼雅，和匝拉弗的第六子哈農修理另一段；其後由貝勒革雅的兒子默叔藍，對著自己的住宅修理；
 厄下:3.31   其後由金業公會的瑪耳機雅修理直到獻身者和商人的住宅，面對更門，直到角堡的一段。
 厄下:3.32   由城角堡到羊門中間的一段，歸金匠和商人修理。
 厄下:3.33   [敵人的仇視]  桑巴拉特一聽說我們重修城垣，就大發忿怒，十分生氣，譏諷猶太人，
 厄下:3.34   向他們的同僚即撒瑪黎雅的軍隊說：「這些可憐的猶太人想作什麼﹖他們想要修築城垣嗎﹖想要獻祭嗎﹖想要在一天內完成嗎﹖想從那堆灰土中，在立起那些燒過的石頭來嗎﹖」
 厄下:3.35   阿孟託人托彼雅也在旁說到：「讓他們修罷! 就是上去一隻野狗，也能推翻他們修了石牆。」
 厄下:3.36   [乃赫米雅的祈禱]  我們的天主，請聽! 我們是怎樣受侮辱! 請把這辱罵歸到他們的頭上，使他們在流亡之地受迫害。
 厄下:3.37   不要遮掩他們的罪行，他們的罪孽也不應從你面前抹去，因為他們實在侮辱了修建的人。
 厄下:3.38   我們仍繼續修建城牆，把整個城牆都聯結起來，高底已到一半，因為民眾都有心火工作。
    
 厄下:4.1    [內憂外患]  當桑巴拉特和托彼雅，以及阿剌伯人、阿孟人和阿市多得人，聽說耶路撒冷城垣正在進行修建中，缺口已開始修補，就大發忿怒，
 厄下:4.2    都聯合起來，圖謀來攻打耶路撒冷，擾亂我們。
 厄下:4.3    我們一面祈求我們的天主，一面派了衛隊，日夜防守。
 厄下:4.4    有一個猶太人說︰「運夫的力量已耗盡，積土又太多，我們不能再修建城牆了! 」
 厄下:4.5    我們的仇敵已議決說：「不讓他們知道，不讓他們看出，我們直衝入他們中間，將他們殺掉，停止那工程。」
 厄下:4.6    [加倍嚴防]  那時，有些靠近他們居住的猶太人，十次前來通知我們說︰「他們由所住的各方上來，攻打我們，
 厄下:4.7    已在城牆下低處的田野中安了營。」我就按照家族分派了人，帶上刀槍和弓。
 厄下:4.8    我巡視之後，就起來對權貴、長官和其餘的人民說︰「對他們，你們不可畏縮! 要記住吾主是偉大而可畏的：應為你們的兄弟、兒女、妻子、家庭而作戰。」
 厄下:4.9    我們的敵人一聽說我們得了情報，同時天主也破壞了他們的陰謀，他們遂都撤退；我們也都回到城牆那裏，各返自己的工作崗位。
 厄下:4.10   從那天起，我的僕人一半做工，一半佩帶著刀、矛盾、弓和鎧甲，立在全猶大家後邊，
 厄下:4.11   即在城牆作工的人後邊。那些搬運的人，也都武裝起來︰一手作工，一手拿著武器；
 厄下:4.12   修牆的工人，每人腰間都配著刀工作。吹號筒的站在我身旁。
 厄下:4.13   我向權貴、長官和其餘的人民說︰「這工程範圍很大，我們在城牆上彼此分離甚遠，
 厄下:4.14   所以你們無論在什麼地方，一聽到號聲，就立時聚集在我們身旁；我們的天主必為我們戰爭。」
 厄下:4.15   我們便這樣繼續工作，由旭日初昇，直到星辰出現。
 厄下:4.16   同時我又吩咐民眾說：「每人和他的僕人，應在耶路撒冷過夜。如此在夜間可為我們守衛，白天可以工作。」
 厄下:4.17   至於我和我的兄弟，以及我的僕人和跟隨我、護衛我的人，沒有一人脫過衣服，各人手中常拿著武器。
    
 厄下:5.1    [窮人的控訴]  那時，在人民和他們的婦女中，發生了喊冤的大聲音，控告自己的猶太同胞。
 厄下:5.2    有人喊說：「我們應以我們的兒女作質，換取食糧，吃飯生活。」
 厄下:5.3    另有人喊說：「我們必須典當我們的田地、葡萄園和房屋，為在飢荒之中獲得食糧。」
 厄下:5.4    還有人喊說：「我們應抵押我們的田地和葡萄園，去借錢給王納稅。
 厄下:5.5    然而我們的肉體與我們同胞的肉體一樣，我們的孩子與他們的孩子也相同，但我們必須叫我們的兒女去作奴婢，且有些女兒已做了奴婢；我們現下一無所能，因為我們的田地和葡萄園，已屬於別人了。」
 厄下:5.6    [處理案件]  我一聽了他們的哀訴和這樣的話，很是悲憤。
 厄下:5.7    我考慮之後，遂譴責那些權貴和長官，向他們說：「你們每人竟向告自己的同胞索取重利。」為譴責他們，我召集了大會，
 厄下:5.8    向他們說：「我們已費盡力量，贖回來了那些被賣給異民作奴隸的猶太同胞，難道你們又要賣你們的同胞，叫我們贖回來嗎﹖」他們不出聲，也不知如何回答。
 厄下:5.9    我接著說：「你們作的這事實在不對! 為避免異民—我們仇敵的辱罵，你們豈不應懷著敬畏我們天主的心行事嗎﹖
 厄下:5.10   我和我的兄弟以及我的僕人，也都借給了他們銀錢和食糧。好罷! 我們都免除他們這債務罷!
 厄下:5.11   今天就應當歸還他們的田地、葡萄園、橄欖園和房屋，並歸還由借給他們的銀錢、食糧、酒、油所獲得的重利。」
 厄下:5.12   他們答說：「我們都歸還給他們，不向他們索求什麼；你怎麼說；我們就怎麼行。」接著我叫了司祭來，另那些人起誓，按這話去行。
 厄下:5.13   我又拂拭衣襟說道：「願天主把一切不守這諾言的人，由他的房舍和他的財產中如此拂拭下去，直到將他拂拭淨盡。」全會眾都答說：「阿們。」同時又稱頌了上主。人民都履行了諾言。
 厄下:5.14   [乃赫米雅的清廉]  此外，自從我被任命為猶大省長之日起，即自阿塔薛西斯王二十年至三十二年，十二年之久，我和我的兄弟從未食過省長的俸祿。
 厄下:5.15   但是，在我以先的前任省長，苛待民眾，每天由民眾取四十「協刻耳」銀子，作為俸祿，並且他們的臣僕還壓迫民眾；而我因敬畏天主，並未如此行事。
 厄下:5.16   雖然我也從事修建城垣的工程，但並未購置過田產；我的僕人也都聚集在那裏工作。
 厄下:5.17   有一百五十個猶太人和官員，在我那裏吃飯，還有從我們四周異民中，來到我們這裏的人。
 厄下:5.18   每一天應備辦一頭牛，六隻肥羊和各種飛禽，這些都由我負擔；每天又要備置大量的酒；雖然如此，我仍未索求省長的俸祿，服役的事已為這民眾夠重的了。
 厄下:5.19   我的天主! 請記念我! 記念我為這民眾所行的一切，使我蒙福。
    
 厄下:6.1    [陷害乃赫米雅的陰謀]  當桑巴拉特、托彼雅、阿剌伯人革笙和我們其他的仇敵，一聽說我重修了城牆，已沒有破口的地方，──雖然到那時，我還沒有在門上按裝門扇，──
 厄下:6.2    桑巴拉特和革笙，便派人到我這裏說：「請來，我們在敖諾平原的一個村鎮中會晤。」其實他們是企圖謀害我。
 厄下:6.3    我遂派使者去答覆他們說：「我作的工程浩大，不能前去。我怎能離開工作，到你們那裡去，而使工程停頓呢﹖」
 厄下:6.4    他們如此連續四次，遣使者到我這裏，我也同樣答覆了他們。
 厄下:6.5    隨後，桑巴拉特第五次，又同樣打發他的臣僕來，手中拿著一封未封的信，
 厄下:6.6    信上寫著說：「在各民族中傳說，而且革笙也證實此說：你和猶太人圖謀造反，為此你纔重修城牆；據說你還要為王。
 厄下:6.7    並且你派定了先知，在耶路撒冷為你宣傳說：猶大有了王! 現今這些話勢必傳到君王那裏，所以請你來，我們互相商議商議。」
 厄下:6.8    我遂派遣使者向他說：「決沒有像你所說的那些事，是你心中虛構的。」
 厄下:6.9    其實，他們是企圖恐嚇我們，心想：「如此他們必放棄那工程，不在工作下去。」但我的力量更堅強了。
 厄下:6.10   [假先知的陰謀]  有一天，我來到默塔貝耳的孫子，德拉雅的兒子舍瑪雅的家裏，他正閉門在家，對我說：「我們上天主的殿，到聖所裏去會晤，關好聖所的門戶，因為他們要來殺你，且今夜要來殺你。」
 厄下:6.11   我答說：「像我這樣的人，能逃避到聖所中，保全生命嗎﹖我決不進去! 」
 厄下:6.12   我覺察出來，不是天主打發他向我講這預言，而是托彼雅和桑巴拉特賄賂了他，
 厄下:6.13   要他恐嚇我，使我那樣去作犯罪的事，如此給他們留下一種壞名譽，好藉以辱罵我。
 厄下:6.14   我的天主! 請你按照托彼雅和桑巴拉特之所行，記憶他們! 也不要忘卻諾阿狄雅女先知和其餘的先知，因為他們企圖使我恐懼。
 厄下:6.15   [城牆築成]  「厄路耳」月二十五日，城垣完成，共計為時五十二日。
 厄下:6.16   我們所有的仇敵一聽說這事，我們四周的人民一看見這事，都十分驚異，並承認這工程，是賴我們的天主而完成的。
 厄下:6.17   [通敵的猶太權貴]  在此期間，猶大有些有權勢的人，給托彼雅寄了許多函件，托彼雅也有覆函寄 回。
 厄下:6.18   因為猶大有許多人，與他宣示為盟，因他原是阿辣黑的兒子，舍加尼亞的女婿，他的兒子約哈南，又取了貝勒革雅的兒子默叔藍的女而為妻。
 厄下:6.19   他們常在我面前稱道他的善行，也將我的事向他報告，托彼雅遂來信恐嚇我。
    
 厄下:7.1    [委任城防守衛]  當城垣修好之後，我安了門扇，遂委派了守門者、歌詠者和肋未人。
 厄下:7.2    以後，我委派了我的兄弟哈納尼，和堡壘長哈納尼雅，管理耶路撒冷，因為哈納  尼雅是一個可信賴、敬畏天主出眾的人。
 厄下:7.3    我命他們說：「耶路撒冷的門，不到太陽發暖不准開；太陽還未落時，就要關門上閂! 守衛當由耶路撒冷的居民中指派，各按自己的班次，各在自己的屋前守衛。」
 厄下:7.4    [計劃移民京師]  那時城市寬闊廣大，但城中居民稀少，房舍還沒有建築。
 厄下:7.5    我的天主使我立意，召集有權勢的人、官長和民眾，要他們來登記。我發現了一冊初次由充軍歸來的人的族譜，上面有這樣的記載：
 厄下:7.6    [初次歸國人數名單]  以下是由被擄充軍返回本省的子民的人中，當初被巴比倫王拿步高，擄往巴比倫去的人中，回了耶路撒冷和猶大，各本城的人。
 厄下:7.7    他們是同則魯巴貝耳、耶叔亞、乃赫米雅、色辣雅、阿米雅、納哈瑪尼、摩爾德開、彼耳商、米斯帕勒特、彼革外、勒洪和巴阿納，一起回來的。
 厄下:7.8    [平民數字：以色列民男子的數目如下]  帕洛士的子孫，二千一百七十二名；
 厄下:7.9    舍法提雅的子孫，三百七十二名；
 厄下:7.10   阿辣黑的子孫，六百五十二名；
 厄下:7.11   帕哈特摩阿布的子孫，即耶叔亞和約阿布的子孫，二千八百一十八名；
 厄下:7.12   厄藍的子孫，一千二百五十四名；
 厄下:7.13   匝突的子孫，八百四十五名；
 厄下:7.14   匝開的子孫，七百六十名；
 厄下:7.15   彼奴依的子孫，六百四十八名；
 厄下:7.16   貝拜的子孫，六百二十八名；
 厄下:7.17   阿次加德的子孫，二千三百二十二名；
 厄下:7.18   阿多尼干的子孫，六百六十七名；
 厄下:7.19   彼革外的子孫，二千零六十七名；
 厄下:7.20   阿丁的子孫，六百五十五名；
 厄下:7.21   阿特爾的子孫，即希則克雅的子孫，九十八名；
 厄下:7.22   哈雄的子孫，三百二十八名；
 厄下:7.23   貝宰的子孫，三百二十四名；
 厄下:7.24   哈黎夫的子孫，一百一十二名；
 厄下:7.25   基貝紅的子孫，九十五名；
 厄下:7.26   白冷人和納托法人，共一百八十八名；
 厄下:7.27   阿納托特人，一百二十八名；
 厄下:7.28   貝特阿次瑪委特人，四十二名；
 厄下:7.29   克黎雅特耶阿陵人、革非辣人和貝厄洛特人，共七百四十三名；
 厄下:7.30   辣瑪人合革巴人，共六百二十一名；
 厄下:7.31   米革瑪斯人，一百二十二名；
 厄下:7.32   貝特耳和哈依人，共一百二十三名；
 厄下:7.33   乃波人，五十二名；
 厄下:7.34   另一厄藍的子孫，一千二百五十四名；
 厄下:7.35   哈陵的子孫，三百二十名；
 厄下:7.36   耶里哥人，三百五十四名；
 厄下:7.37   羅得人、哈狄得人和敖諾人，共七百二十一名；
 厄下:7.38   納阿人，三千九百三十名。
 厄下:7.39   [司祭人數]  司祭：有耶達雅的子孫，即耶叔亞的家族，九百七十三名；
 厄下:7.40   依默爾的子孫，一千零五十二名；
 厄下:7.41   帕市胡爾的子孫，一千二百四十七名；
 厄下:7.42   哈陵的子孫，一千零一十七名。
 厄下:7.43   [肋未人數]  肋未人：曷達委雅的後裔，耶叔亞和卡德米耳的子孫，七十四名。
 厄下:7.44   歌詠者：阿撒夫的子孫，一百四十八名。
 厄下:7.45   門丁有沙隆的子孫，阿特爾的子孫，塔耳孟的子孫，阿谷布的子孫，哈提達的子孫，勺拜的子孫，共一百三十八名。
 厄下:7.46   [獻身者]  獻身者：有漆哈的子孫，哈穌法的子孫，塔巴敖特的子孫，
 厄下:7.47   刻洛斯的子孫，息阿的子孫，帕冬的子孫，
 厄下:7.48   肋巴納的子孫，哈加巴的子孫，沙耳麥的子孫，
 厄下:7.49   哈南的子孫，基德耳的子孫，加哈爾的子孫，
 厄下:7.50   勒阿雅的子孫，肋斤的子孫，乃科達的子孫，
 厄下:7.51   加倉的子孫，烏匝的子孫，帕色亞的子孫，
 厄下:7.52   貝賽的子孫，默烏寧的子孫，乃非心的子孫，
 厄下:7.53   巴刻步克的子孫，哈谷法的子孫，哈爾胡爾的子孫，
 厄下:7.54   巴茲里特的子孫，默希達的子孫，哈爾沙的子孫，
 厄下:7.55   巴爾科斯的子孫，息色辣的子孫，塔瑪赫的子孫，
 厄下:7.56   乃漆亞的子孫和哈提法的子孫。
 厄下:7.57   [撒羅滿的僕役]  撒羅滿的僕役的子孫：有索泰的子孫，索費勒特的子孫，培黎達的子孫，
 厄下:7.58   雅阿拉的子孫，達爾孔的子孫，基德耳的子孫，
 厄下:7.59   舍法提雅的子孫，哈提耳的子孫，頗革勒特責巴因的子孫和阿孟的子孫。
 厄下:7.60   所有獻身者的子孫和撒羅滿的僕役的子孫，共計三百九十二名。
 厄下:7.61   [家世不明者]  以下這些人，是由特耳默拉、特耳哈爾沙、革魯布、阿丹和依默爾上來，而不能說出自己的家族和族系，是否出自以色列的：
 厄下:7.62   德拉雅的子孫，托彼雅的子孫，和乃科達的子孫，共計六百四十二人。
 厄下:7.63   司祭中：有哈巴雅的子孫，哈科茲的子孫和巴爾齊來的子孫。巴爾齊來娶了基肋阿得人巴爾齊來的女兒為妻，也取了他的名字。
 厄下:7.64   他們查考登記的族譜，卻沒有找到自己的名字，所以他們由司祭中被革除了。
 厄下:7.65   省長指令他們，不准他們享用至聖之物，直到有位大司祭，帶著烏陵和突明出來解決。
 厄下:7.66   [總數]  全會眾共計四萬二千三百六十人，
 厄下:7.67   僕婢七千三百三十七人在外；還有歌詠的男女二百五十四名。
 厄下:7.68   此外，還有駱駝四百三十五匹，驢六千七百二十匹。
 厄下:7.69   [獻儀]  有些族長捐獻了一千金「塔理克，」盤子五十個，司祭長衣五百三十件，作為基金。
 厄下:7.70   另一些族長納了二萬金「塔理克，」二千二百銀「米乃，」作為建築的基金。
 厄下:7.71   其餘名眾捐獻的，共計二萬金「塔理克，」二千銀「米乃，」司祭長衣六十七件。
 厄下:7.72   司祭、勒未人、門丁、歌詠者、獻身者和全以色列，各住在本城內。 [宣讀法律書]  到了七月，當時以色列子民還各在本城裏。
    
 厄下:8.1    所有的人民，都一致聚集到水門前的廣場上，要求厄斯德拉經師，拿出上主命以色列當遵守的梅瑟法律書來。
 厄下:8.2    厄斯德拉司祭便在七月一日，將法律書拿到會眾前，及男女和所有能聽懂的人面前，
 厄下:8.3    在水門前的廣場上，從早晨到中午，在男女和所有能聽懂的人面前，宣讀了法律，所有的人民都側耳靜聽法律書。
 厄下:8.4    厄斯德拉經師站在為此特備的木台上，他右邊站著瑪提提雅、舍瑪、阿納雅、烏黎雅、希耳克雅和瑪阿色雅；他左邊有培達雅、米沙耳、瑪耳基雅、哈雄、哈協巴達納、則加黎雅、和默叔藍。
 厄下:8.5    厄斯德拉在眾目注視下展開了書，因他高立在眾人以上，他展開書時，眾人都立起來。
 厄下:8.6    厄斯德拉先讚頌了上主，偉大的天主，全民眾舉手回答說：「阿們，阿們! 」以後跪下，伏首至地，欽崇上主。
 厄下:8.7    肋未人耶叔亞、巴尼、舍勒彼雅、雅明、阿谷布、沙貝泰、曷狄雅、瑪阿色雅、刻里達、阿匝黎雅、約匝巴得、哈南和培拉雅，為民眾講解法律，民眾立在原處不動。
 厄下:8.8    厄斯德拉讀一段天主的法律書，及做翻譯和解釋，如此民眾可以懂清所誦讀的。
 厄下:8.9    [民眾轉憂為喜]  乃赫米雅省長和厄斯德拉司祭兼經師，並教導民眾的肋未人，向民眾說：「今天是上主你們天主的聖日，你們不可憂愁哭泣! 」因為全民眾聽了法律的話，都在哭泣。
 厄下:8.10   為此，乃赫米雅又向他們說：「你們應該去吃肥美的肉，喝甘甜的酒，且贈送一部份，給那些沒有預備的人，因為今天是吾主的聖日；你們不可憂愁，因為喜樂於上主，就是你們的力量。」
 厄下:8.11   肋未人也安慰民眾說：「你們要安靜，因為今天是聖日，不應憂愁! 」
 厄下:8.12   民眾遂去吃喝，且贈送一部份給他人，大家異常歡樂，因為都明白了向他們所講的話。
 厄下:8.13   [舉行帳棚節]  第二天，全民族的族長和司祭並肋未人，都聚集在厄斯德拉經師身旁，研究法律上的話。
 厄下:8.14   發現法律上記載：上主曾藉梅瑟，命令以色列子民，在七月的慶節日，應住在帳棚內。
 厄下:8.15   他們一聽說如此，遂在各城和耶路撒冷，宣佈這命令說：「你們上山去，取橄欖樹的枝葉、野橄欖樹的枝葉、長春樹的枝葉、棕樹的枝葉，和其他茂盛樹的枝葉，照經上所寫的，搭造帳棚。」
 厄下:8.16   民眾就去採了樹枝來，在屋頂上，院子裏，天主殿宇的庭院內，水門的廣場上，和厄弗辣因廣場上，搭了帳棚。
 厄下:8.17   由充軍回來的全會眾，都搭造帳了棚，住在帳棚內；從農的兒子若蘇厄之日起，直到今日，以色列沒有舉行過如此的盛事，大家都非常歡樂。
 厄下:8.18   從第一日直到最後一日，天天宣讀天主的法律書；七天之久過了慶節，第八天按規定舉行了盛會。
    
 厄下:9.1    [民眾認罪]  同月二十四日，以色列子民都聚集起來，守齋禁食，穿粗毛衣，頭上頂著灰土。
 厄下:9.2    以色列的苗裔，同一切外方人的子孫分開之後，便站起來，坦白承認自己的罪過。和祖先的罪惡。
 厄下:9.3    他們各站在自己的地方，三小時之久，誦讀他們天主的法律書；又三小時之久，承認了自己的罪過，跪拜了上主，他們的天主。
 厄下:9.4    肋未人耶叔亞、彼奴依、卡德米耳、舍巴尼雅、步尼、舍勒彼雅、巴尼、和革納尼，站在高處，大聲呼號上主，他們的天主。
 厄下:9.5    隨後肋未人耶叔亞、卡德米耳、巴尼、哈沙彼雅、曷狄雅、舍巴尼雅、培塔希雅說道：「起來! 你們應讚頌上主我們的天主，從永遠直到永遠! 」眾人便讚頌他光榮的聖名，因此名遠超一切稱頌和讚美。
 厄下:9.6    [懺悔禱詞]  厄斯德拉祈禱說：「唯獨你是上主，是你創造了天，天上的天，和天上的一切軍旅，地和地上的一切，海和海中的一切，是你使一切生存；天上的軍旅常在你前跪拜。
 厄下:9.7    上主，你就是那揀選亞巴郎，領他離開加色丁烏爾，給他起名叫阿貝辣罕的天主。
 厄下:9.8    你見他的心對你忠實，就與他立約，把客納罕人、赫特人、阿摩黎人、培黎齊人、耶步斯人和基爾加士人的土地，賜給了他的後裔；你履行了你的諾言，因為你是正義的。
 厄下:9.9    你垂顧了我們祖先在埃及的困苦，俯聽了他們在紅海旁的呼聲，
 厄下:9.10   遂對法郎和他所有的臣僕，以及他國內所有的民眾，行了奇蹟異能，因為你知道，他們怎樣任性傲慢地，對待了我們的祖先，因而你獲得了大名，直至今日。
 厄下:9.11   你在我們祖先面前，分開了海，使他們在海中乾地路過，卻把追趕他們的人，拋入深淵，有如把一塊石頭拋入怒潮。
 厄下:9.12   日間你用雲柱領導，夜間你用火柱光照他們所走的路。
 厄下:9.13   你降臨西乃山上，從天上向他們施救，賜給了他們公正的條例、真理的法律、美好的規矩及誡命；
 厄下:9.14   你令他們知道，你神聖的安息日，藉著你的僕人梅瑟，向他們頒佈了規矩、誡命和法律。
 厄下:9.15   你從天上賜下食物，給他們充飢；使岩石中流出清泉，給他們解渴；命令他們去佔領，。你曾舉手誓許賜與他們的土地。
 厄下:9.16   但是他們，我們的祖先，任性妄為，硬著脖子，不肯聽從你的命令。
 厄下:9.17   他們拒絕聽命，忘卻了你在他們中間所行的奇蹟，硬著脖子，立了首領，要回到埃及去當奴隸。但你是寬大為懷，仁愛慈悲，緩於忿怒，富於慈愛的天主，並未拋棄他們；
 厄下:9.18   甚至連他們鑄了一個牛犢說：「這是領你出埃及的天主! 」犯了褻瀆的大罪時，
 厄下:9.19   你因你無限的仁慈，也沒有將他們拋棄在曠野中；日間在路上領導他們的雲柱，夜間為他們光照道路的火柱，仍沒有離開他們。
 厄下:9.20   你賜下你溫和的風，使他們甦醒，並沒有將「瑪納」扣住，不給他們充飢，仍賜下了水為他們解渴。
 厄下:9.21   四十年之久，你在曠野照顧他們，使他們一無所缺；他們的衣服沒有穿破，他們的腳也沒有腫脹。
 厄下:9.22   你將各國和眾民交給了他們，將各個角落分給了他們，他們遂佔領了赫市朋王息紅，和巴商王敖格的土地。
 厄下:9.23   你使他們的子孫繁衍，有如天上的繁星，領他們道你誓許與他們的祖先，要去佔領的土地，
 厄下:9.24   他們的子孫便去佔領了那地方；你使那地方的居民客納罕人，屈服在他們面前，將他們的君王和地方上的人民，交在他們的手中，任他們隨意處置。
 厄下:9.25   他們攻取了堅固的城池，和肥沃的土地，奪得了滿藏寶物的房舍、掘好的井、葡萄園、橄欖園和豐富的果林；他們都吃得飽滿，身體肥胖，安逸享樂，這都是因你無量的慈善。
 厄下:9.26   但是，他們竟抗命背叛了你，將你的法律置諸背後，殺了那些警戒他們，勸他們歸順於你的先知；他們竟犯了這褻瀆的大罪，
 厄下:9.27   因此你把他們交在仇人的手中，受人迫害。他們遭遇迫害時，一呼求你，你就由天上俯聽了他們，照你無限的仁慈，打發救援者，由仇人手中救出他們；
 厄下:9.28   然而他們一享平安，便又去做惡背叛你，因此你又把他們拋在他們敵人手中，受他們的管轄；幾時他們再回心轉意呼號你，你就再由天上俯聽他們，照你無限的仁慈拯救他們。
 厄下:9.29   你曾警告他們轉向你的法律，但是他們仍恣意妄行，不聽從你的命令，違反你的典章，－人若遵行，必因此而生活，－扭轉倔強的肩膀，硬著脖子，不願服從。
 厄下:9.30   你多年來容忍他們，藉先知和以你的精神，警戒他們，但他們仍不聽從，所以你將他們交在異方人民手中。
 厄下:9.31   但因你無限的仁慈，你沒有消滅他們，也沒有拋棄他們，因為你是博愛仁慈的天主。
 厄下:9.32   現在，我們的天主! 遵守信約，保持仁愛，偉大、全能和可畏的天主! 請不要把我們、我們的君王、我們的首長、我們的司祭、我們的先知、我們的祖先和你的全民眾，從亞述王時代直到今日所遭遇的一切迫害，看作小事。
 厄下:9.33   你使這一切降在我們身上，是公義的，因為你所行的是忠義，而我們所行的是邪惡。
 厄下:9.34   我們的君王、我們的首領、我們的司祭和我們的祖先，實在都沒有遵行你的法律，也沒有聽從你的命令和你警戒他們的勸告。
 厄下:9.35   他們在你賜給他們的國土上和許多幸福中，在你擺在他們面前的廣大而肥沃的土地上，並沒有侍奉你，也沒有放棄他們的惡行。
 厄下:9.36   我們今天竟成了奴隸! 看，我們在你賞給我們祖先吃那裏的果實和出產的土地上，作了奴隸!
 厄下:9.37   為了我們的罪過，那豐富的出產歸於你派定來管轄我們的君王，他們隨意處置了我們的肉體和我們的牲畜；我們實在是處在極大的困苦中! 」
    
 厄下:10.1   [立盟簽約]  鑑於這一切，我們立了盟約，也寫了出來；我們的族長、我們的肋未人和司祭，也在上面蓋了印。
 厄下:10.2   在上面蓋印的，先是哈加里亞的兒子乃赫米雅省長，後為漆德克雅、
 厄下:10.3   色辣雅、阿匝黎雅、耶勒米雅、
 厄下:10.4   帕市胡爾、阿瑪黎雅、瑪耳基雅、
 厄下:10.5   哈突士、舍巴尼雅、瑪路客、
 厄下:10.6   哈陵、默勒摩特、敖巴狄雅、
 厄下:10.7   達尼耳、金乃通、巴魯克、
 厄下:10.8   默叔藍、阿彼雅、米雅明、
 厄下:10.9   瑪阿齊雅、彼耳蓋、舍瑪雅：以上都是司祭。
 厄下:10.10  以下是肋未人：阿匝尼雅的兒子耶叔亞、彼奴依，赫那達得的子孫卡德米耳，
 厄下:10.11  和他們的族人：舍巴尼雅、曷狄雅、刻里達、培拉雅、哈南、
 厄下:10.12  米加、勒曷布、哈沙彼雅、
 厄下:10.13  匝雇爾、舍勒彼雅、舍巴尼雅、
 厄下:10.14  曷狄雅、巴尼、貝尼奴。
 厄下:10.15  民眾的首領：帕洛市、帕哈特摩阿布、厄藍、匝突、巴尼、
 厄下:10.16  步尼、阿次加得、貝拜、
 厄下:10.17  阿多尼雅、彼革外、阿丁、
 厄下:10.18  阿特爾、希則克雅、阿組爾、
 厄下:10.19  曷狄雅、哈雄、貝宰、
 厄下:10.20  哈黎布、阿納托特、乃拜、
 厄下:10.21  瑪革丕阿士、默叔藍、赫齊爾默、
 厄下:10.22  舍匝貝耳、匝多克、雅杜亞、
 厄下:10.23  培拉提雅、哈南、阿納雅、
 厄下:10.24  曷舍雅、哈納尼雅、哈叔布、
 厄下:10.25  哈羅赫士、丕耳哈、芍貝克、
 厄下:10.26  勒洪、哈沙貝納、瑪阿色雅、
 厄下:10.27  阿希雅、哈南、阿南、
 厄下:10.28  瑪路客、哈陵、巴阿納。
 厄下:10.29  [盟約掫要]  其餘的民眾、司祭、肋未人、門丁、歌詠者、獻身者，和所有脫離各地人民而來歸奉天主法律的人，連同他們的妻子兒女，及凡有知識能懂事的人，
 厄下:10.30  都支持他們為首領的同胞，起咒宣示，必按天主的法律去行，就是遵行天主的僕人梅瑟所頒佈的法律，並遵守履行上主我們的天主的一切命令、規矩和制度；
 厄下:10.31  決不將我們的女兒嫁給外方人民，也不為我們的兒子娶他們的女兒。
 厄下:10.32  外方人民若是在安息日，運貨物或各種食糧來販賣，我們在安息日或聖日，決不向他們購買什麼；每七年停止耕種，豁免一切債務。
 厄下:10.33  我們又為自己定下規矩，每年要繳納三分之一「協刻耳，」作為我們天主殿中祭祀之用：
 厄下:10.34  備辦供餅、恆常祭品、全燔祭品，安息日、月朔和慶節應獻的祭品和各種祭物，為以色列贖罪的贖罪祭品，以及我們天主殿內的一切工作費用。
 厄下:10.35  我們司祭、肋未人和人民，拈鬮規定，按照家族，每年照一定的時間，我們天主的聖殿獻納木柴，放在上主我們的天主的祭壇上燃燒，如法律上所記載的；
 厄下:10.36  又當把田地的初熟之物，以及各種樹木的初熟鮮果，每年獻於上主聖殿；
 厄下:10.37  按照法律所載，將我們的兒子和家畜中的首生者，以及我們牛羊中的首生者，獻於我們天主的聖殿，交給我們在天主殿內奉職的司祭；
 厄下:10.38  把我們初熟的粗麵餅、祭品、各種樹木的果實、新酒和油，交給司祭，送到我們天主聖殿的廊房裏；將我們田地出產的十分之一，送給肋未人，肋未人應親自在各城鎮，徵收我們勞作的十分之一。
 厄下:10.39  當肋未人徵收十分之一時，亞郎子孫中的一個司祭，應與肋未人在一起；肋未人應將所得什一中的十分之一，獻於我們的天主聖殿，交入聖殿廊房的寶庫，
 厄下:10.40  因為以色列子民和肋未的子孫，應把所獻的五穀、酒和油，送到廊房內，聖所的器具存在那裏，奉職的司祭，守門者和歌詠者也住在那裏，對們天主的聖殿，再也不敢怠慢。
    
 厄下:11.1   [移民京師]  那時，人民的首長住在耶路撒冷；其餘的人民都拈鬮，抽出十分之一的人民，遷移到耶路撒冷聖城居住，其餘九分仍留在自己的城內。
 厄下:11.2   民眾都稱讚那些自願遷居到耶路撒冷的人。
 厄下:11.3   以下是住在耶路撒冷的本省族長；其餘的以色列人、司祭、肋未人、獻身者和撒羅滿僕役的子孫，在猶大各城中，個人住在本城內自己的產業中。
 厄下:11.4   [移來的猶大族長]  有些猶大的子孫和本雅明的子孫，住在耶路撒冷。猶大的子孫：培勒茲的子孫，有烏齊雅的兒子阿塔雅；烏齊雅是則加黎雅的兒子，則加黎雅是阿瑪黎雅的兒子，阿瑪黎雅是舍法提雅的兒子，舍法提雅是瑪拉肋耳的兒子；
 厄下:11.5   舍拉的子孫，有巴路客的兒子瑪阿色雅；巴路客是苛耳曷則的兒子，苛耳曷則是哈匝雅的兒子，哈匝雅是阿達雅的兒子，阿達雅是約雅黎布的兒子，約雅黎布是則加黎雅的兒子。
 厄下:11.6   培勒茲的子孫住在耶路撒冷的，共計四百六十八人，都是成人。
 厄下:11.7   [本雅明的族長]  本雅明的子孫有撒路，他是默叔藍的兒子，默叔藍是約厄得的兒子，約厄得是科     拉雅的兒子，科拉雅是瑪阿色雅的兒子，瑪阿色雅是依提耳的兒子，依提耳是耶沙雅的兒子，
 厄下:11.8   撒路的族人，共計二十八人，都是成人。
 厄下:11.9   齊革黎的兒子約厄耳，作他們的首長；色奴阿的兒子猷答為副市長。
 厄下:11.10  [司祭]  司祭中有耶達雅、約雅黎布、雅津，
 厄下:11.11  天主聖殿的總管色辣雅，他是希耳克雅的兒子，希耳克雅是默叔藍的兒子，默叔藍是匝多克的兒子，匝多克是默辣約特的兒子，默辣約特是阿希突布的兒子；
 厄下:11.12  和他們在聖殿服務的兄弟，共計八百二十二人；還有耶洛罕的兒子，阿達雅；耶洛罕是培拉里雅的兒子，培拉里雅是阿默漆的兒子，阿默漆是則加黎雅的兒子，則加黎雅是帕市胡爾的兒子，帕市胡爾是瑪耳基雅的兒子，
 厄下:11.13  和他做族長的兄弟共計二百四十二人；還有阿匝勒耳的兒子阿瑪賽；阿匝勒耳是阿赫齋的兒子，阿赫齋是默史勒米特的兒子，默史勒米特是依默爾的兒子，
 厄下:11.14  和他的兄弟都是成人，共計一百二十八人；管理他們的是，哈加多耳的兒子匝貝狄耳。
 厄下:11.15  [肋未人]  肋未人中有，哈叔布的兒子舍瑪雅；哈叔布是阿次黎岡的兒子，阿次黎岡是哈沙彼雅的兒子，哈沙彼雅是步尼的兒子；
 厄下:11.16  沙貝泰和約匝巴得，作肋未人之長，管理天主聖殿的外務。
 厄下:11.17  還有米加的兒子瑪塔尼雅；米加是匝貝狄的兒子，匝貝狄是阿撒夫的兒子；瑪塔尼雅在祈禱時，是啟頌謝經文之長；巴刻步克雅在兄弟中為副；還有沙慕亞的兒子阿貝達；沙慕亞是加拉耳的兒子，加拉耳是耶杜通的兒子。
 厄下:11.18  在聖城的肋未人，共計二百八十四人。
 厄下:11.19  [門丁及其他人員]  門丁：阿谷布、塔耳孟和.和他們護守各門的兄弟，共計一百七十二人。
 厄下:11.20  其餘的以色列人、司祭和肋未人，住在猶大各城，佔據自己的產業。
 厄下:11.21  .獻身者住在曷斐耳區；漆哈和基市帕管理獻身者。
 厄下:11.22  在耶路撒冷肋未人之長，是巴尼的兒子烏齊；巴尼是哈沙彼雅的兒子，哈沙彼雅是瑪塔尼雅的兒子，瑪塔尼雅是米加的兒子，出自阿撒夫的子孫，都是在天主聖殿內行禮時的歌詠者。
 厄下:11.23  每天給歌詠者一定的報酬，這是君王有關他們出的命令。
 厄下:11.24  猶大的兒子則辣黑的子孫中，有默舍匝貝耳的兒子培塔希雅，他是王的助手，掌管人民一切事務。
 厄下:11.25  [猶大人的城市]  至於村鎮和所屬地域：猶大的子孫，有些住在克黎雅特阿爾巴，和所屬村鎮，
 厄下:11.26  住在耶叔亞、摩拉達、貝特培肋特，
 厄下:11.27  住在哈匝叔阿耳、貝爾舍巴和所屬村鎮，
 厄下:11.28  住在漆刻拉格、默苛納和所屬村鎮，
 厄下:11.29  住在恩黎孟、祚辣、雅爾慕特，
 厄下:11.30  住在匝諾亞、阿杜藍和所屬村鎮，住在拉基士和城外四郊、住在阿則卡和所屬村鎮。他們定居之處，是從貝爾舍巴起，直到希農山谷。
 厄下:11.31  [本雅明人的城市]  本雅明的子孫，有些住在革巴、米革瑪士、阿雅、貝特耳、和所屬村鎮，
 厄下:11.32  住在阿諾托特、諾布、阿納尼雅、
 厄下:11.33  哈祚爾、辣瑪、基塔殷、
 厄下:11.34  哈狄得、責波殷、乃巴拉特、
 厄下:11.35  羅得、敖諾和匠人谷。
 厄下:11.36  肋未人散居在猶大和本雅明。
    
 厄下:12.1   [初次回國的司祭和肋未人]  以下是同沙耳提的兒子責魯巴貝耳和耶叔亞回來的司祭和肋未人：色辣雅、耶肋米雅、厄次辣、
 厄下:12.2   阿瑪黎、瑪路克、哈突士、
 厄下:12.3   舍加尼雅、哈陵、默摩特、
 厄下:12.4   依多、金乃通、阿彼雅、
 厄下:12.5   米雅明、瑪阿狄雅、彼耳加、
 厄下:12.6   舍瑪雅、約雅黎布、耶達雅、
 厄下:12.7   撒路、阿摩克、希耳克雅、阿達雅：這些人是耶叔亞時期中的司祭，和他們兄弟的族長。
 厄下:12.8   他和他的兄弟們啟唱頌謝經文。
 厄下:12.9   巴刻步克雅和烏尼，以及他們的兄弟依照班次，輪流服務。
 厄下:12.10  [波斯帝國時代大司祭]  耶叔亞生約雅金，約雅金生厄肋史布，厄肋史布生約雅達，
 厄下:12.11  約雅達約哈南，約哈南生雅杜亞。
 厄下:12.12  [雅金大司祭時的司祭族長]  在約雅金年間，司祭作族長的：色辣雅家是默辣雅，
 厄下:12.13  厄次辣家是默叔藍，阿瑪黎雅家是約哈南，
 厄下:12.14  瑪路克家是約納堂，舍巴尼雅是約色夫，
 厄下:12.15  哈陵家是阿德納，默辣摩特家是赫耳凱，
 厄下:12.16  依多家是則加雅，金厏通家是默叔藍，
 厄下:12.17  阿彼雅家是齊革黎，米尼雅明和摩阿狄雅家是丕耳泰，
 厄下:12.18  彼耳家是沙慕亞，舍瑪雅家是約納堂，
 厄下:12.19  約雅黎布是瑪特乃，耶達雅是烏齊，
 厄下:12.20  撒路家是卡來，阿克摩家是厄貝爾，
 厄下:12.21  希耳克雅是哈沙彼雅，阿達雅是乃塔乃耳。
 厄下:12.22  [肋未族長]  在厄肋雅史布、約雅達、約哈南和雅杜亞年間，肋未人的族長都豋記了，司祭也登記了，直到波斯達理阿的朝代。
 厄下:12.23  肋未人的族長也都登記在編年錄上，直到厄肋雅史布的孫子約哈南時代。
 厄下:12.24  肋未人的族長是哈沙彼雅。舍勒彼雅、耶亞、彼奴依和卡德米耳；他們和他們的兄弟，按天主的人達味所制定的，在唱讚美和頌謝經文時，對面站著，分班輪流歌唱。
 厄下:12.25  瑪塔尼雅。巴刻步克雅、敖巴狄雅、默叔藍、塔耳孟和阿谷布，都是守門的，護守府庫的門：
 厄下:12.26  上都是約匝達克的孫子，耶叔亞兒子約雅金時代和乃赫米雅省長，及厄斯德拉司祭兼經師時代的人。
 厄下:12.27  [城垣落成典禮]  為耶路撒冷城垣舉行落成典禮時，召集住在各地的肋未人，在到耶路撒冷，詠唱詠謝讚美的詩歌，彈奏弦樂琴瑟，這落成典禮歡樂舉行。
 厄下:12.28  肋未人的子孫歌詠者，便由耶路撒冷四周區域，笸乃托法各村莊，
 厄下:12.29  由貝特基耳加耳、革巴和阿次瑪委特鄉間，集合前來，原是歌詠者在耶路撒冷四周，為自己建造了莊院。
 厄下:12.30  司祭和肋未人聖潔了自己以後，又聖潔了民眾、城門和城牆。
 厄下:12.31  我叫猶大各省長登上城牆，將儀仗分為兩大隊：一隊在城牆上向右往糞門進行，
 厄下:12.32  在隊後隨行的，是曷沙雅和猶大的一半首長，
 厄下:12.33  以及阿匝雅、厄次辣、默叔藍、
 厄下:12.34  猶達、本雅明、舍瑪雅和耶勒米雅，
 厄下:12.35  這些人都是司祭中吹號筒的；還有約納堂的兒子加黎雅，──約納堂是舍瑪雅的兒子，舍瑪雅是瑪塔尼雅的兒子，瑪塔尼雅是米加雅的兒子，米加雅是匝雇爾的兒子，匝雇爾是阿撒夫的兒子，──
 厄下:12.36  以及則加黎雅的兄弟：舍瑪雅、阿匝勒耳、米拉來、基拉來、瑪艾、乃塔乃耳、猶達和哈納尼，演奏天主的人達味的樂器。厄斯德拉經師走在你們的前面。
 厄下:12.37  他們到了泉門之後，一直上了達味城的石級，沿著城城牆斜坡，靠著達味王宮，走到東邊水門。
 厄下:12.38  第二儀仗隊往左邊行，我在儀仗隊之後，與另一半首長在城牆上，路過爐堡，直到廣場的城牆，
 厄下:12.39  以後，路過厄弗辣因門、魚門、哈約乃耳堡，直到羊門，便在更門停住了。
 厄下:12.40  這兩儀仗隊站在天主殿內，有一半首長同我在一起；
 厄下:12.41  還有司祭厄里雅金、瑪色雅、米尼雅明、米加雅、厄里約乃、則則加雅、哈納尼雅，他們吹著號筒；
 厄下:12.42  還有瑪阿色雅、舍瑪雅、厄肋阿匝爾、烏齊、約哈南、瑪耳基雅、厄藍和厄則爾。歌詠都在耶辣希雅指導下高聲唱歌。
 厄下:12.43  一日祭獻了很多犧牲，人們都很歡樂，因為天主使他們非常歡樂，連婦女童也都喜歡；耶路撒冷歡樂的聲音聞於遠方。
 厄下:12.44  [聖職人員供養]  那時，也定專員，管理孝放祭品、初熟之物和什一之的倉庫將各城各鄉照法律規定應交與司祭和肋未的物品，都存放在裏面，因為猶太人對盡職的司祭和肋未人都表喜悅。
 厄下:12.45  因他們各盡侍奉他們的天主之職，舉行取潔禮。歌詠者和守門者，也都遵照達味和他的兒子撒羅滿所制定的進行，
 厄下:12.46  因為遠在達味和阿撒夫時代，已有了歌詠長的職務，和讚美並感謝天主的歌曲。
 厄下:12.47  在則魯巴貝耳和乃赫米雅年間，全以色列天天都繳納給歌詠者和守門者應繳約之物，把一部分聖物交給人，肋未人將一部分交給亞郎的子孫。
    
 厄下:13.1   [隔絕外邦人]  那日，當著民眾宣讀梅瑟書時，人們聽到書中寫著說：「永遠不准阿孟人和摩阿布人，加入天主的會眾，
 厄下:13.2   因為他們沒有攜帶飲食歡迎以色列人民，反賄賂巴郎詛咒他們，我們的天主卻將詛咒轉為祝福。
 厄下:13.3   民眾一聽了這法律，便將各外族由以色列人中隔絕。
 厄下:13.4   [二次返國改革]  這事以前，厄肋雅史布司祭，曾被派管理天主的倉庫，他是托彼雅的親信，
 厄下:13.5   遂為托彼雅準備了一所大倉房，以前其中是存敦供物、乳香、器具、以及肋未人。歌詠者和守門者按法律所應得的什一之榖、酒和油，並司祭所應得的供物。
 厄下:13.6   發生這一切事時，我不在耶路撒冷，因為在巴比倫王阿塔薛西斯三十二年，我已回到君王那裏；滿了一個時以後，我又求得君王准許，
 厄下:13.7   回了耶路撒冷；此時我才發覺出，厄雅史布為托彼雅所行的壞事，為他在天主聖殿的庭院中，準備了一所大倉房。
 厄下:13.8   我感覺十分難受，立即將托彼雅的一切器物，拋出倉房之外，
 厄下:13.9   下命清潔那倉房，將天主聖殿的器具、供物和乳香仍放在裏面。
 厄下:13.10  [重整什一之物]  我還發覺肋未人應得之分，人們已不繳納，為此供職的肋未人和歌詠者，各回了本鄉。
 厄下:13.11  我便責斥首長們說：「為什麼又將肋未人召喚起來，又恢復了他們的職務。
 厄下:13.12  那時，全猶大又將什一之穀、酒和油送入倉房。
 厄下:13.13  我派定了舍肋米雅司祭、匝多克經師和肋未人培達雅，作管理倉房的人；委任瑪塔尼雅的子孫，匝雇爾的兒子哈南，作他們的助手，都是忠實可靠的人；他們的職務是將十一之物，分給他們的兄弟。
 厄下:13.14  我的天主，這了這事，請記憶我! 不要抹去我對我天主的聖殿，和其中的禮儀所做的一切善事。
 厄下:13.15  [聖化安息日]  那時我在猶大，看見有人在安息日踏榨酒池，搬運禾綑，馱在驢上，並把油、葡萄無花果和其他各種重載，安息日運到耶路撒冷；為了他們在此日買賣應用品，我曾警戒了他們。
 厄下:13.16  有住這裏的提洛人，運來了魚和各種貨物，安息日還在耶路撒冷賣給猶太人，
 厄下:13.17  我遂責斥有權劫的猶太人說：「你們怎麼行這樣的壞事，褻安息日呢，
 厄下:13.18  你們的祖先不是曾這樣行事，而使我們的天主，加給了我們和這城這一切災禍嗎﹖現今你們褻瀆安息日，還要義怒再多加在以色列人身上嗎﹖
 厄下:13.19  所以在安息日前一天，陰影一來到耶路撒冷城門，我就下令關閉城門，不准開門，直到安息日過去；並派我的僕役守門，安息日不准任何重載運進。
 厄下:13.20  有一兩次，販夫和賣各種貨物的商人，在耶路撒冷外過夜；
 厄下:13.21  我警告他們說：「你們為什麼在城垣前過夜﹖若是你們再這樣做，我就要向你們下手，」從此以後，安息日他們不敢再來。
 厄下:13.22  我也命令肋未人先聖潔自己，然後去看守城門，為聖化聖日。我的天主，為了這事，也請你記憶我! 照你的大仁慈憐恤我!
 厄下:13.23  [抑制雜婚]  那時，我還發見好些猶太人，娶了阿市多得、阿孟和摩阿布人的女子為妻。
 厄下:13.24  他們的兒子，有一半只會說阿市多得話，或這些民族的一種語言，而不會講猶太話。
 厄下:13.25  我遂責斥咒罵這樣的男人，其中一些我還打了他們，扯了他們的頭髮，叫他們指著天主起誓，向他們說：「你們不可再把你們的女兒，嫁給他們的兒子，也不可為你們的兒子並為你們自己，娶他們的女兒。
 厄下:13.26  以色列的君王撒羅滿，豈不是在這事上犯了罪嗎﹖在這樣多民族中，沒有一個相似他的君王，他又是天主所愛的，天主使他成為全以色列的君王，但是外方女子竟引他犯了罪。
 厄下:13.27  我們豈能任憑你們行這一切大壞事，娶外方婦女，背棄天主嗎﹖」
 厄下:13.28  [其他的改革]  大司祭厄肋雅史布的兒子約雅達，有個兒子是曷龍人桑巴拉特的女婿，我便驅逐他離開我。
 厄下:13.29  我的天主，請記住他們! 因為他們褻瀆了司祭和肋未的誓約。
 厄下:13.30  如此我清除了一切異類，整頓了司祭和肋未人職守，規定了各人應盡的職務，
 厄下:13.31  劃定了奉獻木柴和什一之物的時期。我的天主! 求你記憶我，使我蒙福!  [厄斯德拉下完篇]

 neh:1.      [Nehemia]    13 chapters   [厄斯德拉下篇]  [英文版]
   
 neh:1.1     The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. In the month Chislev of the twentieth year, I was in the citadel of Susa
 neh:1.2     when Hanani, one of my brothers, came with other men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews, the remnant preserved after the captivity, and about Jerusalem,
 neh:1.3     and they answered me: "The survivors of the captivity there in the province are in great distress and under reproach. Also, the wall of Jerusalem lies breached, and its gates have been gutted with fire."
 neh:1.4     When I heard this report, I began to weep and continued mourning for several days; I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
 neh:1.5     I prayed: "O LORD, God of heaven, great and awesome God, you who preserve your covenant of mercy toward those who love you and keep your commandments,
 neh:1.6     may your ear be attentive, and your eyes open, to heed the prayer which I, your servant, now offer in your presence day and night for your servants the Israelites, confessing the sins which we of Israel have committed against you, I and my father's house included.
 neh:1.7     Grievously have we offended you, not keeping the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances which you committed to your servant Moses.
 neh:1.8     But remember, I pray, the promise which you gave through Moses, your servant, when you said: 'Should you prove faithless, I will scatter you among the nations;
 neh:1.9     but should you return to me and carefully keep my commandments, even though your outcasts have been driven to the farthest corner of the world, I will gather them from there, and bring them back to the place which I have chosen as the dwelling place for my name.'
 neh:1.10    They are your servants, your people, whom you freed by your great might and your strong hand.
 neh:1.11    O Lord, may your ear be attentive to my prayer and that of all your willing servants who revere your name. Grant success to your servant this day, and let him find favor with this man"-for I was cupbearer to the king.

 neh:2.1     In the month Nisan of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when the wine was in my charge, I took some and offered it to the king. As I had never before been sad in his presence,
 neh:2.2     the king asked me, "Why do you look sad? If you are not sick, you must be sad at heart." Though I was seized with great fear,
 neh:2.3     I answered the king: "May the king live forever! How could I not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been eaten out by fire?"
 neh:2.4     The king asked me, "What is it, then, that you wish?" I prayed to the God of heaven
 neh:2.5     and then answered the king: "If it please the king, and if your servant is deserving of your favor, send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors' graves, to rebuild it."
 neh:2.6     Then the king, and the queen seated beside him, asked me how long my journey would take and when I would return. I set a date that was acceptable to him, and the king agreed that I might go.
 neh:2.7     I asked the king further: "If it please the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of West-of-Euphrates, that they may afford me safe-conduct till I arrive in Judah;
 neh:2.8     also a letter for Asaph, the keeper of the royal park, that he may give me wood for timbering the gates of the temple-citadel and for the city wall and the house that I shall occupy." The king granted my requests, for the favoring hand of my God was upon me.
 neh:2.9     Thus I proceeded to the governors of West-of-Euphrates and presented the king's letters to them. The king also sent with me army officers and cavalry.
 neh:2.10    When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite slave had heard of this, they were very much displeased that someone had come to seek the welfare of the Israelites.
 neh:2.11    When I had arrived in Jerusalem, I first rested there for three days.
 neh:2.12    Then I set out by night with only a few other men (for I had not told anyone what my God had inspired me to do for Jerusalem) and with no other animals but my own mount.
 neh:2.13    I rode out at night by the Valley Gate, passed by the Dragon Spring, and came to the Dung Gate, observing how the walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins and its gates had been eaten out by fire.
 neh:2.14    Then I passed over to the Spring Gate and to the King's Pool. Since there was no room here for my mount to pass with me astride,
 neh:2.15    I continued on foot up the wadi by night, inspecting the wall all the while till I once more reached the Valley Gate, by which I went back in.
 neh:2.16    The magistrates knew nothing of where I had gone or what I was doing, for as yet I had disclosed nothing to the Jews, neither to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the magistrates, nor to the others who would be concerned about the matter.
 neh:2.17    Afterward I said to them: "You see the evil plight in which we stand: how Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been gutted by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may no longer be an object of derision!"
 neh:2.18    Then I explained to them how the favoring hand of my God had rested upon me, and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us be up and building!" And they undertook the good work with vigor.
 neh:2.19    On hearing of this, Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite slave, and Geshem the Arab mocked us and ridiculed us. "What is this that you are about?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king?"
 neh:2.20    My answer to them was this: "It is the God of heaven who will grant us success. We, his servants, shall set about the rebuilding; but for you there is to be neither share nor claim nor memorial in Jerusalem."

 neh:3.1     Eliashib the high priest and his priestly brethren took up the task of rebuilding the Sheep Gate. They timbered it and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, then continued the rebuilding to the Tower of Hananel.
 neh:3.2     At their side the men of Jericho were rebuilding, and next to them was Zaccur, son of Imri.
 neh:3.3     The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah; they timbered it and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
 neh:3.4     At their side Meremoth, son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, carried out the work of repair; next to him was Meshullam, son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel; and next to him was Zadok, son of Baana.
 neh:3.5     Next to him the Tekoites carried out the work of repair; however, some of their outstanding men would not submit to the labor asked by their lords.
 neh:3.6     The New City Gate was repaired by Joiada, son of Paseah; and Meshullam, son of Besodeiah; they timbered it and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
 neh:3.7     At their side were Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, and the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, who were under the jurisdiction of the governor of West-of-Euphrates.
 neh:3.8     Next to them the work of repair was carried out by Uzziel, son of Harhaiah, a member of the goldsmiths' guild, and at his side was Hananiah, one of the perfumers' guild. They restored Jerusalem as far as the wall of the public square.
 neh:3.9     Next to them the work of repair was carried out by Rephaiah, son of Hur, leader of half the district of Jerusalem,
 neh:3.10    and at his side was Jedaiah, son of Harumaph, who repaired opposite his own house. Next to him Hattush, son of Hashabneiah, carried out the work of repair.
 neh:3.11    The adjoining sector, as far as the Oven Tower, was repaired by Malchijah, son of Harim, and Hasshub, of Pahath-moab.
 neh:3.12    At their side the work of repair was carried out by Shallum, son of Hallohesh, leader of half the district of Jerusalem, by himself and his daughters.
 neh:3.13    The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they rebuilt it and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. They also repaired a thousand cubits of the wall up to the Dung Gate.
 neh:3.14    The Dung Gate was repaired by Malchijah, son of Rechab, leader of the district of Beth-haccherem; he rebuilt it and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
 neh:3.15    The Spring Gate was repaired by Shallum, son of Colhozeh, leader of the district of Mizpah; he rebuilt it, roofed it over, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. He also repaired the wall of the Aqueduct Pool near the king's garden as far as the steps that lead down from the City of David.
 neh:3.16    After him, the work of repair was carried out by Nehemiah, son of Azbuk, leader of half the district of Beth-zur, to a place opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the barracks.
 neh:3.17    After him, the Levites carried out the work of repair: Rehum, son of Bani. Next to him, for his own district, was Hashabiah, leader of half the district of Keilah.
 neh:3.18    After him, their brethren carried out the work of repair: Binnui, son of Henadad, leader of half the district of Keilah;
 neh:3.19    next to him Ezer, son of Jeshua, leader of Mizpah, who repaired the adjoining sector, the Corner, opposite the ascent to the arsenal.
 neh:3.20    After him, Baruch, son of Zabbai, repaired the adjoining sector from the Corner to the entrance of the house of Eliashib, the high priest.
 neh:3.21    After him, Meremoth, son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, repaired the adjoining sector from the entrance of Eliashib's house to the end of the house.
 neh:3.22    After him, the work of repair was carried out by the priests, men of the surrounding country.
 neh:3.23    After them, Benjamin and Hasshub carried out the repair in front of their houses; after them, Azariah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah, made the repairs alongside his house.
 neh:3.24    After him, Binnui, son of Henadad, repaired the adjoining sector from the house of Azariah to the Corner (that is, to the Angle).
 neh:3.25    After him, Palal, son of Uzai, carried out the work of repair opposite the Corner and the tower projecting from the Upper Palace at the quarters of the guard. After him, Pedaiah, son of Parosh, carried out the work of repair
 neh:3.26    to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east, and the projecting tower.
 neh:3.27    After him, the Tekoites repaired the adjoining sector opposite the great projecting tower, to the wall of Ophel (the temple slaves were dwelling on Ophel).
 neh:3.28    Above the Horse Gate the priests carried out the work of repair, each before his own house.
 neh:3.29    After them Zadok, son of Immer, carried out the repair before his house, and after him the repair was carried out by Shemaiah, son of Shecaniah, keeper of the East Gate.
 neh:3.30    After him, Hananiah, son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired the adjoining sector; after them, Meshullam, son of Berechiah, repaired the place opposite his own lodging.
 neh:3.31    After him, Malchijah, a member of the goldsmiths' guild, carried out the work of repair as far as the quarters of the temple slaves and the merchants, before the Gate of Inspection and as far as the upper chamber of the Angle.
 neh:3.32    Between the upper chamber of the Angle and the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants carried out the work of repair.
 neh:3.33    When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, it roused his anger and he became very much incensed. He ridiculed the Jews,
 neh:3.34    saying in the presence of his brethren and the troops of Samaria: "What are these miserable Jews trying to do? Will they complete their restoration in a single day? Will they recover these stones, burnt as they are, from the heaps of dust?"
 neh:3.35    Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said: "It is a rubble heap they are building. Any fox that attacked it would breach their wall of stones!"
 neh:3.36    Take note, O our God, how we were mocked! Turn back their derision upon their own heads and let them be carried away to a land of captivity!
 neh:3.37    Hide not their crime and let not their sin be blotted out in your sight, for they insulted the builders to their face!
 neh:3.38    We, however, continued to build the wall, which was soon filled in and completed up to half its height. The people worked with a will.

 neh:4.1     When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem was progressing--for the gaps were beginning to be closed up--they became extremely angry.
 neh:4.2     Thereupon they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and thus to throw us into confusion.
 neh:4.3     We prayed to our God and posted a watch against them day and night for fear of what they might do.
 neh:4.4     Meanwhile the Judahites were saying: "Slackened is the bearers' strength, there is no end to the rubbish; Never shall we be able the wall to rebuild."
 neh:4.5     Our enemies thought, "Before they are aware of it or see us, we shall come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work."
 neh:4.6     When the Jews who lived near them had come to us from one place after another, and had told us ten times over that they were about to attack us,
 neh:4.7     I stationed guards down below, behind the wall, near the exposed points, assigning them by family groups with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
 neh:4.8     I made an inspection, then addressed these words to the nobles, the magistrates, and the rest of the people: "Have no fear of them! Keep in mind the LORD, who is great and to be feared, and fight for your brethren, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes."
 neh:4.9     When our enemies became aware that we had been warned and that God had upset their plan, we all went back, each to his own task at the wall.
 neh:4.10    From that time on, however, only half my able men took a hand in the work, while the other half, armed with spears, bucklers, bows, and breastplates, stood guard behind the whole house of Judah
 neh:4.11    as they rebuilt the wall. The load carriers, too, were armed; each did his work with one hand and held a weapon with the other.
 neh:4.12    Every builder, while he worked, had his sword girt at his side. Also, a trumpeter stood beside me,
 neh:4.13    for I had said to the nobles, the magistrates, and the rest of the people: "Our work is scattered and extensive, and we are widely separated from one another along the wall;
 neh:4.14    wherever you hear the trumpet sound, join us there; our God will fight with us."
 neh:4.15    Thus we went on with the work, half of the men with spears at the ready, from daybreak till the stars came out.
 neh:4.16    At the same time I told the people to spend the nights inside Jerusalem, each man with his own attendant, so that they might serve as a guard by night and a working force by day.
 neh:4.17    Neither I, nor my kinsmen, nor any of my attendants, nor any of the bodyguard that accompanied me took off his clothes; everyone kept his weapon at his right hand.

 neh:5.1     Then there rose a great outcry of the common people and their wives against certain of their fellow Jews.
 neh:5.2     Some said: "We are forced to pawn our sons and daughters in order to get grain to eat that we may live."
 neh:5.3     Others said: "We are forced to pawn our fields, our vineyards, and our houses, that we may have grain during the famine."
 neh:5.4     Still others said: "To pay the king's tax we have borrowed money on our fields and our vineyards.
 neh:5.5     And though these are our own kinsmen and our children are as good as theirs, we have had to reduce our sons and daughters to slavery, and violence has been done to some of our daughters! Yet we can do nothing about it, for our fields and our vineyards belong to others."
 neh:5.6     I was extremely angry when I heard the reasons they had for complaint.
 neh:5.7     After some deliberation, I called the nobles and magistrates to account, saying to them, "You are exacting interest from your own kinsmen!" I then rebuked them severely,
 neh:5.8     saying to them: "As far as we were able, we bought back our fellow Jews who had been sold to Gentiles; you, however, are selling your own brothers, to have them bought back by us." They remained silent, for they could find no answer.
 neh:5.9     I continued: "What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God, and put an end to the derision of our Gentile enemies?
 neh:5.10    I myself, my kinsmen, and my attendants have lent the people money and grain without charge. Let us put an end to this usury!
 neh:5.11    I ask that you return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, together with the interest on the money, the grain, the wine, and the oil that you have lent them."
 neh:5.12    They answered: "We will return everything and exact nothing further from them. We will do just what you ask." Then I called for the priests and had them administer an oath to these men that they would do as they had promised.
 neh:5.13    I also shook out the folds of my garment, saying, "Thus may God shake from his home and his fortune every man who fails to keep this promise, and may he thus be shaken out and emptied!" And the whole assembly answered, "Amen," and praised the LORD. Then the people did as they had promised.
 neh:5.14    Moreover, from the time that King Artaxerxes appointed me governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth to his thirty-second year--during these twelve years neither I nor my brethren lived from the governor's allowance.
 neh:5.15    The earlier governors, my predecessors, had laid a heavy burden on the people, taking from them each day forty silver shekels for their food; then too, their men oppressed the people. But I, because I feared God, did not act thus.
 neh:5.16    Moreover, though I had acquired no land of my own, I did my part in this work on the wall, and all my men were gathered there for the work.
 neh:5.17    Though I set my table for a hundred and fifty persons, Jews and magistrates, as well as those who came to us from the nations round about,
 neh:5.18    and though the daily preparations were made at my expense--one beef, six choice muttons, poultry--besides all kinds of wine in abundance every ten days, despite this I did not claim the governor's allowance, for the labor lay heavy upon this people.
 neh:5.19    Keep in mind, O my God, in my favor all that I did for this people.

 neh:6.1     When it had been reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and our other enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and that there was no breach left in it (though up to that time I had not yet set up the doors in the gates),
 neh:6.2     Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, let us hold council together at Caphirim in the plain of Ono." They were planning to do me harm.
 neh:6.3     However, I sent messengers to them with this reply: "I am engaged in a great enterprise and am unable to come down; why should the work stop, while I leave it to come down to you?"
 neh:6.4     Four times they sent me this same proposal, and each time I gave the same reply.
 neh:6.5     Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent me the same message by one of his servants, who bore an unsealed letter
 neh:6.6     containing this text: "Among the nations it has been reported--Geshem is witness to this--that you and the Jews are planning a rebellion; that for this reason you are rebuilding the wall; and that you are to be their king"--and so on.
 neh:6.7     "Also, that you have set up prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim you king of Judah. Now, since matters like these must reach the ear of the king, come, let us hold council together."
 neh:6.8     I sent him this answer: "Nothing of what you report has taken place; rather, it is the invention of your own mind."
 neh:6.9     They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will slacken in the work, and it will never be completed." But instead, I now redoubled my efforts.
 neh:6.10    I went to the house of Shemaiah, son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was unable to go about, and he said: "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple building; let us lock the doors of the temple. For men are coming to kill you; by night they are coming to kill you."
 neh:6.11    My answer was: "A man like me take flight? Can a man like me enter the temple to save his life? I will not go!"
 neh:6.12    For on consideration it was plain to me that God had not sent him; rather, because Tobiah and Sanballat had bribed him, he voiced this prophecy concerning me
 neh:6.13    that I might act on it out of fear and commit this sin. Then they would have had a shameful story with which to discredit me.
 neh:6.14    Keep in mind Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of these things they did; keep in mind as well Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who were trying to frighten me.
 neh:6.15    The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul; it had taken fifty-two days.
 neh:6.16    When all our enemies had heard of this, and all the nations round about had taken note of it, our enemies lost much face in the eyes of the nations, for they knew that it was with our God's help that this work had been completed.
 neh:6.17    At that same time, however, many letters were going to Tobiah from the nobles of Judah, and Tobiah's letters were reaching them,
 neh:6.18    for many in Judah were in league with him, since he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah, son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam, son of Berechiah.
 neh:6.19    Thus they would praise his good deeds in my presence and relate to him whatever I said; and Tobiah sent letters trying to frighten me.

 neh:7.1     When the wall had been rebuilt, I had the doors set up, and the gatekeepers (and the singers and the Levites) were put in charge of them.
 neh:7.2     Over Jerusalem I placed Hanani, my brother, and Hananiah, the commander of the citadel, who was a more trustworthy and God-fearing man than most.
 neh:7.3     I said to them: "The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot, and while the sun is still shining they shall shut and bar the doors. Appoint as watchmen the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their watch posts, and others before their own houses."
 neh:7.4     Now the city was quite wide and spacious, but its population was small, and none of the houses had been rebuilt.
 neh:7.5     When my God had put it into my mind to gather together the nobles, the magistrates, and the common people, and to examine their family records, I came upon the family list of those who had returned in the earliest period. There I found the following written:
 neh:7.6     These are the inhabitants of the province who returned from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had carried away, and who came back to Jerusalem and Judah, each man to his own city
 neh:7.7     (those who returned with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah). The census of the men of Israel:
 neh:7.8     sons of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two;
 neh:7.9     sons of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two;
 neh:7.10    sons of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two;
 neh:7.11    sons of Pahath-moab who were sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen;
 neh:7.12    sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four;
 neh:7.13    sons of Zattu, eight hundred and forty-five;
 neh:7.14    sons of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty;
 neh:7.15    sons of Binnui, six hundred and forty-eight;
 neh:7.16    sons of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-eight;
 neh:7.17    sons of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two;
 neh:7.18    sons of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-seven;
 neh:7.19    sons of Bigvai, two thousand and sixty-seven;
 neh:7.20    sons of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five;
 neh:7.21    sons of Ater who were sons of Hezekiah, ninety-eight;
 neh:7.22    sons of Hashum, three hundred and twenty-eight;
 neh:7.23    sons of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-four;
 neh:7.24    sons of Hariph, one hundred and twelve;
 neh:7.25    sons of Gibeon, ninety-five;
 neh:7.26    men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred and eighty-eight;
 neh:7.27    men of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight;
 neh:7.28    men of Beth-azmaveth, forty-two;
 neh:7.29    men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three;
 neh:7.30    men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one;
 neh:7.31    men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two;
 neh:7.32    men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred and twenty-three;
 neh:7.33    men of Nebo, fifty-two;
 neh:7.34    sons of another Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four;
 neh:7.35    sons of Harim, three hundred and twenty;
 neh:7.36    sons of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five;
 neh:7.37    sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one;
 neh:7.38    sons of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
 neh:7.39    The priests: sons of Jedaiah who were of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three;
 neh:7.40    sons of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two;
 neh:7.41    sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven;
 neh:7.42    sons of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.
 neh:7.43    The Levites: sons of Jeshua, Kadmiel, Binnui, Hodeviah, seventy-four.
 neh:7.44    The singers: sons of Asaph, one hundred and forty-eight.
 neh:7.45    The gatekeepers: sons of Shallum, sons of Ater, sons of Talmon, sons of Akkub, sons of Hatita, sons of Shobai, one hundred and thirty-eight.
 neh:7.46    The temple slaves: sons of Ziha, sons of Hasupha, sons of Tabbaoth,
 neh:7.47    sons of Keros, sons of Sia, sons of Padon,
 neh:7.48    sons of Lebana, sons of Hagaba, sons of Shalmai,
 neh:7.49    sons of Hanan, sons of Giddel, sons of Gahar,
 neh:7.50    sons of Reaiah, sons of Rezin, sons of Nekoda,
 neh:7.51    sons of Gazzam, sons of Uzza, sons of Paseah,
 neh:7.52    sons of Besai, sons of the Meunites, sons of the Nephusites,
 neh:7.53    sons of Bakbuk, sons of Hakupha, sons of Harhur,
 neh:7.54    sons of Bazlith, sons of Mehida, sons of Harsha,
 neh:7.55    sons of Barkos, sons of Sisera, sons of Temah,
 neh:7.56    sons of Neziah, sons of Hatipha.
 neh:7.57    Descendants of the slaves of Solomon: sons of Sotai, sons of Sophereth, sons of Perida,
 neh:7.58    sons of Jaala, sons of Darkon, sons of Giddel,
 neh:7.59    sons of Shephatiah, sons of Hattil, sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, sons of Amon.
 neh:7.60    The total of the temple slaves and the descendants of the slaves of Solomon was three hundred and ninety-two.
 neh:7.61    The following who returned from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer were unable to prove that their ancestral houses and their descent were Israelite:
 neh:7.62    sons of Delaiah, sons of Tobiah, sons of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two.
 neh:7.63    Also, of the priests: sons of Hobaiah, sons of Hakkoz, sons of Barzillai (he had married one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and became known by his name).
 neh:7.64    These men searched their family records, but their names could not be found written there; hence they were degraded from the priesthood,
 neh:7.65    and His Excellency ordered them not to partake of the most holy foods until there should be a priest bearing the Urim and Thummim.
 neh:7.66    The entire assembly taken together came to forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty,
 neh:7.67    not counting their male and female slaves, who were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. They also had two hundred male and female singers. Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred and forty-five,
 neh:7.68    their camels four hundred and thirty-five, their asses six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
 neh:7.69    Certain of the family heads contributed to the service. His Excellency put into the treasury one thousand drachmas of gold, fifty basins, thirty garments for priests, and five hundred minas of silver.
 neh:7.70    Some of the family heads contributed to the treasury for the temple service: twenty thousand drachmas of gold and two thousand two hundred minas of silver.
 neh:7.71    The contributions of the rest of the people amounted to twenty thousand drachmas of gold, two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven garments for priests.
 neh:7.72    The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple slaves, and all Israel took up residence in their cities.

 neh:8.1     Now when the seventh month came, the whole people gathered as one man in the open space before the Water Gate, and they called upon Ezra the scribe to bring forth the book of the law of Moses which the LORD prescribed for Israel.
 neh:8.2     On the first day of the seventh month, therefore, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, which consisted of men, women, and those children old enough to understand.
 neh:8.3     Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate, he read out of the book from daybreak till midday, in the presence of the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand; and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.
 neh:8.4     Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the occasion; at his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and on his left Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, Meshullam.
 neh:8.5     Ezra opened the scroll so that all the people might see it (for he was standing higher up than any of the people); and, as he opened it, all the people rose.
 neh:8.6     Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, "Amen, amen!" Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD, their faces to the ground.
 neh:8.7     (The Levites Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah explained the law to the people, who remained in their places.)
 neh:8.8     Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God, interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.
 neh:8.9     Then (Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and) Ezra the priest-scribe (and the Levites who were instructing the people) said to all the people: "Today is holy to the LORD your God. Do not be sad, and do not weep"-for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
 neh:8.10    He said further: "Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our LORD. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!"
 neh:8.11    (And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened.")
 neh:8.12    Then all the people went to eat and drink, to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy, for they understood the words that had been expounded to them.
 neh:8.13    On the second day, the family heads of the whole people and also the priests and the Levites gathered around Ezra the scribe and examined the words of the law more closely.
 neh:8.14    They found it written in the law prescribed by the LORD through Moses that the Israelites must dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month;
 neh:8.15    and that they should have this proclamation made throughout their cities and in Jerusalem: "Go out into the hill country and bring in branches of olive trees, oleasters, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees, to make booths, as the law prescribes."
 neh:8.16    The people went out and brought in branches with which they made booths for themselves, on the roof of their houses, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God, and in the open spaces of the Water Gate and the Gate of Ephraim.
 neh:8.17    Thus the entire assembly of the returned exiles made booths and dwelt in them. Now the Israelites had done nothing of this sort from the days of Jeshua, son of Nun, until this occasion; therefore there was very great joy.
 neh:8.18    Ezra read from the book of the law of God day after day, from the first day to the last. They kept the feast for seven days, and the solemn assembly on the eighth day, as was required.

 neh:9.1     On the twenty-fourth day of this month, the Israelites gathered together fasting and in sackcloth, their heads covered with dust.
 neh:9.2     Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all who were of foreign extraction, then stood forward and confessed their sins and the guilty deeds of their fathers.
 neh:9.3     When they had taken their places, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God, for a fourth part of the day, and during another fourth part they made their confession and prostrated themselves before the LORD their God.
 neh:9.4     Standing on the platform of the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, who cried out to the LORD their God, with a loud voice.
 neh:9.5     The Levites Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said, "Arise, bless the LORD, your God, from eternity to eternity!" The Israelites answered with the blessing, "Blessed is your glorious name, and exalted above all blessing and praise."
 neh:9.6     Then Ezra said: "It is you, O LORD, you are the only one; you made the heavens, the highest heavens and all their host, the earth and all that is upon it, the seas and all that is in them. To all of them you give life, and the heavenly hosts bow down before you.
 neh:9.7     "You, O LORD, are the God who chose Abram, who brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees, and named him Abraham.
 neh:9.8     When you had found his heart faithful in your sight, you made the covenant with him to give to him and his posterity the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. These promises of yours you fulfilled, for you are just.
 neh:9.9     "You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, you heard their cry by the Red Sea;
 neh:9.10    You worked signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his servants and the people of his land, Because you knew of their insolence toward them; thus you made for yourself a name even to this day.
 neh:9.11    The sea you divided before them, on dry ground they passed through the midst of the sea; Their pursuers you hurled into the depths, like a stone into the mighty waters.
 neh:9.12    With a column of cloud you led them by day, and by night with a column of fire, To light the way of their journey, the way in which they must travel.
 neh:9.13    On Mount Sinai you came down, you spoke with them from heaven; You gave them just ordinances, firm laws, good statutes, and commandments;
 neh:9.14    Your holy sabbath you made known to them, commandments, statutes, and law you prescribed for them, by the hand of Moses your servant.
 neh:9.15    Food from heaven you gave them in their hunger, water from a rock you sent them in their thirst. You bade them enter and occupy the land which you had sworn with upraised hand to give them.
 neh:9.16    "But they, our fathers, proved to be insolent; they held their necks stiff and would not obey your commandments.
 neh:9.17    They refused to obey and no longer remembered the miracles you had worked for them. They stiffened their necks and turned their heads to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God of pardons, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in mercy; you did not forsake them.
 neh:9.18    Though they made for themselves a molten calf, and proclaimed, 'Here is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,' and were guilty of great effronteries,
 neh:9.19    yet in your great mercy you did not forsake them in the desert. The column of cloud did not cease to lead them by day on their journey, nor did the column of fire by night cease to light for them the way by which they were to travel.
 neh:9.20    "Your good spirit you bestowed on them, to give them understanding; your manna you did not withhold from their mouths, and you gave them water in their thirst.
 neh:9.21    Forty years in the desert you sustained them: they did not want; their garments did not become worn, and their feet did not become swollen.
 neh:9.22    You gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you divided up among them as border lands. They possessed the land of Sihon, king of Heshbon, and the land of Og, king of Bashan.
 neh:9.23    "You made their children as numerous as the stars of the heavens, and you brought them into the land which you had commanded their fathers to enter and possess.
 neh:9.24    The sons went in to take possession of the land, and you humbled before them the Canaanite inhabitants of the land and delivered them over into their power, their kings as well as the peoples of the land, to do with them as they would.
 neh:9.25    They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all good things, cisterns already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. They could eat and have their fill, fatten and feast themselves on your immense good gifts.
 neh:9.26    "But they were contemptuous and rebellious: they cast your law behind their backs, they slew your prophets who bore witness against them in order to bring them back to you, and they were guilty of great effronteries.
 neh:9.27    Therefore you delivered them into the power of their enemies, who oppressed them. But in the time of their oppression they would cry out to you, and you would hear them from heaven, and according to your great mercy give them saviors to deliver them from the power of their enemies.
 neh:9.28    "As soon as they had relief, they would go back to doing evil in your sight. Then again you abandoned them to the power of their enemies, who crushed them. Then they cried out to you, and you heard them from heaven and delivered them according to your mercy, many times over.
 neh:9.29    You bore witness against them, in order to bring them back to your law. But they were insolent and would not obey your commandments; they sinned against your ordinances, from which men draw life when they practice them. They turned stubborn backs, stiffened their necks, and would not obey.
 neh:9.30    You were patient with them for many years, bearing witness against them through your spirit, by means of your prophets; still they would not listen. Thus you delivered them over into the power of the peoples of the lands.
 neh:9.31    Yet in your great mercy you did not completely destroy them and you did not forsake them, for you are a kind and merciful God.
 neh:9.32    "Now, therefore, O our God, great, mighty, and awesome God, you who in your mercy preserve the covenant, take into account all the disasters that have befallen us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and your entire people, from the time of the kings of Assyria until this day!
 neh:9.33    In all that has come upon us you have been just, for you kept faith while we have done evil.
 neh:9.34    Yes, our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law; they paid no attention to your commandments and the obligations of which you reminded them.
 neh:9.35    While they were yet in their kingdom, in the midst of the many good things that you had given them and in the wide and fertile land that you had spread out before them, they did not serve you nor did they turn away from their evil deeds.
 neh:9.36    But, see, we today are slaves; and as for the land which you gave our fathers that they might eat its fruits and good things--see, we have become slaves upon it!
 neh:9.37    Its rich produce goes to the kings whom you set over us because of our sins, who rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress!"
   
 neh:10.1    In view of all this, we are entering into a firm pact, which we are putting into writing. On the sealed document appear the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.
 neh:10.2    On the sealed document: His Excellency Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah.
 neh:10.3    Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
 neh:10.4    Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,
 neh:10.5    Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
 neh:10.6    Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
 neh:10.7    Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
 neh:10.8    Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
 neh:10.9    Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these are the priests.
 neh:10.10   The Levites: Jeshua, son of Azaniah; Binnui, of the sons of Henadad; Kadmiel;
 neh:10.11   and their brethren Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
 neh:10.12   Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
 neh:10.13   Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
 neh:10.14   Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.
 neh:10.15   The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
 neh:10.16   Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
 neh:10.17   Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
 neh:10.18   Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
 neh:10.19   Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
 neh:10.20   Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
 neh:10.21   Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
 neh:10.22   Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
 neh:10.23   Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
 neh:10.24   Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
 neh:10.25   Halhohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
 neh:10.26   Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
 neh:10.27   Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,
 neh:10.28   Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
 neh:10.29   The rest of the people, priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple slaves, and all others who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands in favor of the law of God, with their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who are of the age of discretion,
 neh:10.30   join with their brethren who are their princes, and with the sanction of a curse take this oath to follow the law of God which was given through Moses, the servant of God, and to observe carefully all the commandments of the LORD, our LORD, his ordinances and his statutes.
 neh:10.31   Agreed, that we will not marry our daughters to the peoples of the land, and that we will not take their daughters for our sons.
 neh:10.32   When the peoples of the land bring in merchandise or any kind of grain for sale on the sabbath day, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or on any other holyday. We will forgo the seventh year, as well as every kind of debt.
 neh:10.33   We impose these commandments on ourselves: to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God,
 neh:10.34   for the showbread, for the daily cereal offering, for the daily holocaust, for the sabbaths, new moons, and festivals, for the holy offerings, for sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for every service of the house of our God.
 neh:10.35   We, priests, Levites, and people, have determined by lot concerning the procurement of wood: it is to be brought to the house of our God by each of our family houses at stated times each year, to be burnt on the altar of the LORD, our God, as the law prescribes.
 neh:10.36   We have agreed to bring each year to the house of the LORD the first fruits of our fields and of our fruit trees, of whatever kind;
 neh:10.37   also, as is prescribed in the law, to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who serve in the house of our God, the first-born of our children and our animals, including the first-born of our flocks and herds.
 neh:10.38   The first batch of our dough, and our offerings of the fruit of every tree, of wine and of oil, we will bring to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God. The tithe of our fields we will bring to the Levites; they, the Levites, shall take the tithe in all the cities of our service.
 neh:10.39   An Aaronite priest shall be with the Levites when they take the tithe, and the Levites shall bring the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the treasury.
 neh:10.40   For to these chambers the Israelites and Levites bring the offerings of grain, wine, and oil; there also are housed the utensils of the sanctuary, and the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.
   
 neh:11.1    The leaders of the people took up residence in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one man in ten to reside in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine would remain in the other cities.
 neh:11.2    The people applauded all those men who willingly agreed to take up residence in Jerusalem.
 neh:11.3    These are the heads of the province who took up residence in Jerusalem. (In the cities of Judah dwelt lay Israelites, priests, Levites, temple slaves, and the descendants of the slaves of Solomon, each man on the property he owned in his own city.)
 neh:11.4    In Jerusalem dwelt both Judahites and Benjaminites. Of the Judahites: Athaiah, son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mehallalel, of the sons of Perez;
 neh:11.5    Maaseiah, son of Baruch, son of Colhozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, a son of the Shelanites.
 neh:11.6    The total of the sons of Perez who dwelt in Jerusalem was four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men.
 neh:11.7    These were the Benjaminites: Sallu, son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah,
 neh:11.8    and his brethren, warriors, nine hundred and twenty-eight in number.
 neh:11.9    Joel, son of Zichri, was their commander, and Judah, son of Hassenuah, was second in charge of the city.
 neh:11.10.  Among the priests were: Jedaiah; Joiarib; Jachin;
 neh:11.11.  Seraiah, son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God,
 neh:11.12.  and their brethren who carried out the temple service, eight hundred and twenty-two; Adaiah, son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah,
 neh:11.13.  and his brethren, family heads, two hundred and forty-two; and Amasai, son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer,
 neh:11.14.  and his brethren, warriors, one hundred and twenty-eight. Their commander was Zabdiel, son of Haggadol.
 neh:11.15.  Among the Levites were Shemaiah, son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni;
 neh:11.16.  Shabbethai and Jozabad, levitical chiefs who were placed over the external affairs of the house of God;
 neh:11.17.  Mattaniah, son of Micah, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, director of the psalms, who led the thanksgiving at prayer; Bakbukiah, second in rank among his brethren; and Abda, son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun.
 neh:11.18.  The total of the Levites in the holy city was two hundred and eighty-four.
 neh:11.19.  The gatekeepers were Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren, who kept watch over the gates; one hundred and seventy-two in number.
 neh:11.20.  The rest of Israel, including priests and Levites, were in all the other cities of Judah, each man in his inheritance.
 neh:11.21.  The temple slaves lived on Ophel. Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple slaves.
 neh:11.22.  The prefect of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi, son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micah; he was one of the sons of Asaph, the singers appointed to the service of the house of God--
 neh:11.23.  for they had been appointed by royal decree, and there was a fixed schedule for the singers assigning them their daily duties.
 neh:11.24   Pethahiah, son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah, son of Judah, was royal deputy in all affairs that concerned the people.
 neh:11.25   As concerns their villages in the country: Judahites lived in Kiriath-arba and its dependencies, in Dibon and its dependencies, in Jekabzeel and its villages,
 neh:11.26   in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth-pelet,
 neh:11.27   in Hazarshual, in Beer-sheba and its dependencies,
 neh:11.28   in Ziklag, in Meconah and its dependencies,
 neh:11.29   in En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth,
 neh:11.30   Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its countryside, Azekah and its dependencies. They were settled from Beer-sheba to Ge-hinnom.
 neh:11.31   Benjaminites were in Geba, Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its dependencies,
 neh:11.32   Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
 neh:11.33   Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
 neh:11.34   Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
 neh:11.35   Lod, Ono, and the Valley of the Artisans.
 neh:11.36   Some sections of the Levites from Judah settled in Benjamin.
   
 neh:12.1    The following are the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
 neh:12.2    Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
 neh:12.3    Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
 neh:12.4    Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,
 neh:12.5    Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
 neh:12.6    Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
 neh:12.7    Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the priestly heads and their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
 neh:12.8    The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, Mattaniah; the last-mentioned, together with his brethren, was in charge of the hymns,
 neh:12.9    while Bakbukiah and Unno and their brethren ministered opposite them by turns.
 neh:12.10   Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib became the father of Joiada.
 neh:12.11   Joiada became the father of Johanan, and Johanan became the father of Jaddua.
 neh:12.12   In the days of Joiakim these were the priestly family heads: for Seraiah, Meraiah; for Jeremiah, Hananiah;
 neh:12.13   for Ezra, Meshullam; for Amariah, Jehohanan;
 neh:12.14   for Malluchi, Jonathan; for Shebaniah, Joseph;
 neh:12.15   for Harim, Adna; for Meremoth, Helkai;
 neh:12.16   for Iddo, Zechariah; for Ginnethon, Meshullam;
 neh:12.17   for Abijah, Zichri; for Miamin, . . . ; for Maadiah, Piltai;
 neh:12.18   for Bilgah, Shammua; for Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
 neh:12.19   and for Joiarib, Mattenai; for Jedaiah, Uzzi;
 neh:12.20   for Sallu, Kallai; for Amok, Eber;
 neh:12.21   for Hilkiah, Hashabiah; for Jedaiah, Nethanel.
 neh:12.22   In the time of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the family heads of the priests were written down in the Book of Chronicles, up until the reign of Darius the Persian.
 neh:12.23   The sons of Levi: the family heads were written down in the Book of Chronicles, up until the time of Johanan, the son of Eliashib.
 neh:12.24   The heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel. Their brethren who stood opposite them to sing praises and thanksgiving in fulfillment of the command of David, the man of God, one section opposite the other,
 neh:12.25   were Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah.Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers. They kept watch over the storerooms at the gates.
 neh:12.26   All these lived in the time of Joiakim, son of Jeshua, son of Jozadak (and in the time of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest-scribe).
 neh:12.27   At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out wherever they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate a joyful dedication with thanksgiving hymns and the music of cymbals, harps, and lyres.
 neh:12.28   The levitical singers gathered together from the region about Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,
 neh:12.29   from Beth-gilgal, and from the plains of Geba and Azmaveth (for the singers had built themselves settlements about Jerusalem).
 neh:12.30   The priests and Levites first purified themselves, then they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
 neh:12.31   I had the princes of Judah mount the wall, and I arranged two great choirs. The first of these proceeded to the right, along the top of the wall, in the direction of the Dung Gate,
 neh:12.32   followed by Hoshaiah and half the princes of Judah,
 neh:12.33   along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,
 neh:12.34   Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,
 neh:12.35   priests with the trumpets, and also Zechariah, son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph,
 neh:12.36   and his brethren Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David, the man of God. (Ezra the scribe was at their head.)
 neh:12.37   At the Spring Gate they went straight up by the steps of the City of David and continued along the top of the wall above the house of David until they came to the Water Gate on the east.
 neh:12.38   The second choir proceeded to the left, followed by myself and the other half of the princes of the people, along the top of the wall past the Oven Tower as far as the Broad Wall,
 neh:12.39   then past the Ephraim Gate (the New City Gate), the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Hundred Tower, as far as the Sheep Gate (and they came to a halt at the Prison Gate).
 neh:12.40   The two choirs took up a position in the house of God; I, too, who had with me half the magistrates,
 neh:12.41   the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Minjamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, Hananiah, with the trumpets,
 neh:12.42   and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers were heard under the leadership of Jezrahiah.
 neh:12.43   Great sacrifices were offered on that day, and there was rejoicing over the great feast of the LORD in which they shared. The women and the children joined in, and the rejoicing at Jerusalem could be heard from afar off.
 neh:12.44   At that time men were appointed over the chambers set aside for stores, offerings, first fruits, and tithes; in them they were to collect from the fields of the various cities the portions legally assigned to the priests and Levites. For Judah rejoiced in its appointed priests and Levites
 neh:12.45   who carried out the ministry of their God and the ministry of purification (as did the singers and the gatekeepers) in accordance with the prescriptions of David and of Solomon, his son.
 neh:12.46   For the heads of the families of the singers and the hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God came down from the days of David and Asaph in times of old.
 neh:12.47   Thus all Israel, in the days of Zerubbabel (and in the days of Nehemiah), gave the singers and the gatekeepers their portions, according to their daily needs. They made their consecrated offering to the Levites, and the Levites made theirs to the sons of Aaron.

 neh:13.1    At that time, when there was reading from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people, it was found written there that "no Ammonite or Moabite may ever be admitted into the assembly of God;
 neh:13.2    for they would not succor the Israelites with food and water, but they hired Balaam to curse them, though our God turned the curse into a blessing."
 neh:13.3    When they had heard the law, they separated from Israel every foreign element.
 neh:13.4    Before this, the priest Eliashib, who had been placed in charge of the chambers of the house of our God and who was an associate of Tobiah,
 neh:13.5    had set aside for the latter's use a large chamber in which had previously been stored the cereal offerings, incense and utensils, the tithes in grain, wine, and oil allotted to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the offerings due the priests.
 neh:13.6    During all this time I had not been in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, I had gone back to the king. After due time, however, I asked leave of the king
 neh:13.7    and returned to Jerusalem, where I discovered the evil thing that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in setting aside for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
 neh:13.8    This displeased me very much, and I had all of Tobiah's household goods thrown outside the chamber.
 neh:13.9    Then I gave orders to purify the chambers, and I had them replace there the utensils of the house of God, the cereal offerings, and the incense.
 neh:13.10   I learned, too, that the portions due the Levites were no longer being given, so that the Levites and the singers who should have been carrying out the services had deserted, each man to his own field.
 neh:13.11   I took the magistrates to task, demanding, "Why is the house of God abandoned?" Then I brought the Levites together and had them resume their stations.
 neh:13.12   All Judah once more brought in the tithes of grain, wine, and oil to the storerooms;
 neh:13.13   and in charge of the storerooms I appointed the priest Shelemiah, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah, one of the Levites, together with Hanan, son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, as their assistant; for these men were held to be trustworthy. It was their duty to make the distribution to their brethren.
 neh:13.14   Remember this to my credit, O my God! Let not the devotion which I showed for the house of my God and its services be forgotten!
 neh:13.15   In those days I perceived that men in Judah were treading the winepresses on the sabbath; that they were bringing in sheaves of grain, loading them on their asses, together with wine, grapes, figs, and every other kind of burden, and bringing them to Jerusalem on the sabbath day. I warned them to sell none of these victuals.
 neh:13.16   In Jerusalem itself the Tyrians who were resident there were importing fish and every other kind of merchandise and selling it to the Judahites on the sabbath.
 neh:13.17   I took the nobles of Judah to task, demanding of them: "What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the sabbath day?
 neh:13.18   Did not your fathers act in this same way, with the result that our God has brought all this evil upon us and upon this city? Would you add to the wrath against Israel by once more profaning the sabbath?"
 neh:13.19   When the shadows were falling on the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I ordered the doors to be closed and forbade them to be reopened till after the sabbath. I posted some of my own men at the gates so that no burden might enter on the sabbath day.
 neh:13.20   The merchants and sellers of various kinds of merchandise spent the night once or twice outside Jerusalem,
 neh:13.21   but then I warned them, saying to them: "Why do you spend the night alongside the wall? If you keep this up, I will lay hands on you!" From that time on, they did not return on the sabbath.
 neh:13.22   Then I ordered the Levites to purify themselves and to go and watch the gates, so that the sabbath day might be kept holy. This, too, remember in my favor, O my God, and have mercy on me in accordance with your great mercy!
 neh:13.23   Also in those days I saw Jews who had married Ashdodite, Ammonite, or Moabite wives.
 neh:13.24   Of their children, half spoke Ashdodite, and none of them knew how to speak Jewish; and so it was in regard to the languages of the various other peoples.
 neh:13.25   I took them to task and cursed them; I had some of them beaten and their hair pulled out; and I adjured them by God: "You shall not marry your daughters to their sons nor take any of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves!
 neh:13.26   Did not Solomon, the king of Israel, sin because of them? Though among the many nations there was no king like him, and though he was beloved of his God and God had made him king over all Israel, yet even he was made to sin by foreign women.
 neh:13.27   Must it also be heard of you that you have done this same very great evil, betraying our God by marrying foreign women?"
 neh:13.28   One of the sons of Joiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite! I drove him from my presence.
 neh:13.29   Remember against them, O my God, how they defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites!
 neh:13.30   Thus I cleansed them of all foreign contamination. I established the various functions for the priests and Levites, so that each had his appointed task.
 neh:13.31   I also provided for the procurement of wood at stated times and for the first fruits. Remember this in my favor, O my God! [end of Nehemia]

