尼希米記 1-13

Chinese Union Version (Simplified)

1 哈迦利亚的儿子尼希米的言语如下：亚达薛西王二十年基斯流月，我在书珊城的宫中。

²那时，有我一个弟兄哈拿尼，同着几个人从犹大来。我问他们那些被掳归回、剩下逃脱的犹大人和耶路撒冷的光景。

³他们对我说：那些被掳归回剩下的人在犹大省遭大难，受凌辱；并且耶路撒冷的城墙拆毁，城门被火焚烧。

⁴我听见这话，就坐下哭泣，悲哀几日，在天上的神面前禁食祈祷，说：

⁵耶和华 ─ 天上的神，大而可畏的神啊，你向爱你、守你诫命的人守约施慈爱。

⁶愿你睁眼看，侧耳听，你仆人昼夜在你面前为你众仆人以色列民的祈祷，承认我们以色列人向你所犯的罪；我与我父家都有罪了。

⁷我们向你所行的甚是邪恶，没有遵守你藉着仆人摩西所吩咐的诫命、律例、典章。

⁸求你记念所吩咐你仆人摩西的话，说：你们若犯罪，我就把你们分散在万民中；

⁹但你们若归向我，谨守遵行我的诫命，你们被赶散的人虽在天涯，我也必从那里将他们招聚回来，带到我所选择立为我名的居所。

¹⁰这都是你的仆人、你的百姓，就是你用大力和大能的手所救赎的。

¹¹主啊，求你侧耳听你仆人的祈祷，和喜爱敬畏你名众仆人的祈祷，使你仆人现今亨通，在王面前蒙恩。我是作王酒政的。

2 亚达薛西王二十年尼散月，在王面前摆酒，我拿起酒来奉给王。我素来在王面前没有愁容。

²王对我说：你既没有病，为甚麽面带愁容呢？这不是别的，必是你心中愁烦。於是我甚惧怕。

³我对王说：愿王万岁！我列祖坟墓所在的那城荒凉，城门被火焚烧，我岂能面无愁容麽？

⁴王问我说：你要求甚麽？於是我默祷天上的神。

⁵我对王说：仆人若在王眼前蒙恩，王若喜欢，求王差遣我往犹大，到我列祖坟墓所在的那城去，我好重新建造。

⁶那时王后坐在王的旁边。王问我说：你去要多少日子？几时回来？我就定了日期。於是王喜欢差遣我去。

⁷我又对王说：王若喜欢，求王赐我诏书，通知大河西的省长准我经过，直到犹大；

⁸又赐诏书，通知管理王园林的亚萨，使他给我木料，做属殿营楼之门的横梁和城墙，与我自己房屋使用的。王就允准我，因我神施恩的手帮助我。

⁹王派了军长和马兵护送我。我到了河西的省长那里，将王的诏书交给他们。

¹⁰和伦人参巴拉，并为奴的亚扪人多比雅，听见有人来为以色列人求好处，就甚恼怒。

¹¹我到了耶路撒冷，在那里住了三日。

¹²我夜间起来，有几个人也一同起来；但神使我心里要为耶路撒冷做甚麽事，我并没有告诉人。除了我骑的牲口以外，也没有别的牲口在我那里。

¹³当夜我出了谷门，往野狗井去（野狗：或译龙），到了粪厂门，察看耶路撒冷的城墙，见城墙拆毁，城门被火焚烧。

¹⁴我又往前，到了泉门和王池，但所骑的牲口没有地方过去。

¹⁵於是夜间沿溪而上，察看城墙，又转身进入谷门，就回来了。

¹⁶我往哪里去，我做甚麽事，官长都不知道。我还没有告诉犹大平民、祭司、贵胄、官长，和其馀做工的人。

¹⁷以後，我对他们说：我们所遭的难，耶路撒冷怎样荒凉，城门被火焚烧，你们都看见了。来罢，我们重建耶路撒冷的城墙，免得再受凌辱！

¹⁸我告诉他们我神施恩的手怎样帮助我，并王对我所说的话。他们就说：我们起来建造罢！於是他们奋勇做这善工。

¹⁹但和伦人参巴拉，并为奴的亚扪人多比雅和亚拉伯人基善听见就嗤笑我们，藐视我们，说：你们做甚麽呢？要背叛王麽？

²⁰我回答他们说：天上的神必使我们亨通。我们作他仆人的，要起来建造；你们却在耶路撒冷无分、无权、无纪念。

3 那时，大祭司以利亚实和他的弟兄众祭司起来建立羊门，分别为圣，安立门扇，又筑城墙到哈米亚楼，直到哈楠业楼，分别为圣。

²其次是耶利哥人建造。其次是音利的儿子撒刻建造。

³哈西拿的子孙建立鱼门，架横梁、安门扇，和闩锁。

⁴其次是哈哥斯的孙子、乌利亚的儿子米利末修造。其次是米示萨别的孙子、比利迦的儿子米书兰修造。其次是巴拿的儿子撒督修造。

⁵其次是提哥亚人修造；但是他们的贵胄不用肩（原文是颈项）担他们主的工作。

⁶巴西亚的儿子耶何耶大与比所玳的儿子米书兰修造古门，架横梁，安门扇和闩锁。

⁷其次是基遍人米拉提，米伦人雅顿与基遍人，并属河西总督所管的米斯巴人修造。

⁸其次是银匠哈海雅的儿子乌薛修造。其次是做香的哈拿尼雅修造。这些人修坚耶路撒冷，直到宽墙。

⁹其次是管理耶路撒冷一半、户珥的儿子利法雅修造。

¹⁰其次是哈路抹的儿子耶大雅对着自己的房屋修造。其次是哈沙尼的儿子哈突修造。

¹¹哈琳的儿子玛基雅和巴哈摩押的儿子哈述修造一段，并修造炉楼。

¹²其次是管理耶路撒冷那一半、哈罗黑的儿子沙龙和他的女儿们修造。

¹³哈嫩和撒挪亚的居民修造谷门，立门，安门扇和闩锁，又建筑城墙一千肘，直到粪厂门。

¹⁴管理伯哈基琳、利甲的儿子玛基雅修造粪厂门，立门，安门扇和闩锁。

¹⁵管理米斯巴、各荷西的儿子沙仑修造泉门，立门，盖门顶，安门扇和闩锁，又修造靠近王园西罗亚池的墙垣，直到那从大卫城下来的 ? 阶。

¹⁶其次是管理伯夙一半、押卜的儿子尼希米修造，直到大卫坟地的对面，又到挖成的池子，并勇士的房屋。

¹⁷其次是利未人巴尼的儿子利宏修造。其次是管理基伊拉一半、哈沙比雅为他所管的本境修造。

¹⁸其次是利未人弟兄中管理基伊拉那一半、希拿达的儿子巴瓦伊修造。

¹⁹其次是管理米斯巴、耶书亚的儿子以谢修造一段，对着武库的上坡、城墙转弯之处。

²⁰其次是萨拜的儿子巴录竭力修造一段，从城墙转弯，直到大祭司以利亚实的府门。

²¹其次是哈哥斯的孙子、乌利亚的儿子米利末修造一段，从以利亚实的府门，直到以利亚实府的尽头。

²²其次是住平原的祭司修造。

²³其次是便雅悯与哈述对着自己的房屋修造。其次是亚难尼的孙子、玛西雅的儿子亚撒利雅在靠近自己的房屋修造。

²⁴其次是希拿达的儿子宾内修造一段，从亚撒利雅的房屋直到城墙转弯，又到城角。

²⁵乌赛的儿子巴拉修造对着城墙的转弯和王上宫凸出来的城楼，靠近护卫院的那一段。其次是巴录的儿子毗大雅修造。

²⁶（尼提宁住在俄斐勒，直到朝东水门的对面和凸出来的城楼。）

²⁷其次是提哥亚人又修一段，对着那凸出来的大楼，直到俄斐勒的墙。

²⁸从马门往上，众祭司各对自己的房屋修造。

²⁹其次是音麦的儿子撒督对着自己的房屋修造。其次是守东门、示迦尼的儿子示玛雅修造。

³⁰其次是示利米雅的儿子哈拿尼雅和萨拉的第六子哈嫩又修一段。其次是比利迦的儿子米书兰对着自己的房屋修造。

³¹其次是银匠玛基雅修造到尼提宁和商人的房屋，对着哈米弗甲门，直到城的角楼。

³²银匠与商人在城的角楼和羊门中间修造。

4 参巴拉听见我们修造城墙就发怒，大大恼恨，嗤笑犹大人，

²对他弟兄和撒玛利亚的军兵说：这些软弱的犹大人做甚麽呢？要保护自己麽？要献祭麽？要一日成功麽？要从土堆里拿出火烧的石头再立墙麽？

³亚扪人多比雅站在旁边，说：他们所修造的石墙，就是狐狸上去也必 ? 倒。

⁴我们的神啊，求你垂听，因为我们被藐视。求你使他们的毁谤归於他们的头上，使他们在掳到之地作为掠物。

⁵不要遮掩他们的罪孽，不要使他们的罪恶从你面前涂抹，因为他们在修造的人眼前惹动你的怒气。

⁶这样，我们修造城墙，城墙就都连络，高至一半，因为百姓专心做工。

⁷参巴拉、多比雅、亚拉伯人、亚扪人、亚实突人听见修造耶路撒冷城墙，着手进行堵塞破裂的地方，就甚发怒。

⁸大家同谋要来攻击耶路撒冷，使城内扰乱。

⁹然而，我们祷告我们的神，又因他们的缘故，就派人看守，昼夜防备。

¹⁰犹大人说：灰土尚多，扛抬的人力气已经衰败，所以我们不能建造城墙。

¹¹我们的敌人且说：趁他们不知不见，我们进入他们中间，杀他们，使工作止住。

¹²那靠近敌人居住的犹大人十次从各处来见我们，说：你们必要回到我们那里。

¹³所以我使百姓各按宗族拿刀、拿枪、拿弓站在城墙後边低洼的空处。

¹⁴我察看了，就起来对贵胄、官长，和其馀的人说：不要怕他们！当记念主是大而可畏的。你们要为弟兄、儿女、妻子、家产争战。

¹⁵仇敌听见我们知道他们的心意，见神也破坏他们的计谋，就不来了。我们都回到城墙那里，各做各的工。

¹⁶从那日起，我的仆人一半做工，一半拿枪、拿盾牌、拿弓、穿（或译：拿）铠甲，官长都站在犹大众人的後边。

¹⁷修造城墙的，扛抬材料的，都一手做工一手拿兵器。

¹⁸修造的人都腰间佩刀修造，吹角的人在我旁边。

¹⁹我对贵胄、官长，和其馀的人说：这工程浩大，我们在城墙上相离甚远；

²⁰你们听见角声在哪里，就聚集到我们那里去。我们的神必为我们争战。

²¹於是，我们做工，一半拿兵器，从天亮直到星宿出现的时候。

²²那时，我又对百姓说：各人和他的仆人当在耶路撒冷住宿，好在夜间保守我们，白昼做工。

²³这样，我和弟兄仆人，并跟从我的护兵都不脱衣服，出去打水也带兵器。

5 百姓和他们的妻大大呼号，埋怨他们的弟兄犹大人。

²有的说：我们和儿女人口众多，要去得粮食度命；

³有的说：我们典了田地、葡萄园、房屋，要得粮食充饥；

⁴有的说：我们已经指着田地、葡萄园，借了钱给王纳税。

⁵我们的身体与我们弟兄的身体一样；我们的儿女与他们的儿女一般。现在我们将要使儿女作人的仆婢，我们的女儿已有为婢的；我们并无力拯救，因为我们的田地、葡萄园已经归了别人。

⁶我听见他们呼号说这些话，便甚发怒。

⁷我心里筹划，就斥责贵胄和官长说：你们各人向弟兄取利！於是我招聚大会攻击他们。

⁸我对他们说：我们尽力赎回我们弟兄，就是卖与外邦的犹大人；你们还要卖弟兄，使我们赎回来麽？他们就静默不语，无话可答。

⁹我又说：你们所行的不善！你们行事不当敬畏我们的神麽？不然，难免我们的仇敌外邦人毁谤我们。

¹⁰我和我的弟兄与仆人也将银钱粮食借给百姓；我们大家都当免去利息。

¹¹如今我劝你们将他们的田地、葡萄园、橄榄园、房屋，并向他们所取的银钱、粮食、新酒，和油，百分之一的利息都归还他们。

¹²众人说：我们必归还，不再向他们索要，必照你的话行。我就召了祭司来，叫众人起誓，必照着所应许的而行。

¹³我也抖着胸前的衣襟，说：凡不成就这应许的，愿神照样抖他离开家产和他劳碌得来的，直到抖空了。会众都说：阿们！又赞美耶和华。百姓就照着所应许的去行。

¹⁴自从我奉派作犹大地的省长，就是从亚达薛西王二十年直到三十二年，共十二年之久，我与我弟兄都没有吃省长的俸禄。

¹⁵在我以前的省长加重百姓的担子，每日索要粮食和酒，并银子四十舍客勒，就是他们的仆人也辖制百姓；但我因敬畏神不这样行。

¹⁶并且我恒心修造城墙，并没有置买田地；我的仆人也都聚集在那里做工。

¹⁷除了从四围外邦中来的犹大人以外，有犹大平民和官长一百五十人在我席上吃饭。

¹⁸每日预备一只公牛，六只肥羊，又预备些飞禽；每十日一次，多预备各样的酒。虽然如此，我并不要省长的俸禄，因为百姓服役甚重。

¹⁹我的神啊，求你记念我为这百姓所行的一切事，施恩与我。

6 参巴拉、多比雅、亚拉伯人基善和我们其馀的仇敌听见我已经修完了城墙，其中没有破裂之处（那时我还没有安门扇），

²参巴拉和基善就打发人来见我，说：请你来，我们在阿挪平原的一个村庄相会。他们却想害我。

³於是我差遣人去见他们，说：我现在办理大工，不能下去。焉能停工下去见你们呢？

⁴他们这样四次打发人来见我，我都如此回答他们。

⁵参巴拉第五次打发仆人来见我，手里拿着未封的信，

⁶信上写着说：外邦人中有风声，迦施慕（就是基善，见二章十九节）也说，你和犹大人谋反，修造城墙，你要作他们的王；

⁷你又派先知在耶路撒冷指着你宣讲，说在犹大有王。现在这话必传与王知；所以请你来，与我们彼此商议。

⁸我就差遣人去见他，说：你所说的这事，一概没有，是你心里捏造的。

⁹他们都要使我们惧怕，意思说，他们的手必软弱，以致工作不能成就。神啊，求你坚固我的手。

¹⁰我到了米希大别的孙子、第来雅的儿子示玛雅家里；那时，他闭门不出。他说：我们不如在神的殿里会面，将殿门关锁；因为他们要来杀你，就是夜里来杀你。

¹¹我说：像我这样的人岂要逃跑呢？像我这样的人岂能进入殿里保全生命呢？我不进去！

¹²我看明神没有差遣他，是他自己说这话攻击我，是多比雅和参巴拉贿买了他。

¹³贿买他的缘故，是要叫我惧怕，依从他犯罪，他们好传扬恶言毁谤我。

¹⁴我的神啊，多比雅、参巴拉、女先知挪亚底，和其馀的先知要叫我惧怕，求你记念他们所行的这些事。

¹⁵以禄月二十五日，城墙修完了，共修了五十二天。

¹⁶我们一切仇敌、四围的外邦人听见了便惧怕，愁眉不展；因为见这工作完成是出乎我们的神。

¹⁷在那些日子，犹大的贵胄屡次寄信与多比雅，多比雅也来信与他们。

¹⁸在犹大有许多人与多比雅结盟；因他是亚拉的儿子，示迦尼的女婿，并且他的儿子约哈难娶了比利迦儿子米书兰的女儿为妻。

¹⁹他们常在我面前说多比雅的善行，也将我的话传与他。多比雅又常寄信来，要叫我惧怕。

7 城墙修完，我安了门扇，守门的、歌唱的，和利未人都已派定。

²我就派我的弟兄哈拿尼和营楼的宰官哈拿尼雅管理耶路撒冷；因为哈拿尼雅是忠信的，又敬畏神过於众人。

³我吩咐他们说：等到太阳上升才可开耶路撒冷的城门；人尚看守的时候就要关门上闩；也当派耶路撒冷的居民各按班次看守自己房屋对面之处。

⁴城是广大，其中的民却稀少，房屋还没有建造。

⁵我的神感动我心，招聚贵胄、官长，和百姓，要照家谱计算。我找着第一次上来之人的家谱，其上写着：

⁶巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒从前掳去犹大省的人，现在他们的子孙从被掳到之地回耶路撒冷和犹大，各归本城。

⁷他们是同着所罗巴伯、耶书亚、尼希米、亚撒利雅、拉米、拿哈玛尼、末底改、必珊、米斯毗列、比革瓦伊、尼宏、巴拿回来的。

⁸以色列人民的数目记在下面：巴录的子孙二千一百七十二名；

⁹示法提雅的子孙三百七十二名；

¹⁰亚拉的子孙六百五十二名；

¹¹巴哈摩押的後裔，就是耶书亚和约押的子孙二千八百一十八名；

¹²以拦的子孙一千二百五十四名；

¹³萨土的子孙八百四十五名；

¹⁴萨改的子孙七百六十名；

¹⁵宾内的子孙六百四十八名；

¹⁶比拜的子孙六百二十八名；

¹⁷押甲的子孙二千三百二十二名；

¹⁸亚多尼干的子孙六百六十七名；

¹⁹比革瓦伊的子孙二千零六十七名；

²⁰亚丁的子孙六百五十五名；

²¹亚特的後裔，就是希西家的子孙九十八名；

²²哈顺的子孙三百二十八名；

²³比赛的子孙三百二十四名；

²⁴哈拉的子孙一百一十二名；

²⁵基遍人九十五名；

²⁶伯利恒人和尼陀法人共一百八十八名；

²⁷亚拿突人一百二十八名；

²⁸伯亚斯玛弗人四十二名；

²⁹基列耶琳人、基非拉人、比录人共七百四十三名；

³⁰拉玛人和迦巴人共六百二十一名；

³¹默玛人一百二十二名；

³²伯特利人和艾人共一百二十三名；

³³别的尼波人五十二名；

³⁴别的以拦子孙一千二百五十四名；

³⁵哈琳的子孙三百二十名；

³⁶耶利哥人三百四十五名；

³⁷罗德人、哈第人、阿挪人共七百二十一名；

³⁸西拿人三千九百三十名。

³⁹祭司：耶书亚家，耶大雅的子孙九百七十三名；

⁴⁰音麦的子孙一千零五十二名；

⁴¹巴施户珥的子孙一千二百四十七名；

⁴²哈琳的子孙一千零一十七名。

⁴³利未人：何达威的後裔，就是耶书亚和甲篾的子孙七十四名。

⁴⁴歌唱的：亚萨的子孙一百四十八名。

⁴⁵守门的：沙龙的子孙、亚特的子孙、达们的子孙、亚谷的子孙、哈底大的子孙、朔拜的子孙，共一百三十八名。

⁴⁶尼提宁（就是殿役）：西哈的子孙、哈苏巴的子孙、答巴俄的子孙、

⁴⁷基绿的子孙、西亚的子孙、巴顿的子孙、

⁴⁸利巴拿的子孙、哈迦巴的子孙、萨买的子孙、

⁴⁹哈难的子孙、吉德的子孙、迦哈的子孙、

⁵⁰利亚雅的子孙、利汛的子孙、尼哥大的子孙、

⁵¹迦散的子孙、乌撒的子孙、巴西亚的子孙、

⁵²比赛的子孙、米乌宁的子孙、尼普心的子孙、

⁵³巴卜的子孙、哈古巴的子孙、哈忽的子孙、

⁵⁴巴洗律的子孙、米希大的子孙、哈沙的子孙、

⁵⁵巴柯的子孙、西西拉的子孙、答玛的子孙、

⁵⁶尼细亚的子孙、哈提法的子孙。

⁵⁷所罗门仆人的後裔，就是琐太的子孙、琐斐列的子孙、比路大的子孙、

⁵⁸雅拉的子孙、达昆的子孙、吉德的子孙、

⁵⁹示法提雅的子孙、哈替的子孙、玻黑列哈斯巴音的子孙、亚们的子孙。

⁶⁰尼提宁和所罗门仆人的後裔共三百九十二名。

⁶¹从特米拉、特哈萨、基绿、亚顿、音麦上来的，不能指明他们的宗族谱系是以色列人不是；

⁶²他们是第莱雅的子孙、多比雅的子孙、尼哥大的子孙，共六百四十二名。

⁶³祭司中，哈巴雅的子孙、哈哥斯的子孙、巴西莱的子孙；因为他们的先祖娶了基列人巴西莱的女儿为妻，所以起名叫巴西莱。

⁶⁴这三家的人在族谱之中寻查自己的谱系，却寻不着，因此算为不洁，不准供祭司的职任。

⁶⁵省长对他们说：不可吃至圣的物，直到有用乌陵和土明决疑的祭司兴起来。

⁶⁶会众共有四万二千三百六十名。

⁶⁷此外，还有他们的仆婢七千三百三十七名，又有歌唱的男女二百四十五名。

⁶⁸他们有马七百三十六匹，骡子二百四十五匹，

⁶⁹骆驼四百三十五只，驴六千七百二十匹。

⁷⁰有些族长为工程捐助。省长捐入库中的金子一千达利克，碗五十个，祭司的礼服五百三十件。

⁷¹又有族长捐入工程库的金子二万达利克，银子二千二百弥拿。

⁷²其馀百姓所捐的金子二万达利克，银子二千弥拿，祭司的礼服六十七件。

⁷³於是祭司、利未人、守门的、歌唱的、民中的一些人、尼提宁，并以色列众人，各住在自己的城里。

8 到了七月，以色列人住在自己的城里。那时，他们如同一人聚集在水门前的宽阔处，请文士以斯拉将耶和华藉摩西传给以色列人的律法书带来。

²七月初一日，祭司以斯拉将律法书带到听了能明白的男女会众面前。

³在水门前的宽阔处，从清早到晌午，在众男女、一切听了能明白的人面前读这律法书。众民侧耳而听。

⁴文士以斯拉站在为这事特备的木 ? 上。玛他提雅、示玛、亚奈雅、乌利亚、希勒家，和玛西雅站在他的右边；毗大雅、米沙利、玛基雅、哈顺、哈拔大拿、撒迦利亚，和米书兰站在他的左边。

⁵以斯拉站在众民以上，在众民眼前展开这书。他一展开，众民就都站起来。

⁶以斯拉称颂耶和华至大的神；众民都举手应声说：阿们！阿们！就低头，面伏於地，敬拜耶和华。

⁷耶书亚、巴尼、示利比、雅悯、亚谷、沙比太、荷第雅、玛西雅、基利他、亚撒利雅、约撒拔、哈难、毗莱雅，和利未人使百姓明白律法；百姓都站在自己的地方。

⁸他们清清楚楚地念神的律法书，讲明意思，使百姓明白所念的。

⁹省长尼希米和作祭司的文士以斯拉，并教训百姓的利未人，对众民说：今日是耶和华 ─ 你们神的圣日，不要悲哀哭泣。这是因为众民听见律法书上的话都哭了；

¹⁰又对他们说：你们去吃肥美的，喝甘甜的，有不能预备的就分给他，因为今日是我们主的圣日。你们不要忧愁，因靠耶和华而得的喜乐是你们的力量。

¹¹於是利未人使众民静默，说：今日是圣日；不要作声，也不要忧愁。

¹²众民都去吃喝，也分给人，大大快乐，因为他们明白所教训他们的话。

¹³次日，众民的族长、祭司，和利未人都聚集到文士以斯拉那里，要留心听律法上的话。

¹⁴他们见律法上写着，耶和华藉摩西吩咐以色列人要在七月节住棚，

¹⁵并要在各城和耶路撒冷宣传报告说：你们当上山，将橄榄树、野橄榄树、番石榴树、棕树，和各样茂密树的枝子取来，照着所写的搭棚。

¹⁶於是百姓出去，取了树枝来，各人在自己的房顶上，或院内，或神殿的院内，或水门的宽阔处，或以法莲门的宽阔处搭棚。

¹⁷从掳到之地归回的全会众就搭棚，住在棚里。从嫩的儿子约书亚的时候直到这日，以色列人没有这样行。於是众人大大喜乐。

¹⁸从头一天直到末一天，以斯拉每日念神的律法书。众人守节七日，第八日照例有严肃会。

9 这月二十四日，以色列人聚集禁食，身穿麻衣，头蒙灰尘。

²以色列人（人：原文是种类）就与一切外邦人离绝，站着承认自己的罪恶和列祖的罪孽。

³那日的四分之一站在自己的地方念耶和华 ─ 他们神的律法书，又四分之一认罪，敬拜耶和华 ─ 他们的神。

⁴耶书亚、巴尼、甲篾、示巴尼、布尼、示利比、巴尼、基拿尼站在利未人的 ? 上，大声哀求耶和华 ─ 他们的神。

⁵利未人耶书亚、甲篾、巴尼、哈沙尼、示利比、荷第雅、示巴尼、毗他希雅说：你们要站起来称颂耶和华 ─ 你们的神，永世无尽。耶和华啊，你荣耀之名是应当称颂的！超乎一切称颂和赞美。

⁶你，惟独你是耶和华！你造了天和天上的天，并天上的万象，地和地上的万物，海和海中所有的；这一切都是你所保存的。天军也都敬拜你。

⁷你是耶和华神，曾拣选亚伯兰，领他出迦勒底的吾珥，给他改名叫亚伯拉罕。

⁸你见他在你面前心里诚实，就与他立约，应许把迦南人、赫人、亚摩利人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、革迦撒人之地赐给他的後裔，且应验了你的话，因为你是公义的。

⁹你曾看见我们列祖在埃及所受的困苦，垂听他们在红海边的哀求，

¹⁰就施行神迹奇事在法老和他一切臣仆，并他国中的众民身上。你也得了名声，正如今日一样，因为你知道他们向我们列祖行事狂傲。

¹¹你又在我们列祖面前把海分开，使他们在海中行走乾地，将追赶他们的人抛在深海，如石头抛在大水中；

¹²并且白昼用云柱引导他们，黑夜用火柱照亮他们当行的路。

¹³你也降临在西乃山，从天上与他们说话，赐给他们正直的典章、真实的律法、美好的条例与诫命，

¹⁴又使他们知道你的安息圣日，并藉你仆人摩西传给他们诫命、条例、律法。

¹⁵从天上赐下粮食充他们的饥，从磐石使水流出解他们的渴，又吩咐他们进去得你起誓应许赐给他们的地。

¹⁶但我们的列祖行事狂傲，硬着颈项不听从你的诫命；

¹⁷不肯顺从，也不记念你在他们中间所行的奇事，竟硬着颈项，居心背逆，自立首领，要回他们为奴之地。但你是乐意饶恕人，有恩典，有怜悯，不轻易发怒，有丰盛慈爱的神，并不丢弃他们。

¹⁸他们虽然铸了一只牛犊，彼此说这是领你出埃及的神，因而大大惹动你的怒气；

¹⁹你还是大施怜悯，在旷野不丢弃他们。白昼，云柱不离开他们，仍引导他们行路；黑夜，火柱也不离开他们，仍照亮他们当行的路。

²⁰你也赐下你良善的灵教训他们；未尝不赐吗哪使他们糊口，并赐水解他们的渴。

²¹在旷野四十年，你养育他们，他们就一无所缺：衣服没有穿破，脚也没有肿。

²²并且你将列国之地照分赐给他们，他们就得了西宏之地、希实本王之地，和巴珊王噩之地。

²³你也使他们的子孙多如天上的星，带他们到你所应许他们列祖进入得为业之地。

²⁴这样，他们进去得了那地，你在他们面前制伏那地的居民，就是迦南人；将迦南人和其君王，并那地的居民，都交在他们手里，让他们任意而待。

²⁵他们得了坚固的城邑、肥美的地土、充满各样美物的房屋、凿成的水井、葡萄园、橄榄园，并许多果木树。他们就吃而得饱，身体肥胖，因你的大恩，心中快乐。

²⁶然而，他们不顺从，竟背叛你，将你的律法丢在背後，杀害那劝他们归向你的众先知，大大惹动你的怒气。

²⁷所以你将他们交在敌人的手中，磨难他们。他们遭难的时候哀求你，你就从天上垂听，照你的大怜悯赐给他们拯救者，救他们脱离敌人的手。

²⁸但他们得平安之後，又在你面前行恶，所以你丢弃他们在仇敌的手中，使仇敌辖制他们。然而他们转回哀求你，你仍从天上垂听，屡次照你的怜悯拯救他们，

²⁹又警戒他们，要使他们归服你的律法。他们却行事狂傲，不听从你的诫命，干犯你的典章（人若遵行就必因此活着），扭转肩头，硬着颈项，不肯听从。

³⁰但你多年宽容他们，又用你的灵藉众先知劝戒他们，他们仍不听从，所以你将他们交在列国之民的手中。

³¹然而你大发怜悯，不全然灭绝他们，也不丢弃他们；因为你是有恩典、有怜悯的神。

³²我们的神啊，你是至大、至能、至可畏、守约施慈爱的神。我们的君王、首领、祭司、先知、列祖，和你的众民，从亚述列王的时候直到今日所遭遇的苦难，现在求你不要以为小。

³³在一切临到我们的事上，你却是公义的；因你所行的是诚实，我们所做的是邪恶。

³⁴我们的君王、首领、祭司、列祖都不遵守你的律法，不听从你的诫命和你警戒他们的话。

³⁵他们在本国里沾你大恩的时候，在你所赐给他们这广大肥美之地上不事奉你，也不转离他们的恶行。

³⁶我们现今作了奴仆；至於你所赐给我们列祖享受其上的土产，并美物之地，看哪，我们在这地上作了奴仆！

³⁷这地许多出产归了列王，就是你因我们的罪所派辖制我们的。他们任意辖制我们的身体和牲畜，我们遭了大难。

³⁸因这一切的事，我们立确实的约，写在册上。我们的首领、利未人，和祭司都签了名。

10 签名的是：哈迦利亚的儿子 ─ 省长尼希米，和西底家；

²祭司：西莱雅、亚撒利雅、耶利米、

³巴施户珥、亚玛利雅、玛基雅、

⁴哈突、示巴尼、玛鹿、

⁵哈琳、米利末、俄巴底亚、

⁶但以理、近顿、巴录、

⁷米书兰、亚比雅、米雅民、

⁸玛西亚、璧该、示玛雅；

⁹又有利未人，就是亚散尼的儿子耶书亚、希拿达的子孙宾内、甲篾；

¹⁰还有他们的弟兄示巴尼、荷第雅、基利他、毗莱雅、哈难、

¹¹米迦、利合、哈沙比雅、

¹²撒刻、示利比、示巴尼、

¹³荷第雅、巴尼、比尼努；

¹⁴又有民的首领，就是巴录、巴哈摩押、以拦、萨土、巴尼、

¹⁵布尼、押甲、比拜、

¹⁶亚多尼雅、比革瓦伊、亚丁、

¹⁷亚特、希西家、押朔、

¹⁸荷第雅、哈顺、比赛、

¹⁹哈拉、亚拿突、尼拜、

²⁰抹比押、米书兰、希悉、

²¹米示萨别、撒督、押杜亚、

²²毗拉提、哈难、亚奈雅、

²³何细亚、哈拿尼雅、哈述、

²⁴哈罗黑、毗利哈、朔百、

²⁵利宏、哈沙拿、玛西雅、

²⁶亚希雅、哈难、亚难、

²⁷玛鹿、哈琳、巴拿。

²⁸其馀的民、祭司、利未人、守门的、歌唱的、尼提宁，和一切离绝邻邦居民归服神律法的，并他们的妻子、儿女，凡有知识能明白的，

²⁹都随从他们贵胄的弟兄，发咒起誓，必遵行神藉他仆人摩西所传的律法，谨守遵行耶和华 ─ 我们主的一切诫命、典章、律例；

³⁰并不将我们的女儿嫁给这地的居民，也不为我们的儿子娶他们的女儿。

³¹这地的居民若在安息日，或甚麽圣日，带了货物或粮食来卖给我们，我们必不买。每逢第七年必不耕种，凡欠我们债的必不追讨。

³²我们又为自己定例，每年各人捐银一舍客勒三分之一，为我们神殿的使用，

³³就是为陈设饼、常献的素祭，和燔祭，安息日、月朔、节期所献的与圣物，并以色列人的赎罪祭，以及我们神殿里一切的费用。

³⁴我们的祭司、利未人，和百姓都掣签，看每年是哪一族按定期将献祭的柴奉到我们神的殿里，照着律法上所写的，烧在耶和华 ─ 我们神的坛上。

³⁵又定每年将我们地上初熟的土产和各样树上初熟的果子都奉到耶和华的殿里。

³⁶又照律法上所写的，将我们头胎的儿子和首生的牛羊都奉到我们神的殿，交给我们神殿里供职的祭司；

³⁷并将初熟之麦子所磨的面和举祭、各样树上初熟的果子、新酒与油奉给祭司，收在我们神殿的库房里，把我们地上所产的十分之一奉给利未人，因利未人在我们一切城邑的土产中当取十分之一。

³⁸利未人取十分之一的时候，亚伦的子孙中，当有一个祭司与利未人同在。利未人也当从十分之一中取十分之一，奉到我们神殿的屋子里，收在库房中。

³⁹以色列人和利未人要将五谷、新酒，和油为举祭，奉到收存圣所器皿的屋子里，就是供职的祭司、守门的、歌唱的所住的屋子。这样，我们就不离弃我们神的殿。

11 百姓的首领住在耶路撒冷。其馀的百姓掣签，每十人中使一人来住在圣城耶路撒冷，那九人住在别的城邑。

²凡甘心乐意住在耶路撒冷的，百姓都为他们祝福。

³以色列人、祭司、利未人、尼提宁，和所罗门仆人的後裔都住在犹大城邑，各在自己的地业中。本省的首领住在耶路撒冷的记在下面：

⁴其中有些犹大人和便雅悯人。犹大人中有法勒斯的子孙、乌西雅的儿子亚他雅。乌西雅是撒迦利雅的儿子；撒迦利雅是亚玛利雅的儿子；亚玛利雅是示法提雅的儿子；示法提雅是玛勒列的儿子。

⁵又有巴录的儿子玛西雅。巴录是谷何西的儿子；谷何西是哈赛雅的儿子；哈赛雅是亚大雅的儿子；亚大雅是约雅立的儿子；约雅立是撒迦利雅的儿子；撒迦利雅是示罗尼的儿子。

⁶住在耶路撒冷、法勒斯的子孙共四百六十八名，都是勇士。

⁷便雅悯人中有米书兰的儿子撒路。米书兰是约叶的儿子；约叶是毗大雅的儿子；毗大雅是哥赖雅的儿子；哥赖雅是玛西雅的儿子；玛西雅是以铁的儿子；以铁是耶筛亚的儿子。

⁸其次有迦拜、撒来的子孙，共九百二十八名。

⁹细基利的儿子约珥是他们的长官。哈西努亚的儿子犹大是耶路撒冷的副官。

¹⁰祭司中有雅斤，又有约雅立的儿子耶大雅；

¹¹还有管理神殿的西莱雅。西莱雅是希勒家的儿子；希勒家是米书兰的儿子；米书兰是撒督的儿子；撒督是米拉约的儿子；米拉约是亚希突的儿子。

¹²还有他们的弟兄在殿里供职的，共八百二十二名；又有耶罗罕的儿子亚大雅。耶罗罕是毗拉利的儿子；毗拉利是暗洗的儿子；暗洗是撒迦利亚的儿子；撒迦利亚是巴施户珥的儿子；巴施户珥是玛基雅的儿子。

¹³还有他的弟兄作族长的，二百四十二名；又有亚萨列的儿子亚玛帅。亚萨列是亚哈赛的儿子；亚哈赛是米实利末的儿子；米实利末是音麦的儿子。

¹⁴还有他们弟兄、大能的勇士共一百二十八名。哈基多琳的儿子撒巴第业是他们的长官。

¹⁵利未人中有哈述的儿子示玛雅。哈述是押利甘的儿子；押利甘是哈沙比雅的儿子；哈沙比雅是布尼的儿子。

¹⁶又有利未人的族长沙比太和约撒拔管理神殿的外事。

¹⁷祈祷的时候，为称谢领首的是米迦的儿子玛他尼。米迦是撒底的儿子；撒底是亚萨的儿子；又有玛他尼弟兄中的八布迦为副。还有沙母亚的儿子押大。沙母亚是加拉的儿子；加拉是耶杜顿的儿子。

¹⁸在圣城的利未人共二百八十四名。

¹⁹守门的是亚谷和达们，并守门的弟兄，共一百七十二名。

²⁰其馀的以色列人、祭司、利未人都住在犹大的一切城邑，各在自己的地业中。

²¹尼提宁却住在俄斐勒；西哈和基斯帕管理他们。

²²在耶路撒冷、利未人的长官，管理神殿事务的是歌唱者亚萨的子孙、巴尼的儿子乌西。巴尼是哈沙比雅的儿子；哈沙比雅是玛他尼的儿子；玛他尼是米迦的儿子。

²³王为歌唱的出命令，每日供给他们必有一定之粮。

²⁴犹大儿子谢拉的子孙、米示萨别的儿子毗他希雅辅助王办理犹大民的事。

²⁵至於村庄和属村庄的田地，有犹大人住在基列亚巴和属基列亚巴的乡村；底本和属底本的乡村；叶甲薛和属叶甲薛的村庄；

²⁶耶书亚、摩拉大、伯帕列、

²⁷哈萨书亚、别是巴，和属别是巴的乡村；

²⁸洗革拉、米哥拿，和属米哥拿的乡村；

²⁹音临门、琐拉、耶末、

³⁰撒挪亚、亚杜兰，和属这两处的村庄；拉吉和属拉吉的田地；亚西加和属亚西加的乡村。他们所住的地方是从别是巴直到欣嫩谷。

³¹便雅悯人从迦巴起，住在密抹、亚雅、伯特利和属伯特利的乡村。

³²亚拿突、挪伯、亚难雅、

³³夏琐、拉玛、基他音、

³⁴哈叠、洗编、尼八拉、

³⁵罗德、阿挪、匠人之谷。

³⁶利未人中有几班曾住在犹大地归於便雅悯的。

12 同着撒拉铁的儿子所罗巴伯和耶书亚回来的祭司与利未人记在下面：祭司是西莱雅、耶利米、以斯拉、

²亚玛利雅、玛鹿、哈突、

³示迦尼、利宏、米利末、

⁴易多、近顿、亚比雅、

⁵米雅民、玛底雅、璧迦、

⁶示玛雅、约雅立、耶大雅、

⁷撒路、亚木、希勒家、耶大雅。这些人在耶书亚的时候作祭司和他们弟兄的首领。

⁸利未人是耶书亚、宾内、甲篾、示利比、犹大、玛他尼。这玛他尼和他的弟兄管理称谢的事。

⁹他们的弟兄八布迦和乌尼照自己的班次与他们相对。

¹⁰耶书亚生约雅金；约雅金生以利亚实；以利亚实生耶何耶大；

¹¹耶何耶大生约拿单；约拿单生押杜亚。

¹²在约雅金的时候，祭司作族长的西莱雅族（或译：班；本段同）有米拉雅；耶利米族有哈拿尼雅；

¹³以斯拉族有米书兰；亚玛利雅族有约哈难；

¹⁴米利古族有约拿单；示巴尼族有约瑟；

¹⁵哈琳族有押拿；米拉约族有希勒恺；

¹⁶易多族有撒迦利亚；近顿族有米书兰；

¹⁷亚比雅族有细基利；米拿民族某；摩亚底族有毗勒太；

¹⁸璧迦族有沙母亚；示玛雅族有约拿单；

¹⁹约雅立族有玛特乃；耶大雅族有乌西；

²⁰撒来族有加莱；亚木族有希伯；

²¹希勒家族有哈沙比雅；耶大雅族有拿坦业。

²²至於利未人，当以利亚实、耶何耶大、约哈难、押杜亚的时候，他们的族长记在册上。波斯王大利乌在位的时候，作族长的祭司也记在册上。

²³利未人作族长的记在历史上，直到以利亚实的儿子约哈难的时候。

²⁴利未人的族长是哈沙比雅、示利比、甲篾的儿子耶书亚，与他们弟兄的班次相对，照着神人大卫的命令一班一班地赞美称谢。

²⁵玛他尼、八布迦、俄巴底亚、米书兰、达们、亚谷是守门的，就是在库房那里守门。

²⁶这都是在约撒达的孙子、耶书亚的儿子约雅金和省长尼希米，并祭司文士以斯拉的时候，有职任的。

²⁷耶路撒冷城墙告成的时候，众民就把各处的利未人招到耶路撒冷，要称谢、歌唱、敲钹、鼓瑟、弹琴，欢欢喜喜地行告成之礼。

²⁸歌唱的人从耶路撒冷的周围和尼陀法的村庄与伯吉甲，又从迦巴和押玛弗的田地聚集，因为歌唱的人在耶路撒冷四围为自己立了村庄。

²⁹a

³⁰祭司和利未人就洁净自己，也洁净百姓和城门，并城墙。

³¹我带犹大的首领上城，使称谢的人分为两大队，排列而行：第一队在城上往右边向粪厂门行走，

³²在他们後头的有何沙雅与犹大首领的一半，

³³又有亚撒利雅、以斯拉、米书兰、

³⁴犹大、便雅悯、示玛雅、耶利米。

³⁵还有些吹号之祭司的子孙，约拿单的儿子撒迦利亚。约拿单是示玛雅的儿子；示玛雅是玛他尼的儿子；玛他尼是米该亚的儿子；米该亚是撒刻的儿子；撒刻是亚萨的儿子；

³⁶又有撒迦利亚的弟兄示玛雅、亚撒利、米拉莱、基拉莱、玛艾、拿坦业、犹大、哈拿尼，都拿着神人大卫的乐器，文士以斯拉引领他们。

³⁷他们经过泉门往前，从大卫城的 ? 阶随地势而上，在大卫宫殿以上，直行到朝东的水门。

³⁸第二队称谢的人要与那一队相迎而行。我和民的一半跟随他们，在城墙上过了炉楼，直到宽墙；

³⁹又过了以法莲门、古门、鱼门、哈楠业楼、哈米亚楼，直到羊门，就在护卫门站住。

⁴⁰於是，这两队称谢的人连我和官长的一半，站在神的殿里。

⁴¹还有祭司以利亚金、玛西雅、米拿民、米该雅、以利约乃、撒迦利亚、哈楠尼亚吹号；

⁴²又有玛西雅、示玛雅、以利亚撒、乌西、约哈难、玛基雅、以拦，和以谢奏乐。歌唱的就大声歌唱，伊斯拉希雅管理他们。

⁴³那日，众人献大祭而欢乐；因为神使他们大大欢乐，连妇女带孩童也都欢乐，甚至耶路撒冷中的欢声听到远处。

⁴⁴当日，派人管理库房，将举祭、初熟之物和所取的十分之一，就是按各城田地，照律法所定归给祭司和利未人的分，都收在里头。犹大人因祭司和利未人供职，就欢乐了。

⁴⁵祭司利未人遵守神所吩咐的，并守洁净的礼。歌唱的、守门的，照着大卫和他儿子所罗门的命令也如此行。

⁴⁶古时，在大卫和亚萨的日子，有歌唱的伶长，并有赞美称谢神的诗歌。

⁴⁷当所罗巴伯和尼希米的时候，以色列众人将歌唱的、守门的，每日所当得的分供给他们，又给利未人当得的分；利未人又给亚伦的子孙当得的分。

13 当日，人念摩西的律法书给百姓听，遇见书上写着说，亚扪人和摩押人永不可入神的会；

²因为他们没有拿食物和水来迎接以色列人，且雇了巴兰咒诅他们，但我们的神使那咒诅变为祝福。

³以色列民听见这律法，就与一切 ? 杂人绝交

⁴先是蒙派管理我们神殿中库房的祭司以利亚实与多比雅结亲，

⁵便为他预备一间大屋子，就是从前收存素祭、乳香、器皿，和照命令供给利未人、歌唱的、守门的五谷、新酒，和油的十分之一，并归祭司举祭的屋子。

⁶那时我不在耶路撒冷；因为巴比伦王亚达薛西三十二年，我回到王那里。过了多日，我向王告假。

⁷我来到耶路撒冷，就知道以利亚实为多比雅在神殿的院内预备屋子的那件恶事。

⁸我甚恼怒，就把多比雅的一切家具从屋里都抛出去，

⁹吩咐人洁净这屋子，遂将神殿的器皿和素祭、乳香又搬进去。

¹⁰我见利未人所当得的分无人供给他们，甚至供职的利未人与歌唱的俱各奔回自己的田地去了。

¹¹我就斥责官长说：为何离弃神的殿呢？我便招聚利未人，使他们照旧供职。

¹²犹大众人就把五谷、新酒，和油的十分之一送入库房。

¹³我派祭司示利米雅、文士撒督，和利未人毗大雅作库官管理库房；副官是哈难。哈难是撒刻的儿子；撒刻是玛他尼的儿子。这些人都是忠信的，他们的职分是将所供给的分给他们的弟兄。

¹⁴我的神啊，求你因这事记念我，不要涂抹我为神的殿与其中的礼节所行的善。

¹⁵那些日子，我在犹大见有人在安息日 ? 酒（原文是踹酒 ? ），搬运禾捆驮在驴上，又把酒、葡萄、无花果，和各样的担子在安息日担入耶路撒冷，我就在他们卖食物的那日警戒他们。

¹⁶又有推罗人住在耶路撒冷；他们把鱼和各样货物运进来，在安息日卖给犹大人。

¹⁷我就斥责犹大的贵胄说：你们怎麽行这恶事犯了安息日呢？

¹⁸从前你们列祖岂不是这样行，以致我们神使一切灾祸临到我们和这城麽？现在你们还犯安息日，使忿怒越发临到以色列！

¹⁹在安息日的前一日，耶路撒冷城门有黑影的时候，我就吩咐人将门关锁，不过安息日不准开放。我又派我几个仆人管理城门，免得有人在安息日担甚麽担子进城。

²⁰於是商人和贩卖各样货物的，一两次住宿在耶路撒冷城外。

²¹我就警戒他们说：你们为何在城外住宿呢？若再这样，我必下手拿办你们。从此以後，他们在安息日不再来了。

²²我吩咐利未人洁净自己，来守城门，使安息日为圣。我的神啊，求你因这事记念我，照你的大慈爱怜恤我。

²³那些日子，我也见犹大人娶了亚实突、亚扪、摩押的女子为妻。

²⁴他们的儿女说话，一半是亚实突的话，不会说犹大的话，所说的是照着各族的方言。

²⁵我就斥责他们，咒诅他们，打了他们几个人，拔下他们的头发，叫他们指着神起誓，必不将自己的女儿嫁给外邦人的儿子，也不为自己和儿子娶他们的女儿。

²⁶我又说：以色列王所罗门不是在这样的事上犯罪麽？在多国中并没有一王像他，且蒙他神所爱，神立他作以色列全国的王；然而连他也被外邦女子引诱犯罪。

²⁷如此，我岂听你们行这大恶，娶外邦女子干犯我们的神呢？

²⁸大祭司以利亚实的孙子、耶何耶大的一个儿子是和伦人参巴拉的女婿，我就从我这里把他赶出去。

²⁹我的神啊，求你记念他们的罪；因为他们玷污了祭司的职任，违背你与祭司利未人所立的约。

³⁰这样，我洁净他们，使他们离绝一切外邦人，派定祭司和利未人的班次，使他们各尽其职。

³¹我又派百姓按定期献柴和初熟的土产。我的神啊，求你记念我，施恩与我。

尼希米记 1-9

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)

尼希米的祷告

1 以下是哈迦利亚的儿子尼希米的记述。

波斯王亚达薛西二十年基斯流月^[a]，我在书珊城里。 ²从犹大来了我的一个兄弟哈拿尼和一些人，我问他们有关从流亡之地归回的犹太余民和耶路撒冷的情况。 ³他们回答说：“那些从流亡之地归回犹大省的人深陷苦难，饱受凌辱。耶路撒冷的城墙已经倒塌，城门也被烧毁。”

⁴我一听见这消息，就坐下痛哭，悲伤了好几天。我在天上的上帝面前禁食祷告，说：

⁵“天上的上帝耶和华啊，你是伟大而可畏的上帝，你向爱你、守你诫命的人守约，施慈爱。 ⁶仆人在你面前昼夜为你的众仆人以色列民祈祷，求你睁眼察看，侧耳倾听。我承认以色列人向你所犯的罪，以及我和我的家族所犯的罪。 ⁷我们行事败坏，没有遵守你赐给你仆人摩西的诫命、律例和典章。 ⁸求你顾念你对你仆人摩西所说的话，‘如果你们不忠，我必把你们驱散到列邦中。 ⁹但如果你们转向我，谨遵我的诫命，即使你们流落天涯，我也必从那里把你们召集到我选为我名所在之地。’ ¹⁰我们是你的仆人、你的子民，是你用大能大力救赎的。 ¹¹主啊，求你侧耳听你仆人的祷告，垂听那些喜爱敬畏你名的众仆人的祈求，使你仆人今天亨通，在王面前蒙恩。”

我是王的侍酒总管。

尼希米返回耶路撒冷

2 亚达薛西王二十年尼散月^[b]，酒呈到王面前后，我端起酒递给王。在王面前，我一向没有愁容。 ²王问我：“你没有病，为什么面带愁容？一定是心中烦恼。”我非常害怕。 ³我对王说：“愿王万岁！我祖坟所在的城邑已成废墟，城门也被烧毁，我怎能不面带愁容？” ⁴王问我：“你有什么要求？”我向天上的上帝祷告后， ⁵回答说：“如果王认为好，如果仆人在王面前蒙恩，请王派我到犹大，重建我祖坟所在的城邑。” ⁶当时王后坐在王的旁边，王问我：“你要去多久？什么时候回来？”我告诉王一个日期，王欣然批准。 ⁷我又说：“如果王认为好，求王赐我诏书，通知河西省长准我经过前往犹大。 ⁸求王再发一道诏书，通知管理王室园林的亚萨，吩咐他供给我木材，用来做圣殿堡垒的门梁及建造城墙和我住的房子。”王批准了我的请求，因为我的上帝施恩帮助我。

⁹王派将领率骑兵沿途护送我。到了河西省长那里，我把王的诏书交给他们。 ¹⁰和伦人参巴拉和官长亚扪人多比雅听到有人来帮以色列人谋求好处，非常不悦。

尼希米视察耶路撒冷的城墙

¹¹我到了耶路撒冷，在那里住了三天， ¹²然后在夜间起来，带着几个人出去。上帝感动我要为耶路撒冷做的事，我没有告诉任何人。除了我骑的牲口外，我们没有带其他牲口。 ¹³我穿过谷门，朝龙泉的方向走到粪厂门，在那里察看耶路撒冷倒塌的城墙和被烧毁的城门。 ¹⁴我又往前走到泉门和王池，我骑的牲口无法通过那里， ¹⁵我就乘夜沿溪而上，察看城墙，然后转身取道谷门回城。 ¹⁶官员不知道我到过哪里，做过何事，因为我还没有向犹太人、祭司、贵族、官员和其他要参与这工程的人透露我的计划。

¹⁷后来我对他们说：“你们都看到了我们的困境。耶路撒冷已成废墟，城门也被烧毁。来吧，让我们重建耶路撒冷的城墙，免得我们再受凌辱。” ¹⁸然后，我把我的上帝怎样施恩帮助我以及王对我说的话都告诉了他们。他们就说：“我们起来重建城墙吧！”于是他们开始做这善工。 ¹⁹但和伦人参巴拉和官长亚扪人多比雅，以及阿拉伯人基善听说后，就讥笑我们，藐视我们，说：“你们在做什么？想要背叛王吗？” ²⁰我回答他们说：“天上的上帝必使我们亨通，我们身为祂仆人，要起来重建这城墙，但你们在耶路撒冷无份、无权、无业。”

重建耶路撒冷的城墙

3 于是，大祭司以利亚实及其他祭司一起重建羊门，将它献给上帝，又安上门。他们重建城墙，一直建到哈米亚楼和哈楠业楼，并将它献给上帝。

²下一段由耶利哥人修建。

再下一段由音利的儿子撒刻修建。

³哈西拿的子孙修建鱼门，架上横梁，安上门，装上门闩和门锁。

⁴再下一段由哈哥斯的孙子、乌利亚的儿子米利末修筑。

再下一段由米示萨别的孙子、比利迦的儿子米书兰修筑。

再下一段由巴拿的儿子撒督修筑。

⁵再下一段由提哥亚人修筑，但他们的贵族不肯做督工所分派的工作。

⁶巴西亚的儿子耶何耶大和比所玳的儿子米书兰修筑古门，架上横梁，安上门，装上门闩和门锁。

⁷再下一段由基遍人米拉提、米伦人雅顿和其他基遍人，以及河西省省长管辖的米斯巴人修筑。

⁸再下一段由哈海雅的儿子金匠乌薛修筑。

再下一段由制造香料的哈拿尼雅修筑，他们修筑耶路撒冷的城墙，直到宽墙。

⁹再下一段由管理半个耶路撒冷的户珥的儿子利法雅修筑。

¹⁰接下来，哈路抹的儿子耶大雅修筑他房子对面的那一段。

再下一段由哈沙尼的儿子哈突修筑。

¹¹哈琳的儿子玛基雅和巴哈·摩押的儿子哈述修筑另一段城墙，包括炉楼。

¹²再下一段由哈罗黑的儿子、管理另一半耶路撒冷的沙龙和他的女儿们修筑。

¹³哈嫩与撒挪亚的居民修筑谷门，安上门，装上门闩和门锁，之后又修建城墙四百四十五米，直到粪厂门。

¹⁴利甲的儿子、管理伯·哈基琳的玛基雅修筑粪厂门，修好后安上门，装上门闩和门锁。

¹⁵各荷西的儿子、管理米斯巴的沙仑修筑泉门，修好后盖上门顶，安上门，装上门闩和门锁。他还从靠近御花园的西罗亚池的城墙，一直修到大卫城下来的台阶处。

¹⁶再下一段由押卜的儿子、管理半个伯·夙的尼希米修筑，他一直修到大卫墓地对面，远至人工池和勇士堂。

修筑城墙的利未人

¹⁷再下一段由巴尼的儿子利宏带领的利未人修筑。

接下来，管理半个基伊拉的哈沙比雅修筑了自己的辖区。

¹⁸再下一段由他的同族兄弟、管理另一半基伊拉的希拿达的儿子巴瓦伊修筑。

¹⁹再下一段由耶书亚的儿子、管理米斯巴的以谢修筑，他从斜坡对面修到城墙转角的兵器库。

²⁰再下一段由萨拜的儿子巴录修筑，他从城墙转角修到以利亚实大祭司的家门口。

²¹再下一段由哈哥斯的孙子、乌利亚的儿子米利末修筑，他从以利亚实家门口修到以利亚实家的尽头。

修筑城墙的祭司

²²再下一段由住在周围郊区的祭司修筑。

²³接下来，便雅悯与哈述修筑自家对面的那一段。

再接下来，亚南尼的孙子、玛西雅的儿子亚撒利雅修筑自家旁边的那一段。

²⁴再下一段由希拿达的儿子宾内修筑，他从亚撒利雅的房子修到城墙的转角。

^25-26再接下来，乌赛的儿子巴拉修筑了城墙转角的对面和护卫院附近上宫凸出的城楼。

再下一段由巴录的儿子毗大雅与住在俄斐勒的殿役修筑，他们修到东面的水门对面和凸出的城楼那里。

其他修筑的人

²⁷再下一段由提哥亚人修筑，他们从凸出来的大城楼对面修到俄斐勒的城墙。

²⁸接下来，祭司修筑了马门以北的城墙，他们各自修筑自家对面的部分。

²⁹再接下来，音麦的儿子撒督修筑自家对面的那一段。

再下一段由看守东门的、示迦尼的儿子示玛雅修筑。

³⁰再下一段由示利米雅的儿子哈拿尼雅和萨拉的第六个儿子哈嫩修筑。

接下来，比利迦的儿子米书兰修筑自家对面的那一段。

³¹再下一段由金匠玛基雅修筑，他修到哈米弗甲门对面的殿役和商人的房子，直到城的角楼。

³²金匠和商人修筑从城的角楼到羊门的那一段。

尼希米战胜阻力

4 参巴拉听说我们正在重建城墙，非常愤怒，就嘲笑犹太人， ²当着他的同僚和撒玛利亚军兵的面说：“这群弱小的犹太人在做什么呢？要重建城墙吗？要献祭吗？要在一日之间建好吗？要用废墟中烧过的石头来建造吗？”

³他身旁的多比雅说：“他们建的石墙，一只狐狸上去就能踩倒！”

⁴我祷告说：“我们的上帝啊，求你垂听，因为我们正在被人耻笑。求你使他们对我们的凌辱归到他们自己头上，使他们被掳到外邦。 ⁵不要遮掩他们的恶行，也不要从你面前涂抹他们的罪恶，因为他们在这些建造的人面前惹你发怒。”

⁶众人全心做工，把整个城墙连接起来，高达原来的一半。

⁷参巴拉、多比雅、阿拉伯人、亚扪人和亚实突人听说耶路撒冷的城墙正在重建、缺口正在填补，非常愤怒， ⁸便一起图谋袭击耶路撒冷，使城内混乱。 ⁹但我们向我们的上帝祷告，并设立守卫昼夜防备他们。

¹⁰犹大人说：“工人已经筋疲力尽，还有太多瓦砾有待清理，我们自己无法重建城墙。” ¹¹我们的敌人说：“我们要趁他们不知不觉，进入他们中间杀死他们，阻止他们的工作。” ¹²靠近敌人居住的犹太人十次来告诉我们，说敌人会从各方来袭击我们^[c]。 ¹³于是，我按宗族派人手持刀剑、长矛和弓箭守卫在城墙后面低洼的空地上。 ¹⁴我察看形势后，起来对贵族、官员和其他民众说：“不要怕他们！要记住，主伟大而可畏。要为你们的兄弟、儿女、妻子和家园而战。”

¹⁵敌人听说我们知道了他们的阴谋，上帝已破坏他们的诡计，就没有来。我们回到城墙那里，继续各人的工作。 ¹⁶从那时起，我的仆人一半继续修筑城墙，一半身穿盔甲，手持长矛、盾牌和弓箭负责守卫。官长都站在修筑城墙的所有犹大人后面。 ¹⁷搬运工人一手工作，一手拿兵器。 ¹⁸修筑城墙的人工作的时候都腰间配剑。吹号的人在我旁边， ¹⁹我对贵族、官员和其余的民众说：“这工程浩大，范围广阔，我们在城墙上相隔很远， ²⁰因此你们一听见号角声，就要聚到我那里。我们的上帝必为我们争战！”

²¹这样，从黎明直到星星出现，我们的人一半工作，一半手持兵器守卫。 ²²那时，我又吩咐众人各带仆人在耶路撒冷住宿。他们夜间可以帮我们守卫，白天帮我们工作。 ²³我和我的兄弟、仆人及跟从我的守卫都衣不解带，刀不离身^[d]。

尼希米帮助穷苦人

5 那时，民众和他们的妻子都抱怨他们的犹太同胞。 ²有的说：“我们和我们的儿女人口众多，需要粮食来活命。” ³有的说：“因为饥荒的缘故，我们要将田地、葡萄园和房屋作抵押来获取粮食。” ⁴有的说：“我们要借钱才能缴纳王对我们的田地和葡萄园征收的税。 ⁵我们和他们是同胞，我们的孩子就像他们的孩子。但现在我们的儿女要被迫成为仆婢，甚至我们的女儿有些已经沦为奴婢。我们却无能为力，因为我们的田地和葡萄园已经归别人了。”

⁶听到他们的抱怨后，我非常愤怒。 ⁷经过深思熟虑后，我便斥责这些贵族和官员，说：“你们竟然向同胞放高利贷！”于是我召开大会处理他们的问题。 ⁸我对他们说：“我们在尽力赎回那些被卖到外邦的犹太同胞，你们却要卖他们为奴，好让我们再赎回他们吗？”他们都沉默不语，无言以对。 ⁹我继续说：“你们的所作所为实在不对。难道你们不应该敬畏上帝，以免我们的仇敌凌辱我们吗？ ¹⁰我和我的兄弟及仆人都借钱、借粮给民众，现在我们要停止放高利贷。 ¹¹你们今天就要归还他们的田地、葡萄园、橄榄园和房屋，以及你们向他们所收的五谷、新酒和油的利息。”

¹²他们说：“我们会照你的话去做，把东西还给他们，不再向他们索债。”于是，我召来祭司，让这些人起誓遵守自己的诺言。 ¹³我抖着衣服说：“如果你们不守誓言，愿上帝也这样抖掉你们的家园和你们劳碌得来的，使你们一无所有。”全体会众都说：“阿们！”他们赞美耶和华，民众都遵照誓言去行。

尼希米大公无私

¹⁴从亚达薛西王二十年至三十二年，也就是我奉派为犹大省长的十二年间，我和我的弟兄都没有吃省长的俸禄。 ¹⁵在我之前的省长使民众负担沉重，天天索取食物、酒及五百克银子。他们的仆人也欺压民众，但我因敬畏上帝而没有这样做。 ¹⁶我全心修筑城墙，没有购置田产，我的仆人也都参与修建城墙的工作。 ¹⁷除了从周围外邦来到我们这里的人之外，还有一百五十名犹太人和官员与我一同吃饭。 ¹⁸我每天需要预备一头公牛、六只肥羊和飞禽；每十天还要大量供应各样酒品。即使这样，我仍然没有吃省长的俸禄，因为民众已经负担沉重。 ¹⁹我的上帝啊，求你记念我为这些民众所做的一切，施恩于我。

敌人阴谋阻挠重建

6 参巴拉、多比雅、阿拉伯人基善和我们其余的敌人听说我已修完城墙，没有留下任何缺口——那时我还没有为城门安上门扇—— ²参巴拉和基善就派人告诉我说：“来，我们在阿挪平原的一个村庄见面吧。”其实他们想要害我。 ³我派人回复他们说：“我正在做一件大工程，不能下去见你们。我怎能停止工作下去见你们呢？” ⁴他们四次派人来告诉我，每次我都这样拒绝了。 ⁵参巴拉第五次派人送来一封未封口的信， ⁶上面写着：“各国都在谣传，基善也说，你和犹太人计划谋反，因而才修建城墙，据说你要做他们的王。 ⁷你还派先知在耶路撒冷指着你预言说，‘犹大有王了。’如今王必听到这些传闻。所以你还是来与我们一同商议吧。” ⁸我就派人答复他说：“你所说的并非事实，是你心里捏造的。” ⁹因为他们想恐吓我们，以为我们会吓得手发软，无法完成工程。但上帝啊，求你使我的手有力量！

¹⁰我到米希达别的孙子、第来雅的儿子示玛雅的家中，那时他正闭门不出。他对我说：“我们在上帝的殿里会面，要关上殿门，因为他们要来杀你，要在夜间杀你。” ¹¹但我回答说：“像我这样的人岂能逃跑？岂能进入殿里保命？我决不进去。” ¹²我察觉上帝并没有差派他，他是被多比雅和参巴拉收买才说预言攻击我的。 ¹³他们收买他是为了恐吓我，使我依从他去犯罪，好毁坏我的名声、羞辱我。 ¹⁴我的上帝啊，求你按照他们的行为报应多比雅、参巴拉、女先知挪亚底及其他恐吓我的先知。

工程竣工

¹⁵以禄月^[e]二十五日城墙竣工，前后用了五十二天。 ¹⁶我们的敌人和周围各国听说后，都感到惧怕和气馁，因为他们知道这工作是在上帝的帮助下完成的。 ¹⁷在那些日子，多比雅和犹大贵族之间多有书信来往。 ¹⁸在犹大有很多人与多比雅结盟，因为他是亚拉的儿子示迦尼的女婿，他儿子约哈难又娶了比利迦的儿子米书兰的女儿为妻。 ¹⁹他们常告诉我有关多比雅的善行，并把我的话告诉他。多比雅不断写信恐吓我。

7 城墙建完、门扇安好、歌乐手和利未人都已指派妥当后， ²我委任我的兄弟哈拿尼和城堡官员哈拿尼雅治理耶路撒冷，因为哈拿尼雅比众人更忠心、敬畏上帝。 ³我吩咐他们说：“要在太阳升高、天气变热后，才能打开耶路撒冷的城门。守卫还在值勤时要关门上闩。要指派一些耶路撒冷的居民在各自的岗位看守，一些人在自己房屋附近看守。”

流亡归来者名单

⁴这城很大，但人口稀少，房屋尚未重建。 ⁵我的上帝感动我召集贵族、官员和民众，按照他们的家谱进行登记。我找到第一批回归之人的家谱，上面记着：

⁶巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒从前把犹大省的人掳到巴比伦，这些人的子孙回到耶路撒冷和犹大后，各回本城。 ⁷他们是与所罗巴伯、耶书亚、尼希米、亚撒利雅、拉米、拿哈玛尼、末底改、必珊、米斯毗列、比革瓦伊、尼宏和巴拿一同回来的。

⁸以下是回来的以色列人的数目：

巴录的子孙两千一百七十二人； ⁹示法提雅的子孙三百七十二人； ¹⁰亚拉的子孙六百五十二人； ¹¹巴哈·摩押的后裔，即耶书亚和约押的子孙两千八百一十八人； ¹²以拦的子孙一千二百五十四人； ¹³萨土的子孙八百四十五人； ¹⁴萨改的子孙七百六十人； ¹⁵宾内的子孙六百四十八人； ¹⁶比拜的子孙六百二十八人； ¹⁷押甲的子孙两千三百二十二人； ¹⁸亚多尼干的子孙六百六十七人； ¹⁹比革瓦伊的子孙两千零六十七人； ²⁰亚丁的子孙六百五十五人； ²¹亚特的子孙，即希西迦的子孙九十八人； ²²哈顺的子孙三百二十八人； ²³比赛的子孙三百二十四人； ²⁴哈拉的子孙一百一十二人； ²⁵基遍的子孙九十五人。

²⁶伯利恒人和尼陀法人一百八十八名； ²⁷亚拿突人一百二十八名； ²⁸伯·亚斯玛弗人四十二名； ²⁹基列·耶琳人、基非拉人和比录人七百四十三名； ³⁰拉玛人和迦巴人六百二十一名； ³¹默玛人一百二十二名； ³²伯特利人和艾人一百二十三名； ³³另一尼波的子孙五十二人； ³⁴另一以拦的子孙一千二百五十四人； ³⁵哈琳的子孙三百二十人； ³⁶耶利哥人三百四十五名； ³⁷罗德人、哈第人和阿挪人七百二十一名； ³⁸西拿人三千九百三十名。

³⁹祭司有耶大雅家，即耶书亚的子孙九百七十三人； ⁴⁰音麦的子孙一千零五十二人； ⁴¹巴施户珥的子孙一千二百四十七人； ⁴²哈琳的子孙一千零一十七人。

⁴³利未人有何达威的后裔，即耶书亚和甲篾的子孙七十四人。 ⁴⁴负责歌乐的有亚萨的子孙一百四十八人。 ⁴⁵殿门守卫有沙龙的子孙、亚特的子孙、达们的子孙、亚谷的子孙、哈底大的子孙和朔拜的子孙一百三十八人。

⁴⁶殿役有西哈的子孙、哈苏巴的子孙、答巴俄的子孙、 ⁴⁷基绿的子孙、西亚的子孙、巴顿的子孙、 ⁴⁸利巴拿的子孙、哈迦巴的子孙、萨买的子孙、 ⁴⁹哈难的子孙、吉德的子孙、迦哈的子孙、 ⁵⁰利亚雅的子孙、利汛的子孙、尼哥大的子孙、 ⁵¹迦散的子孙、乌撒的子孙、巴西亚的子孙、 ⁵²比赛的子孙、米乌宁的子孙、尼普心的子孙、 ⁵³巴卜的子孙、哈古巴的子孙、哈忽的子孙、 ⁵⁴巴洗律的子孙、米希大的子孙、哈沙的子孙、 ⁵⁵巴柯的子孙、西西拉的子孙、答玛的子孙、 ⁵⁶尼细亚的子孙和哈提法的子孙。

⁵⁷所罗门仆人的后裔有琐太的子孙、琐斐列的子孙、比路大的子孙、 ⁵⁸雅拉的子孙、达昆的子孙、吉德的子孙、 ⁵⁹示法提雅的子孙、哈替的子孙、玻黑列·哈斯巴音的子孙和亚们的子孙。

⁶⁰殿役和所罗门仆人的子孙共三百九十二人。

⁶¹从特·米拉、特·哈萨、基绿、押但和音麦上来的人不能证明自己是以色列的后代。 ⁶²他们是第来雅的子孙、多比雅的子孙和尼哥大的子孙，共六百四十二人。

^63-64祭司中哈巴雅的子孙、哈哥斯的子孙和巴西莱的子孙在谱系中找不到自己的家谱，因此他们算为不洁净，不能做祭司。巴西莱子孙的祖先娶了基列人巴西莱的女儿为妻，因此得了这名字。 ⁶⁵省长吩咐他们不可吃至圣之物，直到使用乌陵和土明的祭司出现。

⁶⁶回到犹大的人共四万二千三百六十人。 ⁶⁷此外，他们还有七千三百三十七名男女仆婢，二百四十五名男女歌乐手， ⁶⁸七百三十六匹马，二百四十五匹骡子， ⁶⁹四百三十五头骆驼和六千七百二十头驴。

⁷⁰有些族长为工程捐出财物。省长捐出八点五公斤金子、五十个碗和五百三十件祭司礼服。 ⁷¹族长捐出一百七十公斤金子和一千二百公斤银子。 ⁷²民众捐出一百七十公斤金子、一千一百公斤银子和六十七件祭司礼服。

⁷³于是，祭司、利未人、殿门守卫、歌乐手、一些民众、殿役和全体以色列人都住在自己的城里。到了七月，以色列人都住在各自的城里。

以斯拉宣读律法书

8 全体民众万众一心，聚集在水门前的广场上。他们请律法教师以斯拉带来耶和华借摩西颁给以色列人的律法书。 ²七月一日，以斯拉祭司把律法书带到能听懂的男女会众面前， ³面向水门前的广场，从清早到正午一直向他们宣读律法书，人们都侧耳倾听。 ⁴律法教师以斯拉站在为这聚会预备的木台上，站在他右边的是玛他提雅、示玛、亚奈雅、乌利亚、希勒迦和玛西雅；站在他左边的是毗大雅、米沙利、玛基雅、哈顺、哈拔大拿、撒迦利亚和米书兰。 ⁵以斯拉站在高处，他在全体会众面前一打开书卷，他们都站了起来。 ⁶以斯拉称颂伟大的上帝耶和华，全体民众都举手应声说：“阿们！阿们！”他们又面伏于地，俯伏敬拜耶和华。 ⁷耶书亚、巴尼、示利比、雅悯、亚谷、沙比太、荷第雅、玛西雅、基利他、亚撒利雅、约撒拔、哈难、毗莱雅和利未人帮助民众明白律法，当时民众都站在自己的地方。 ⁸他们宣读上帝的律法书，并解释清楚，使民众明白所宣读的。

⁹全体民众听到律法书上的话都哭了。尼希米省长、律法教师以斯拉祭司和教导民众的利未人对他们说：“今天是你们上帝耶和华的圣日，不要悲哀、哭泣。” ¹⁰尼希米又说：“你们去吃肥美的肉，喝甘甜的酒，并分些给一无所有的人，因为今天是我们主的圣日。不要悲伤，因为从耶和华而来的喜乐就是你们的力量。” ¹¹利未人使全体民众安静，说：“请安静，因为今天是圣日。不要悲伤。” ¹²于是，全体民众去吃喝，并分给他人，非常欢喜，因为他们明白了教导给他们的话。

守住棚节

¹³第二天，全体民众的族长、祭司和利未人都到律法教师以斯拉那里，要深入研究律法上的话。 ¹⁴当时，他们发现耶和华借摩西吩咐的律法上记载，以色列人要在七月节期期间住在棚子里， ¹⁵并且要在他们的各城邑和耶路撒冷宣布：“你们要上山取橄榄树、野橄榄树、番石榴树、棕榈树和其他茂密树木的枝子，照着所规定的搭棚。” ¹⁶于是，民众都出去取来树枝，在自家的屋顶上、庭院里、上帝殿的院子里、水门的广场上和以法莲门的广场上搭棚。 ¹⁷从流亡之地归回的民众都搭起棚子，住在里面。从嫩的儿子约书亚时代直到那天，以色列人从没有这样做过。民众非常欢喜。 ¹⁸从第一天到最后一天，以斯拉每天都诵读上帝的律法书。他们守节期七天，第八天根据典章举行庄严的聚会。

以色列人认罪祷告

9 这月二十四日，以色列人聚集禁食。他们身披麻衣，头撒尘土。 ²以色列人与其他外族人隔离，站着承认自己的罪恶和祖先的过犯。 ³他们站在自己的地方，宣读他们上帝耶和华的律法书，长达三个小时^[f]。他们又用了三个小时认罪，敬拜他们的上帝耶和华。 ⁴利未人耶书亚、巴尼、甲篾、示巴尼、布尼、示利比、巴尼和基拿尼站在台上，大声呼求他们的上帝耶和华。 ⁵利未人耶书亚、甲篾、巴尼、哈沙尼、示利比、荷第雅、示巴尼和毗他希雅说：“起来称颂你们的上帝耶和华，直到永永远远。耶和华啊，你荣耀的圣名当受称颂！愿你的名被尊崇，超过一切称颂和赞美！

⁶“你，唯有你是耶和华！你造了天、天上的天和天上的万象、地和地上的一切、海和海中的一切，你赐给他们生命。众天军都敬拜你。 ⁷你是耶和华上帝，你拣选了亚伯兰，带他离开迦勒底的吾珥，又给他改名为亚伯拉罕。 ⁸你知道他对你忠心，就与他立约，把迦南人、赫人、亚摩利人、比利洗人、耶布斯人及革迦撒人的土地赐给他的后代。你实现了你的应许，因为你是公义的。

⁹“你看见我们祖先在埃及所受的苦，又听见他们在红海边的呼求， ¹⁰就行神迹奇事对付法老及其所有的臣仆和国民，因为你知道他们对以色列人行事狂傲。你使自己威名远扬直到今日。 ¹¹你在我们祖先面前把海水分开，使他们在海中走干地过去；你把追赶他们的人扔进深海，好像把石头扔进大水中。 ¹²白天，你用云柱带领他们；夜间，你用火柱照亮他们当走的路。 ¹³你降临在西奈山，从天上与他们说话，赐给他们公正的典章、信实的律法、美好的律例和诫命。 ¹⁴你使他们知道你的神圣安息日，借你仆人摩西赐给他们诫命、律例和法度。 ¹⁵他们饿了，你赐下天粮给他们吃；他们渴了，你使磐石流出水给他们喝。你吩咐他们去占领你起誓赐给他们的土地。 ¹⁶但我们的祖先行事狂傲，顽固不化，不肯听从你的诫命。 ¹⁷他们拒绝听从，忘记了你为他们所行的奇事，顽固不化，自立首领要回埃及做奴隶。但你是乐意饶恕，有恩典，有怜悯，不轻易发怒，充满慈爱的上帝，你没有离弃他们。 ¹⁸纵使他们为自己铸造了一头牛犊，声称那是把他们带出埃及的上帝，大大亵渎了你， ¹⁹你还是对他们大施怜悯，没有在旷野离弃他们。白天，云柱没有离开他们，仍然引导他们前行；夜间，火柱仍然照亮他们当走的路。 ²⁰你差遣你良善的灵去教导他们，没有停止赐他们吗哪吃，也没有停止赐他们水喝。 ²¹在旷野的四十年间，你供养他们，使他们一无所缺，他们的衣服没有穿破，脚也没有走肿。

²²“你将列国和万民赐给他们，为他们划分疆界，他们占领了希实本王西宏和巴珊王噩的土地。 ²³你使他们的子孙多如天上的星星，你带领他们进入你应许他们祖先的土地。 ²⁴他们的子孙进去占领了那地方，你在他们面前制服了那里的迦南人，把迦南诸王和那地方的人交在他们手里，任由他们处置。 ²⁵他们夺取坚固的城池、肥沃的土地、装满美物的房屋、挖好的水井、葡萄园、橄榄园以及各样的果树。他们吃得饱足，身体发胖，享受你的厚恩。

²⁶“然而，他们不顺从你，背叛你，把你的律法抛在背后，又杀掉劝诫他们归向你的众先知，大大亵渎了你。 ²⁷于是你把他们交在欺压他们的仇敌手中。他们在患难中向你呼求，你就从天上垂听，怀着丰盛的怜悯赐给他们拯救者，把他们从仇敌手中拯救出来。 ²⁸可是，他们得享平安后，又在你面前作恶，于是你离弃他们，把他们交在敌人手中，使敌人统治他们。他们回转向你呼求，你就从天上垂听，你一次次地怀着怜悯拯救他们。 ²⁹你警告他们，要使他们遵守你的律法，但他们行事狂傲，不听从你的诫命，干犯你的典章。人若遵行这典章就必存活，但他们背弃你，顽固不化，不肯听从。 ³⁰你多年来容忍他们，差遣你的灵借着你的众先知警告他们，但他们依然不肯听从，于是你把他们交在列邦手中。 ³¹然而，你大施怜悯，没有完全毁灭他们，也没有离弃他们，因为你是有恩典和怜悯的上帝。

³²“因此，我们的上帝啊，你是伟大、全能、可畏、守约、施慈爱的上帝，求你不要轻看我们的王、首领、祭司、先知、祖先和你的子民从亚述诸王时代直到今天所受的苦难。 ³³在这临到我们的一切事上，你都是公义的，因为你行事信实，我们行事邪恶。 ³⁴我们的王、首领、祭司和祖先没有遵行你的律法，也没有留心听从你的诫命和你给他们的警告。 ³⁵他们即使在本国，在你赐给他们广阔肥沃的土地上得享你的厚恩，也不事奉你，不离开恶道。 ³⁶今天，我们沦为奴隶，在你赐给我们祖先的土地上，在你让我们祖先享用其出产和各样美物的土地上，我们沦为奴隶。 ³⁷因为我们的罪过，这地方的丰富出产都归给了那些你派来统管我们的王。他们随意统管我们和我们的牲畜。我们生活在极大的苦难中。

Footnotes

1:1 “基斯流月”即希伯来历的九月，阳历是十一月中旬到十二月中旬。
2:1 “尼散月”即希伯来历的一月，阳历是三月中旬到四月中旬。
4:12 本节希伯来文意义不明。
4:23 “刀不离身”或译“出去打水时也带着刀”。
6:15 “以禄月”即希伯来历的六月，阳历是八月中旬到九月中旬。
9:3 “三个小时”希伯来文是“一天的四分之一”。

Nehemiah 1-13

King James Version

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,

²That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

³And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

⁴And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

⁵And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

⁶Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

⁷We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

⁸Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

⁹But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

¹⁰Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

¹¹O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

2 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.

²Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,

³And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

⁴Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

⁵And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.

⁶And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.

⁷Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;

⁸And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

⁹Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.

¹⁰When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

¹¹So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

¹²And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

¹³And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.

¹⁴Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.

¹⁵Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.

¹⁶And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.

¹⁷Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.

¹⁸Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

¹⁹But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

²⁰Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

3 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.

²And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.

³But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.

⁴And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.

⁵And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.

⁶Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.

⁷And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river.

⁸Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.

⁹And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.

¹⁰And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah.

¹¹Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.

¹²And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.

¹³The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.

¹⁴But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.

¹⁵But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.

¹⁶After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Bethzur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty.

¹⁷After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part.

¹⁸After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.

¹⁹And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the turning of the wall.

²⁰After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

²¹After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.

²²And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.

²³After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house.

²⁴After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.

²⁵Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.

²⁶Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.

²⁷After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.

²⁸From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.

²⁹After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.

³⁰After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.

³¹After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.

³²And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.

4 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

²And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

³Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

⁴Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

⁵And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

⁶So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

⁷But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

⁸And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

⁹Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

¹⁰And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

¹¹And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

¹²And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.

¹³Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

¹⁴And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

¹⁵And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

¹⁶And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.

¹⁷They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

¹⁸For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

¹⁹And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.

²⁰In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.

²¹So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.

²²Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.

²³So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.

5 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

²For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.

³Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

⁴There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

⁵Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

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

⁷Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.

⁸And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.

⁹Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

¹⁰I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

¹¹Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

¹²Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.

¹³Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.

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

¹⁵But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

¹⁶Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.

¹⁷Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.

¹⁸Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

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

6 Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)

²That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.

³And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

⁴Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.

⁵Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;

⁶Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.

⁷And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

⁸Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.

⁹For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

¹⁰Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.

¹¹And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

¹²And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

¹³Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

¹⁴My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.

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

¹⁶And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

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

¹⁸For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.

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

7 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,

²That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.

³And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.

⁴Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.

⁵And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,

⁶These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;

⁷Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this;

⁸The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.

⁹The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.

¹⁰The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.

¹¹The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.

¹²The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

¹³The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.

¹⁴The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.

¹⁵The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.

¹⁶The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.

¹⁷The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.

¹⁸The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.

¹⁹The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.

²⁰The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.

²¹The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

²²The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.

²³The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.

²⁴The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.

²⁵The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.

²⁶The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.

²⁷The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.

²⁸The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two.

²⁹The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three.

³⁰The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.

³¹The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two.

³²The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.

³³The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.

³⁴The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

³⁵The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

³⁶The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.

³⁷The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one.

³⁸The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.

³⁹The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.

⁴⁰The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.

⁴¹The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.

⁴²The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

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

⁴⁴The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight.

⁴⁵The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight.

⁴⁶The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

⁴⁷The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,

⁴⁸The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,

⁴⁹The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,

⁵⁰The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,

⁵¹The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,

⁵²The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,

⁵³The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,

⁵⁴The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,

⁵⁵The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,

⁵⁶The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.

⁵⁷The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,

⁵⁸The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,

⁵⁹The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon.

⁶⁰All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.

⁶¹And these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.

⁶²The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.

⁶³And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.

⁶⁴These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.

⁶⁵And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.

⁶⁶The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,

⁶⁷Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.

⁶⁸Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five:

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

⁷⁰And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.

⁷¹And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver.

⁷²And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments.

⁷³So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

8 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.

²And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

³And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

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

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

⁶And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

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

⁸So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

⁹And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

¹⁰Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

¹¹So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.

¹²And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

¹³And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.

¹⁴And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:

¹⁵And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.

¹⁶So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.

¹⁷And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.

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

9 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.

²And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

³And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God.

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

⁵Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the Lord your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

⁶Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

⁷Thou art the Lord the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;

⁸And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous:

⁹And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;

¹⁰And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.

¹¹And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.

¹²Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.

¹³Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:

¹⁴And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:

¹⁵And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.

¹⁶But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

¹⁷And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

¹⁸Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;

¹⁹Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.

²⁰Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.

²¹Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.

²²Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

²³Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

²⁴So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would.

²⁵And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

²⁶Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.

²⁷Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

²⁸But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the land of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies;

²⁹And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

³⁰Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.

³¹Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.

³²Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.

³³Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:

³⁴Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them.

³⁵For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

³⁶Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it:

³⁷And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

³⁸And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.

10 Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,

²Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

³Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,

⁴Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

⁵Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

⁶Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

⁷Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

⁸Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.

⁹And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;

¹⁰And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

¹¹Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,

¹²Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

¹³Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.

¹⁴The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,

¹⁵Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

¹⁶Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

¹⁷Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,

¹⁸Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,

¹⁹Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

²⁰Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

²¹Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,

²²Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

²³Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,

²⁴Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,

²⁵Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

²⁶And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,

²⁷Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

²⁸And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;

²⁹They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;

³⁰And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, not take their daughters for our sons:

³¹And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

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

³³For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.

³⁴And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law:

³⁵And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the Lord:

³⁶Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:

³⁷And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

³⁸And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

³⁹For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.

11 And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.

²And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

³Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.

⁴And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez;

⁵And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.

⁶All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.

⁷And these are the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah.

⁸And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.

⁹And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.

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

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

¹²And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah.

¹³And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,

¹⁴And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.

¹⁵Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;

¹⁶And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.

¹⁷And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

¹⁸All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.

¹⁹Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.

²⁰And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.

²¹But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.

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

²³For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.

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

²⁵And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof,

²⁶And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,

²⁷And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,

²⁸And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,

²⁹And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,

³⁰Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom.

³¹The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages.

³²And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

³³Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

³⁴Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

³⁵Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

³⁶And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.

12 Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

²Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,

³Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

⁴Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,

⁵Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,

⁶Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,

⁷Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.

⁸Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.

⁹Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches.

¹⁰And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,

¹¹And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.

¹²And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;

¹³Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;

¹⁴Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;

¹⁵Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;

¹⁶Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;

¹⁷Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai:

¹⁸Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;

¹⁹And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;

²⁰Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;

²¹Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.

²²The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian.

²³The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.

²⁴And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward.

²⁵Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates.

²⁶These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.

²⁷And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

²⁸And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;

²⁹Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.

³⁰And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

³¹Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:

³²And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,

³³And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,

³⁴Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,

³⁵And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph:

³⁶And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.

³⁷And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.

³⁸And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;

³⁹And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.

⁴⁰So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:

⁴¹And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;

⁴²And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.

⁴³Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.

⁴⁴And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.

⁴⁵And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.

⁴⁶For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.

⁴⁷And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.

13 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;

²Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

³Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

⁴And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:

⁵And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

⁶But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:

⁷And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

⁸And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff to Tobiah out of the chamber.

⁹Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

¹⁰And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

¹¹Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

¹²Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

¹³And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

¹⁴Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.

¹⁵In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.

¹⁶There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

¹⁷Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

¹⁸Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

¹⁹And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

²⁰So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

²¹Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.

²²And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

²³In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

²⁴And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

²⁵And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

²⁶Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

²⁷Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

²⁸And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.

²⁹Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

³⁰Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

³¹And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

Chinese Union Version (Simplified) (CUVS)

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Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified) (CCB)

King James Version (KJV)

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尼 希 米 記 1-13 Chinese Union Version (Simplified)

尼希米记 1-9 Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)