The Enemy’s Plot

6 Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach was left in it, ^(A)although at that time I had not installed the doors in the gates, ² Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let’s meet together ^[a]at Chephirim in the plain of ^(B)Ono.” But they were plotting to ^[b]harm me. ³ So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and am unable to come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” ⁴ Then they sent messages to me four times worded in this way, and I answered them with the same wording. ⁵ Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way a fifth time with an open letter in his hand. ⁶ In it was written: “It is reported among the nations, and ^[c]Gashmu says, that ^(C)you and the Jews intend to rebel; for that reason you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to these reports. ⁷ You have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning ^[d]you, ‘A king is in Judah!’ And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports. So come now, let’s consult together.” ⁸ Then I sent a message to him saying, “Nothing like these things that you are saying has been done, but you are ^(D)inventing them ^[e]in your own mind.” ⁹ For all of them were trying to frighten us, ^[f]thinking, “^[g]They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, ^(E)God, strengthen my hands.

¹⁰ When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, ^(F)who was confined at home, he said, “Let’s meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let’s close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night.” ¹¹ But I said, “^(G)Should a man like me flee? And who is there like me who would go into the temple ^[h]to save his own life? I will not go in.” ¹² Then I realized ^[i]that God certainly had not sent him, but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. ¹³ He was hired for this reason, ^(H)that I would become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could taunt me. ^14 (I)Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat in accordance with these works of theirs, and also Noadiah ^(J)the prophetess and the rest of the prophets, who were trying to frighten me.

The Wall Is Finished

¹⁵ So ^(K)the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. ^16 (L)When all our enemies heard about it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they ^[j]lost their confidence; for ^(M)they realized that this work had been accomplished ^[k]with the help of our God. ¹⁷ Also in those days many letters went from the nobles of Judah to Tobiah, and ^[l]Tobiah’s letters came to them. ¹⁸ For many in Judah were bound by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. ¹⁹ Moreover, they were speaking about his good deeds in my presence, and were reporting my words to him. Then Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.

Census of First Returned Exiles

7 Now when ^(N)the wall was rebuilt and I had installed the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites were appointed, ² then I put ^(O)Hanani my brother, and ^(P)Hananiah the commander of ^(Q)the citadel, in charge of Jerusalem, for he was ^(R)a faithful man and feared God more than many. ³ Then I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot, and while they are standing guard, the gatekeepers are to ^[m]keep the doors shut and bolted. Also appoint guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each at his post, and each in front of his own house.” ⁴ Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few and the houses were not built.

Be Strong

2 You therefore, my ^[a](A)son, ^(B)be strong in the grace that is in ^(C)Christ Jesus. ² The things ^(D)which you have heard from me in the presence of ^(E)many witnesses, ^(F)entrust these to ^(G)faithful ^[b]people who will be ^(H)able to teach others also. ^3 (I)Suffer hardship with me, as a good ^(J)soldier of ^(K)Christ Jesus. ⁴ No soldier in active service ^(L)entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him. ⁵ And if someone likewise ^(M)competes as an athlete, he is not ^[c]crowned as victor unless he competes according to the rules. ^6 (N)The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, ^(O)risen from the dead, ^(P)descendant of David, ^(Q)according to my gospel, ^9 [d]for which I ^(R)suffer hardship even to ^(S)imprisonment as a ^(T)criminal; but ^(U)the word of God ^(V)is not imprisoned. ¹⁰ For this reason ^(W)I endure all things for ^(X)the sake of ^[e]those who are chosen, ^(Y)so that they also may obtain the ^(Z)salvation which is in ^(AA)Christ Jesus and with it ^(AB)eternal glory. ^11 (AC)The statement is trustworthy:

An Unashamed Worker

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, and solemnly ^(AI)exhort them in the presence of God not to ^(AJ)dispute about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the listeners. ¹⁵ Be diligent to ^(AK)present yourself approved to God as a worker who ^[g]does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling ^(AL)the word of truth. ¹⁶ But ^(AM)avoid ^(AN)worldly and empty chatter, for ^[h]it will lead to further ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their ^[i]talk will spread like ^[j]gangrene. Among them are ^(AO)Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that ^(AP)the resurrection has already taken place; and they are jeopardizing ^(AQ)the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, the ^(AR)firm foundation of God stands, having this ^(AS)seal: “^(AT)The Lord knows those who are His;” and, “^(AU)Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.”

²⁰ Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and ^(AV)some are for honor while others are for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from ^(AW)these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, ^(AX)prepared for every good work. ²² Now ^(AY)flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, ^(AZ)faith, love, and peace with those who ^(BA)call on the Lord ^(BB)from a pure heart. ²³ But refuse foolish and ignorant ^(BC)speculations, knowing that they ^(BD)produce ^[k]quarrels. ^24 (BE)The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, ^(BF)skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, ^25 (BG)with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, ^(BH)if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to ^(BI)the knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from ^(BJ)the snare of the devil, having been ^(BK)held captive ^[l]by him to do his will.

Ezra Reads the Law

8 And all the people gathered as one person at the public square which was in front of ^(A)the Water Gate, and they ^[a]asked ^(B)Ezra the scribe to bring ^(C)the Book of the Law of Moses which the Lord had ^[b]given to Israel. ² Then ^(D)Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding, on ^(E)the first day of the seventh month. ³ And he read from it before the public square which was in front of ^(F)the Water Gate, from ^[c]early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and ^[d]all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. ⁴ Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left. ⁵ Then Ezra opened ^(G)the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people ^(H)stood up. ⁶ Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, “^(I)Amen, Amen!” with the raising of their hands; then ^(J)they kneeled down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. ⁷ Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites explained the Law to the people while the people remained in their place. ⁸ They read from the book, from the Law of God, ^[e]translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

This Day Is Holy

⁹ Then Nehemiah, who was the ^[f](K)governor, and Ezra ^(L)the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “^(M)This day is holy to the Lord your God; ^(N)do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go, eat the festival foods, drink the sweet drinks, and ^(O)send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your ^[g]refuge.” ¹¹ So the Levites silenced all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” ¹² Then all the people went away to eat, drink, ^(P)to send portions, and to ^[h]celebrate a great feast, ^(Q)because they understood the words which had been made known to them.

Feast of Booths Restored

¹³ Then on the second day the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe so that they might gain insight into the words of the Law. ¹⁴ And they found written in the Law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel ^(R)were to live in ^[i]booths during the feast of the seventh month. ^15 (S)And that they were to proclaim and circulate a proclamation in all their cities and ^(T)in Jerusalem, saying, “^(U)Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches and ^[j]wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of other trees with thick branches, to make booths, as it is written.” ¹⁶ So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each ^(V)on his roof, and in their courtyards and in the courtyards of the house of God, and in the public square at ^(W)the Water Gate, and in the square at ^(X)the Gate of Ephraim. ¹⁷ The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths. Indeed, the sons of Israel ^(Y)had not done so since the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And ^(Z)there was very great rejoicing. ^18 (AA)He read from the Book of the Law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they ^(AB)celebrated the feast seven days, and on ^(AC)the eighth day there was a festive assembly in accordance with the ordinance.

Jesus, the Example

12 Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s ^(A)rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s ^(B)run with ^(C)endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking only at Jesus, the ^[a](D)originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him ^(E)endured the cross, ^(F)despising the shame, and has ^(G)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ For ^(H)consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary ^[b](I)and lose heart.

A Father’s Discipline

^4 (J)You have not yet resisted ^[c](K)to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; ⁵ and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

⁷ It is for discipline that you endure; ^(P)God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ But if you are without discipline, ^(Q)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we had ^[d]earthly fathers to discipline us, and we ^(R)respected them; shall we not much more be subject to ^(S)the Father of ^[e]spirits, and ^(T)live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, ^(U)so that we may share His holiness. ^11 (V)For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the ^(W)peaceful fruit of righteousness.

¹² Therefore, ^[f](X)strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, ¹³ and ^(Y)make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is impaired may not be dislocated, but rather ^(Z)be healed.