Nehemiah’s Prayer

The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

In the month of Kislev(A) in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,(B) Hanani,(C) one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant(D) that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.(E)

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.(F) For some days I mourned and fasted(G) and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said:

Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God,(H) who keeps his covenant of love(I) with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear(J) the prayer(K) your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess(L) the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly(M) toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

“Remember(N) the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter(O) you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather(P) them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’(Q)

10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.(R) 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive(S) to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor(T) in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer(U) to the king.

Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem

In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,(V) when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, “May the king live forever!(W) Why should my face not look sad when the city(X) where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?(Y)

The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

Then the king(Z), with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates,(AA) so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel(AB) by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me,(AC) the king granted my requests.(AD) So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry(AE) with me.

10 When Sanballat(AF) the Horonite and Tobiah(AG) the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.(AH)

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days(AI) 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.

13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate(AJ) toward the Jackal[a] Well and the Dung Gate,(AK) examining the walls(AL) of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate(AM) and the King’s Pool,(AN) but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire.(AO) Come, let us rebuild the wall(AP) of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.(AQ) 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me(AR) and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

19 But when Sanballat(AS) the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem(AT) the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us.(AU) “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding,(AV) but as for you, you have no share(AW) in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”

Builders of the Wall

Eliashib(AX) the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt(AY) the Sheep Gate.(AZ) They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel.(BA) The men of Jericho(BB) built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.

The Fish Gate(BC) was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. Meremoth(BD) son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs. The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa,(BE) but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.[b]

The Jeshanah[c] Gate(BF) was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon(BG) and Mizpah—Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.(BH) Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. 10 Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. 11 Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens.(BI) 12 Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.

13 The Valley Gate(BJ) was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah.(BK) They rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. They also repaired a thousand cubits[d] of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.(BL)

14 The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem.(BM) He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place.

15 The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam,[e](BN) by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David. 16 Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur,(BO) made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs[f](BP) of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes.

17 Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah,(BQ) carried out repairs for his district. 18 Next to him, the repairs were made by their fellow Levites under Binnui[g] son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah. 19 Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, from a point facing the ascent to the armory as far as the angle of the wall. 20 Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 Next to him, Meremoth(BR) son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the entrance of Eliashib’s house to the end of it.

22 The repairs next to him were made by the priests from the surrounding region. 23 Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house. 24 Next to him, Binnui(BS) son of Henadad repaired another section, from Azariah’s house to the angle and the corner, 25 and Palal son of Uzai worked opposite the angle and the tower projecting from the upper palace near the court of the guard.(BT) Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh(BU) 26 and the temple servants(BV) living on the hill of Ophel(BW) made repairs up to a point opposite the Water Gate(BX) toward the east and the projecting tower. 27 Next to them, the men of Tekoa(BY) repaired another section, from the great projecting tower(BZ) to the wall of Ophel.

28 Above the Horse Gate,(CA) the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. 29 Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shekaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs. 30 Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berekiah made repairs opposite his living quarters. 31 Next to him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far as the room above the corner; 32 and between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate(CB) the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.

Opposition to the Rebuilding

[h]When Sanballat(CC) heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates(CD) and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble(CE)—burned as they are?”

Tobiah(CF) the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”(CG)

Hear us, our God, for we are despised.(CH) Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt(CI) or blot out their sins from your sight,(CJ) for they have thrown insults in the face of[i] the builders.

So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.

But when Sanballat, Tobiah,(CK) the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together(CL) to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers(CM) is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.”

11 Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”

12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid(CN) of them. Remember(CO) the Lord, who is great and awesome,(CP) and fight(CQ) for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it,(CR) we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.

16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon(CS) in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet(CT) stayed with me.

19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet,(CU) join us there. Our God will fight(CV) for us!”

21 So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. 22 At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day.” 23 Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.[j]

Nehemiah Helps the Poor

Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.”

Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields,(CW) our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.”(CX)

Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax(CY) on our fields and vineyards. Although we are of the same flesh and blood(CZ) as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery.(DA) Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”(DB)

When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!”(DC) So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: “As far as possible, we have bought(DD) back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.(DE)

So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach(DF) of our Gentile enemies? 10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest!(DG) 11 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest(DH) you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.”

12 “We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.”

Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath(DI) to do what they had promised. 13 I also shook(DJ) out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!”

At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,”(DK) and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.

14 Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,(DL) when I was appointed to be their governor(DM) in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. 15 But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels[k] of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God(DN) I did not act like that. 16 Instead,(DO) I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we[l] did not acquire any land.

17 Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. 18 Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry(DP) were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.

19 Remember(DQ) me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.

Further Opposition to the Rebuilding

When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah,(DR) Geshem(DS) the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates— Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages[m] on the plain of Ono.(DT)

But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.

Then, the fifth time, Sanballat(DU) sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written:

“It is reported among the nations—and Geshem[n](DV) says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together.”

I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.”

They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”

But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”

10 One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple(DW), and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.”

11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” 12 I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me(DX) because Tobiah and Sanballat(DY) had hired him. 13 He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.(DZ)

14 Remember(EA) Tobiah and Sanballat,(EB) my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet(EC) Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets(ED) have been trying to intimidate me. 15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.

Opposition to the Completed Wall

16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

17 Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them. 18 For many in Judah were under oath to him, since he was son-in-law to Shekaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. 19 Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers,(EE) the musicians(EF) and the Levites(EG) were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani,(EH) along with Hananiah(EI) the commander of the citadel,(EJ) because he was a man of integrity and feared(EK) God more than most people do. I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”

The List of the Exiles Who Returned(EL)

Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it,(EM) and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there:

These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles(EN) whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, in company with Zerubbabel,(EO) Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah):

The list of the men of Israel:

the descendants of Parosh2,172
of Shephatiah372
10 of Arah652
11 of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab)2,818
12 of Elam1,254
13 of Zattu845
14 of Zakkai760
15 of Binnui648
16 of Bebai628
17 of Azgad2,322
18 of Adonikam667
19 of Bigvai2,067
20 of Adin(EP)655
21 of Ater (through Hezekiah)98
22 of Hashum328
23 of Bezai324
24 of Hariph112
25 of Gibeon95
26 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah(EQ)188
27 of Anathoth(ER)128
28 of Beth Azmaveth42
29 of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah(ES) and Beeroth(ET)743
30 of Ramah and Geba621
31 of Mikmash122
32 of Bethel and Ai(EU)123
33 of the other Nebo52
34 of the other Elam1,254
35 of Harim320
36 of Jericho(EV)345
37 of Lod, Hadid and Ono(EW)721
38 of Senaah3,930

39 The priests:

the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua)973
40 of Immer1,052
41 of Pashhur1,247
42 of Harim1,017

43 The Levites:

the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel through the line of Hodaviah)74

44 The musicians:(EX)

the descendants of Asaph148

45 The gatekeepers:(EY)

the descendants of
Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai138

46 The temple servants:(EZ)

the descendants of
Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
47 Keros, Sia, Padon,
48 Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai,
49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar,
50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda,
51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,
52 Besai, Meunim, Nephusim,
53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
54 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
56 Neziah and Hatipha

57 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:

the descendants of
Sotai, Sophereth, Perida,
58 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,
59 Shephatiah, Hattil,
Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Amon
60 The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon(FA)392

61 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel:

62 the descendants of
Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda642

63 And from among the priests:

the descendants of
Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).

64 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 65 The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.(FB)

66 The whole company numbered 42,360, 67 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers. 68 There were 736 horses, 245 mules,[o] 69 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.

70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics[p] of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. 71 Some of the heads of the families(FC) gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics[q] of gold and 2,200 minas[r] of silver. 72 The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas[s] of silver and 67 garments for priests.(FD)

73 The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants,(FE) along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns.(FF)

Ezra Reads the Law

When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,(FG) all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate.(FH) They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses,(FI) which the Lord had commanded for Israel.

So on the first day of the seventh month(FJ) Ezra the priest brought the Law(FK) before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate(FL) in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform(FM) built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.

Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing(FN) above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands(FO) and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

The Levites(FP)—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed(FQ) the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear[t] and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites(FR) who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.”(FS) For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing(FT) prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy(FU) of the Lord is your strength.”

11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.”

12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy,(FV) because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

13 On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give attention to the words of the Law. 14 They found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters(FW) during the festival of the seventh month 15 and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters”—as it is written.[u]

16 So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate(FX) and the one by the Gate of Ephraim.(FY) 17 The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them.(FZ) From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated(GA) it like this. And their joy was very great.

18 Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read(GB) from the Book of the Law(GC) of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation,(GD) there was an assembly.(GE)

The Israelites Confess Their Sins

On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads.(GF) Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners.(GG) They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors.(GH) They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God. Standing on the stairs of the Levites(GI) were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Kenani. They cried out with loud voices to the Lord their God. And the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah—said: “Stand up and praise the Lord your God,(GJ) who is from everlasting to everlasting.[v]

“Blessed be your glorious name,(GK) and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the Lord.(GL) You made the heavens,(GM) even the highest heavens, and all their starry host,(GN) the earth(GO) and all that is on it, the seas(GP) and all that is in them.(GQ) You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven(GR) worship you.

“You are the Lord God, who chose Abram(GS) and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans(GT) and named him Abraham.(GU) You found his heart faithful to you, and you made a covenant with him to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites.(GV) You have kept your promise(GW) because you are righteous.(GX)

“You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt;(GY) you heard their cry at the Red Sea.[w](GZ) 10 You sent signs(HA) and wonders(HB) against Pharaoh, against all his officials and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You made a name(HC) for yourself,(HD) which remains to this day. 11 You divided the sea before them,(HE) so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths,(HF) like a stone into mighty waters.(HG) 12 By day(HH) you led(HI) them with a pillar of cloud,(HJ) and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take.

13 “You came down on Mount Sinai;(HK) you spoke(HL) to them from heaven.(HM) You gave them regulations and laws that are just(HN) and right, and decrees and commands that are good.(HO) 14 You made known to them your holy Sabbath(HP) and gave them commands, decrees and laws through your servant Moses. 15 In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven(HQ) and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock;(HR) you told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand(HS) to give them.(HT)

16 “But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked,(HU) and they did not obey your commands.(HV) 17 They refused to listen and failed to remember(HW) the miracles(HX) you performed among them. They became stiff-necked(HY) and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery.(HZ) But you are a forgiving God,(IA) gracious and compassionate,(IB) slow to anger(IC) and abounding in love.(ID) Therefore you did not desert them,(IE) 18 even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf(IF) and said, ‘This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ or when they committed awful blasphemies.(IG)

19 “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon(IH) them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud(II) did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit(IJ) to instruct(IK) them. You did not withhold your manna(IL) from their mouths, and you gave them water(IM) for their thirst. 21 For forty years(IN) you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing,(IO) their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen.(IP)

22 “You gave them kingdoms and nations, allotting to them even the remotest frontiers. They took over the country of Sihon[x](IQ) king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan.(IR) 23 You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky,(IS) and you brought them into the land that you told their parents to enter and possess. 24 Their children went in and took possession of the land.(IT) You subdued(IU) before them the Canaanites, who lived in the land; you gave the Canaanites into their hands, along with their kings and the peoples of the land, to deal with them as they pleased. 25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land;(IV) they took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things,(IW) wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were well-nourished;(IX) they reveled in your great goodness.(IY)

26 “But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs on your law.(IZ) They killed(JA) your prophets,(JB) who had warned them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies.(JC) 27 So you delivered them into the hands of their enemies,(JD) who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion(JE) you gave them deliverers,(JF) who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.

28 “But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight.(JG) Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion(JH) you delivered them(JI) time after time.

29 “You warned(JJ) them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant(JK) and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’(JL) Stubbornly they turned their backs(JM) on you, became stiff-necked(JN) and refused to listen.(JO) 30 For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets.(JP) Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples.(JQ) 31 But in your great mercy you did not put an end(JR) to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful(JS) God.

32 “Now therefore, our God, the great God, mighty(JT) and awesome,(JU) who keeps his covenant of love,(JV) do not let all this hardship seem trifling in your eyes—the hardship(JW) that has come on us, on our kings and leaders, on our priests and prophets, on our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. 33 In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous;(JX) you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly.(JY) 34 Our kings,(JZ) our leaders, our priests and our ancestors(KA) did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to your commands or the statutes you warned them to keep. 35 Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness(KB) to them in the spacious and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you(KC) or turn from their evil ways.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 2:13 Or Serpent or Fig
  2. Nehemiah 3:5 Or their Lord or the governor
  3. Nehemiah 3:6 Or Old
  4. Nehemiah 3:13 That is, about 1,500 feet or about 450 meters
  5. Nehemiah 3:15 Hebrew Shelah, a variant of Shiloah, that is, Siloam
  6. Nehemiah 3:16 Hebrew; Septuagint, some Vulgate manuscripts and Syriac tomb
  7. Nehemiah 3:18 Two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also Septuagint and verse 24); most Hebrew manuscripts Bavvai
  8. Nehemiah 4:1 In Hebrew texts 4:1-6 is numbered 3:33-38, and 4:7-23 is numbered 4:1-17.
  9. Nehemiah 4:5 Or have aroused your anger before
  10. Nehemiah 4:23 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
  11. Nehemiah 5:15 That is, about 1 pound or about 460 grams
  12. Nehemiah 5:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac I
  13. Nehemiah 6:2 Or in Kephirim
  14. Nehemiah 6:6 Hebrew Gashmu, a variant of Geshem
  15. Nehemiah 7:68 Some Hebrew manuscripts (see also Ezra 2:66); most Hebrew manuscripts do not have this verse.
  16. Nehemiah 7:70 That is, about 19 pounds or about 8.4 kilograms
  17. Nehemiah 7:71 That is, about 375 pounds or about 170 kilograms; also in verse 72
  18. Nehemiah 7:71 That is, about 1 1/3 tons or about 1.2 metric tons
  19. Nehemiah 7:72 That is, about 1 1/4 tons or about 1.1 metric tons
  20. Nehemiah 8:8 Or God, translating it
  21. Nehemiah 8:15 See Lev. 23:37-40.
  22. Nehemiah 9:5 Or God for ever and ever
  23. Nehemiah 9:9 Or the Sea of Reeds
  24. Nehemiah 9:22 One Hebrew manuscript and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts Sihon, that is, the country of the

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