Chapter 1
1:1And in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia; and he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing, saying,1:2“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.1:3Whoever among you is of all His people—may his God be with him. Let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD, God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem.1:4And every survivor, in any place where he dwells as a sojourner, let the men of his place support him with silver, gold, possessions, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God, which is in Jerusalem.”1:5Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin arose, along with the priests and the Levites—everyone whose spirit God had stirred—to go up and build the house of the LORD, which is in Jerusalem.1:6And all those around them supported them with articles of silver, gold, possessions, livestock, and precious things, besides all that was offered willingly.1:7And King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods.1:8Cyrus king of Persia brought them out through Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar, prince of Judah.1:9And this was their number: thirty gold basins, one thousand silver basins, twenty-nine knives;1:10thirty gold bowls, four hundred ten silver bowls of a second kind, and one thousand other articles.1:11All the articles of gold and silver were five thousand four hundred. Sheshbazzar brought all these up when the exiles were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.Chapter 2
2:1And these were the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon; and they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city—2:2those who came with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel was:2:3sons of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two;2:4sons of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two;2:5sons of Arah, seven hundred seventy-five;2:6sons of Pahath-Moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve;2:7sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four;2:8sons of Zattu, nine hundred forty-five;2:9sons of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty;2:10sons of Bani, six hundred forty-two;2:11sons of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three;2:12sons of Azgad, one thousand two hundred twenty-two;2:13sons of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-six;2:14sons of Bigvai, two thousand fifty-six;2:15sons of Adin, four hundred fifty-four;2:16sons of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety-eight;2:17sons of Bezai, three hundred twenty-three;2:18sons of Jorah, one hundred twelve;2:19sons of Hashum, two hundred twenty-three;2:20sons of Gibbar, ninety-five;2:21sons of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty-three;2:22men of Netophah, fifty-six;2:23men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight;2:24sons of Azmaveth, forty-two;2:25sons of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three;2:26sons of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one;2:27men of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two;2:28men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three;2:29sons of Nebo, fifty-two;2:30sons of Magbish, one hundred fifty-six;2:31sons of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four;2:32sons of Harim, three hundred twenty;2:33sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five;2:34sons of Jericho, three hundred forty-five;2:35sons of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty.2:36The priests: sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three;2:37sons of Immer, one thousand fifty-two;2:38sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven;2:39sons of Harim, one thousand seventeen.2:40The Levites: sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, seventy-four.2:41The singers: sons of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight.2:42The gatekeepers: sons of Shallum, sons of Ater, sons of Talmon, sons of Akkub, sons of Hatita, and sons of Shobai; in all, one hundred thirty-nine.2:43The temple servants: sons of Ziha, sons of Hasupha, sons of Tabbaoth,2:44sons of Keros, sons of Siaha, sons of Padon,2:45sons of Lebanah, sons of Hagabah, sons of Akkub,2:46sons of Hagab, sons of Shalmai, sons of Hanan,2:47sons of Giddel, sons of Gahar, sons of Reaiah,2:48sons of Rezin, sons of Nekoda, sons of Gazzam,2:49sons of Uzza, sons of Paseah, sons of Besai,2:50sons of Asnah, sons of Meunim, sons of Nephisim,2:51sons of Bakbuk, sons of Hakupha, sons of Harhur,2:52sons of Bazluth, sons of Mehida, sons of Harsha,2:53sons of Barkos, sons of Sisera, sons of Temah,2:54sons of Neziah, sons of Hatipha.2:55Sons of the servants of Solomon: sons of Sotai, sons of Sophereth, sons of Peruda,2:56sons of Jaalah, sons of Darkon, sons of Giddel,2:57sons of Shephatiah, sons of Hattil, sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, and sons of Ami.2:58All the temple servants and the sons of the servants of Solomon were three hundred ninety-two.2:59And these were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they were unable to declare their fathers’ houses and their descent, whether they were of Israel:2:60sons of Delaiah, sons of Tobiah, and sons of Nekoda, six hundred fifty-two.2:61And of the sons of the priests: sons of Habaiah, sons of Hakkoz, and sons of Barzillai—who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name.2:62These sought their register among those enrolled by genealogy, but they were not found; and they were excluded from the priesthood.2:63Then the governor told them that they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest arose with the sacred decision lots.2:64The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,2:65besides their male and female servants, who were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven; and they had two hundred male and female singers.2:66Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five;2:67their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.2:68And some of the heads of the fathers’ houses, when they came to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, gave freely for the house of God, to set it upon its foundation.2:69According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work: sixty-one thousand darics of gold, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priestly garments.2:70So the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants dwelt in their cities; and all Israel dwelt in their cities.Chapter 3
3:1When the seventh month came and the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered as one man in Jerusalem.3:2Then Joshua son of Jehozadak rose up with his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his brothers; and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings upon it, as it is written in the Law of Moses, the man of God.3:3They set the altar on its foundation, though fear was upon them because of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings upon it to the LORD, the morning and evening burnt offerings.3:4They kept the Feast of Booths as it is written, and offered the prescribed number of burnt offerings day by day, according to the ordinance for each day.3:5Afterward they offered the regular burnt offering, the offerings for the new moons and for all the appointed festivals of the LORD that were consecrated, and every freewill offering willingly offered to the LORD.3:6From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, though the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not yet been laid.3:7Then they gave money to the stonecutters and craftsmen, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and Tyrians, to bring cedar logs from Lebanon by sea to Joppa, according to the authorization granted them by Cyrus king of Persia.3:8In the second year after they came to the house of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the remnant of their brothers the priests and Levites, and all who had come to Jerusalem from captivity began the work; and they appointed the Levites from twenty years old and upward to oversee the work of the house of the LORD.3:9Then Jeshua, his sons and brothers; Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah; and the sons of Henadad, with their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together to oversee those doing the work in the house of God.3:10When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they stationed the priests in their vestments with trumpets, and the Levites, sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD according to the direction of David king of Israel.3:11They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: “For He is good, for His steadfast love toward Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.3:12But many of the priests, Levites, and heads of fathers’ houses—the old men who had seen the first house—wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy.3:13So the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.Chapter 4
4:1Now the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the sons of the captivity were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel.4:2They approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esar-Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.”4:3But Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses of Israel said to them, “You have no part with us in building a house to our God; we alone will build it to the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, king of Persia, commanded us.”4:4Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah and frightened them from building.4:5They hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.4:6In the reign of Ahasuerus, at the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.4:7In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language.4:8Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes, as follows:4:9Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions—the judges, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, and the men of Susa, who were Elamites,4:10and the rest of the peoples whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in the province Beyond the River. And now—4:11This is a copy of the letter they sent to him: “To King Artaxerxes: Your servants, the men of the province Beyond the River. And now—4:12Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city; they are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.4:13Now let it be known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, they will pay no tribute, duty, or toll, and in the end it will damage the royal revenue.4:14Now because we share the salt of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king dishonored, we have sent this report to the king,4:15so that a search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will find in the book of the records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that sedition has been stirred up within it from ancient times. For this reason the city was destroyed.4:16We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will have no possession in the province Beyond the River.”4:17The king sent this answer to Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions dwelling in Samaria and elsewhere in the province Beyond the River: “Peace. And now—4:18The letter you sent us has been read before me in translation.4:19By my command a search was made, and it was found that this city has risen against kings from ancient times, and that rebellion and sedition have been carried on within it.4:20Mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and governed the whole province Beyond the River, and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.4:21Therefore issue an order to make these men cease, and let this city not be rebuilt until I issue a decree.4:22Take care not to neglect this matter. Why should the damage increase to the detriment of the kings?”4:23As soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem, to the Jews, and made them cease by force and power.4:24Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.Chapter 5
5:1Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the Name of the God of Israel, who was over them.5:2Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak rose up and began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.5:3At that time Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, came to them with Shethar-Boznai and their companions, and said to them, “Who issued you a decree to build this house and finish this structure?”5:4Then we told them the names of the men who were building this structure.5:5But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease until a report could go to Darius and a written reply concerning the matter could be returned.5:6This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-Boznai, and his companions, the Apharsachites in the province Beyond the River, sent to King Darius.5:7They sent him a report in which this was written:5:8“To King Darius, all peace. Let it be known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the great house of God. It is being built with stones of great size, and timber is being laid in the walls. The work is being done diligently and is prospering in their hands.5:9Then we asked those elders, ‘Who issued you a decree to build this house and finish this structure?’5:10We also asked them their names, to inform you, so that we might write down the names of the men who are at their head.5:11They gave us this answer: ‘We are servants of the God of the heavens and the earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.5:12But because our fathers angered the God of the heavens, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away to Babylon.5:13Yet in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.5:14Moreover, the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon, King Cyrus removed from the temple in Babylon and gave to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor.5:15He said to him, “Take these vessels; go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site.”5:16Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from that time until now it has been under construction and is not yet finished.’5:17Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the royal treasury there in Babylon to see whether King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem; and let the king send us his will concerning this matter.”Chapter 6
6:1Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives where the treasures were stored in Babylon.6:2At Ecbatana, in the fortress in the province of Media, a scroll was found, and this record was written in it:6:3“In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: Let the house be rebuilt as a place where sacrifices are offered, and let its foundations be firmly laid. Its height shall be sixty cubits, and its breadth sixty cubits,6:4with three courses of great stones and one course of new timber; and let the cost be paid from the king’s house.6:5Moreover, let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be returned and brought to the temple in Jerusalem, each to its place; and deposit them in the house of God.6:6Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-Boznai, and your companions, the Apharsachites in the province Beyond the River, keep away from there.6:7Leave the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site.6:8Moreover, I issue a decree concerning what you shall do for these elders of the Jews in rebuilding this house of God: The full cost is to be paid to these men from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province Beyond the River, without delay, so that the work does not cease.6:9Whatever they need—young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of the heavens, and wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as the priests in Jerusalem require—let it be given to them day by day without fail,6:10so that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of the heavens and pray for the life of the king and his sons.6:11I also issue a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled from his house, and he shall be impaled upon it; and his house shall be made a refuse heap for this offense.6:12May the God who caused His Name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who stretches out a hand to alter this decree or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree; let it be carried out diligently.”6:13Then Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-Boznai, and their companions diligently did according to what King Darius had sent.6:14So the elders of the Jews continued building and prospered through the prophecy of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They built and finished it by the decree of the God of Israel and by the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia.6:15This house was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.6:16Then the sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the sons of the captivity celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.6:17For the dedication of this house of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve young male goats as a sin offering for all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.6:18They appointed the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses for the service of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses.6:19Then the sons of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.6:20For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. They slaughtered the Passover sacrifice for all the sons of the captivity, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.6:21The sons of Israel who had returned from captivity ate it, together with everyone who had separated himself from the uncleanness of the nations of the land and joined them to seek the LORD, the God of Israel.6:22They kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.Chapter 7
7:1After these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,7:2son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,7:3son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,7:4son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,7:5son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the high priest—7:6this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, because the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.7:7Some of the sons of Israel, and some of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.7:8He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, in the seventh year of the king.7:9For on the first day of the first month he began the journey up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him.7:10For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to do it, and to teach statute and judgment in Israel.7:11This is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest and scribe, a scribe versed in the words of the commandments of the LORD and His statutes for Israel:7:12“Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scribe of the Law of the God of the heavens: Complete peace. And now—7:13I issue a decree that anyone in my kingdom belonging to the people of Israel, or to their priests and Levites, who freely chooses to go to Jerusalem with you, may go.7:14For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God that is in your hand,7:15and to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,7:16together with all the silver and gold that you find in the whole province of Babylon, and the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, willingly offered for the house of their God in Jerusalem.7:17Therefore, with this money you shall diligently buy bulls, rams, lambs, and their grain offerings and drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.7:18Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do according to the will of your God.7:19Deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem the vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God.7:20Whatever more is needed for the house of your God, which you are required to provide, you may provide from the royal treasury.7:21And I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, scribe of the Law of the God of the heavens, asks of you shall be done diligently,7:22up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred cors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and salt without limit.7:23Whatever is decreed by the God of the heavens, let it be carried out with diligence for the house of the God of the heavens. For why should wrath come against the kingdom of the king and his sons?7:24We also inform you that no tribute, duty, or toll may be imposed upon any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.7:25And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people in the province Beyond the River who know the laws of your God; and teach anyone who does not know them.7:26Whoever will not obey the Law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be carried out diligently upon him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of possessions, or imprisonment.”7:27Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD in Jerusalem,7:28and who extended steadfast love to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officials. I took courage, because the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.Chapter 8
8:1These were the heads of their fathers’ houses, and this was the genealogy of those who came up with me from Babylon in the reign of King Artaxerxes:8:2From the sons of Phinehas: Gershom; from the sons of Ithamar: Daniel; from the sons of David: Hattush;8:3from the sons of Shecaniah, from the sons of Parosh: Zechariah, and with him, reckoned by genealogy, one hundred and fifty males.8:4From the sons of Pahath-Moab: Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.8:5From the sons of Shecaniah: the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.8:6And from the sons of Adin: Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.8:7And from the sons of Elam: Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.8:8And from the sons of Shephatiah: Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him eighty males.8:9From the sons of Joab: Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.8:10And from the sons of Shelomith: the son of Josiphiah, and with him one hundred and sixty males.8:11And from the sons of Bebai: Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight males.8:12And from the sons of Azgad: Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him one hundred and ten males.8:13And from the younger sons of Adonikam—and these were their names—Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males.8:14And from the sons of Bigvai: Uthai and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.8:15I gathered them at the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I examined the people and the priests, I found none of the sons of Levi there.8:16Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leading men; and for Joiarib and Elnathan, men of understanding.8:17I gave them a charge for Iddo, the leader at Casiphia, and put words in their mouths to speak to Iddo and his brothers, the temple servants at Casiphia, that they should bring us servants for the house of our God.8:18By the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding: Sherebiah, of the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel, with his sons and brothers—eighteen men;8:19and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his brothers and their sons—twenty men;8:20and from the temple servants, whom David and the leaders had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty temple servants; all of them were designated by name.8:21Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from Him a straight way for us, our children, and all our possessions.8:22For I was ashamed to ask the king for a company of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy along the way, because we had said to the king, “The hand of our God is upon all who seek Him, for good; but His power and His wrath are against all who forsake Him.”8:23So we fasted and sought our God concerning this, and He heard our plea.8:24Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers.8:25I weighed out to them the silver, gold, and vessels—the contribution for the house of our God that the king, his counselors and officials, and all Israel present there had contributed.8:26I weighed into their hands six hundred and fifty talents of silver, one hundred talents of silver vessels, and one hundred talents of gold,8:27twenty gold bowls worth one thousand darics, and two vessels of fine, gleaming bronze, precious as gold.8:28Then I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy; the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.8:29Guard them carefully until you weigh them before the leading priests and Levites and the heads of fathers’ houses of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.”8:30So the priests and Levites received the silver, gold, and vessels by weight, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.8:31Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes along the way.8:32We came to Jerusalem and remained there three days.8:33On the fourth day the silver, gold, and vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth son of Uriah the priest; with him was Eleazar son of Phinehas, and with them were Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui, the Levites.8:34Everything was counted and weighed, and the total weight was recorded at that time.8:35The exiles who had come from captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve young male goats as a sin offering—all of them as a burnt offering to the LORD.8:36Then they delivered the king’s commissions to the king’s satraps and to the governors of the province Beyond the River; and they gave support to the people and the house of God.Chapter 9
9:1After these things had been completed, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations—from the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.9:2For they have taken some of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed has mingled itself with the peoples of the lands; and the officials and rulers have led in this unfaithfulness.”9:3When I heard this report, I tore my garment and my robe, pulled out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat appalled.9:4Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles; and I sat appalled until the evening grain offering.9:5At the evening grain offering I rose from my humiliation, with my garment and robe torn, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God,9:6and said, “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to You, O my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens.9:7From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt; and because of our iniquities, we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to open shame, as it is this day.9:8But now, for a brief moment, favor has come from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and give us a secure stake in His holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.9:9For we are slaves; yet in our bondage our God has not forsaken us, but has extended steadfast love to us before the kings of Persia, to grant us reviving, to raise up the house of our God and restore its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.9:10And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments,9:11which You commanded by the hand of Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land into which you are entering to possess is an unclean land, because of the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands and the abominations with which they have filled it from end to end by their impurity.9:12Therefore, do not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons; and never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong, eat the good of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’9:13After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and our great guilt—though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such an escaped remnant—9:14shall we again break Your commandments and join ourselves in marriage with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not be angry with us until You consumed us, leaving no remnant or survivor?9:15O LORD, God of Israel, You are righteous, for we remain as an escaped remnant this day. Behold, we are before You in our guilt, for none can stand before You because of this.”Chapter 10
10:1While Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept bitterly.10:2Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, “We have acted unfaithfully against our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this.10:3Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to send away all these women and the children born to them, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the Law.10:4Rise, for this matter is your responsibility, and we are with you. Be strong and act.”10:5Then Ezra rose and made the leading priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear that they would do according to this word; and they swore.10:6Then Ezra rose from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. He remained there, eating no bread and drinking no water, for he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.10:7They made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather in Jerusalem,10:8and that whoever did not come within three days, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, would have all his possessions devoted to destruction and would himself be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.10:9Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. All the people sat in the square before the house of God, trembling because of the matter and because of the heavy rain.10:10Then Ezra the priest rose and said to them, “You have acted unfaithfully and have married foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel.10:11Now therefore, make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.”10:12Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, “As you have said, so we must do.10:13But the people are many, and it is the season of heavy rain; we cannot stand outside. Nor is this work for one or two days, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.10:14Please let our leaders stand for the whole assembly. Let all in our cities who have married foreign wives come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of each city, until the fierce wrath of our God concerning this matter is turned away from us.”10:15Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them.10:16The exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men who were heads of fathers’ houses, according to their fathers’ houses, each designated by name; and on the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter.10:17By the first day of the first month they had finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.10:18Among the sons of the priests who had married foreign women were these: of the sons of Joshua son of Jehozadak and his brothers, Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.10:19They pledged themselves to send away their wives; and because they were guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt.10:20And of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.10:21And of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.10:22And of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.10:23And of the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah—he was Kelita—Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.10:24And of the singers: Eliashib; and of the gatekeepers: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.10:25And of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchijah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.10:26And of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah.10:27And of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.10:28And of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai.10:29And of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth.10:30And of the sons of Pahath-Moab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.10:31And of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,10:32Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah.10:33Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei.10:34Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel,10:35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhu,10:36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,10:37Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu,10:38and Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,10:39and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,10:40Machnadbai, Shashai, Sharai,10:41Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,10:42Shallum, Amariah, Joseph.10:43Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.10:44All these had married foreign women, and some of these women had borne children.