Title: The Bible, King James version, Book 16: Nehemiah Edition: 10 Language: English This eBook was produced by David Widger with the help of Derek Andrew's text from January 1992 and the work of Bryan Taylor in November 2002. Book 16 Nehemiah16:001:001 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to 16:001:002 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of 16:001:003 And 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. 16:001:004 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down 16:001:005 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and 16:001:006 Let 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. 16:001:007 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept 16:001:008 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy 16:001:009 But 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. 16:001:010 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. 16:001:011 O 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. 16:002:001 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. 16:002:002 Wherefore 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, 16:002:003 And 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? 16:002:004 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 16:002:005 And 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. 16:002:006 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) 16:002:007 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let 16:002:008 And 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. 16:002:009 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them 16:002:010 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the 16:002:011 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. 16:002:012 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither 16:002:013 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before 16:002:014 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's 16:002:015 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, 16:002:016 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither 16:002:017 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how 16:002:018 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; 16:002:019 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the 16:002:020 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, 16:003:001 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the 16:003:002 And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri. 16:003:003 But 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. 16:003:004 And 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. 16:003:005 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their LORD. 16:003:006 Moreover 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. 16:003:007 And 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. 16:003:008 Next 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. 16:003:009 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem. 16:003:010 And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah. 16:003:011 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, 16:003:012 And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the 16:003:013 The 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. 16:003:014 But 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. 16:003:015 But 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. 16:003:016 After 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. 16:003:017 After 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. 16:003:018 After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah. 16:003:019 And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of 16:003:020 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the 16:003:021 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz 16:003:022 And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain. 16:003:023 After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their 16:003:024 After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, 16:003:025 Palal 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. 16:003:026 Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out. 16:003:027 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against 16:003:028 From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over 16:003:029 After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his 16:003:030 After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun 16:003:031 After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place 16:003:032 And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants. 16:004:001 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. 16:004:002 And 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? 16:004:003 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that 16:004:004 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach 16:004:005 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted 16:004:006 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. 16:004:007 But 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, 16:004:008 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight 16:004:009 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch 16:004:010 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is 16:004:011 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, 16:004:012 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them 16:004:013 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on 16:004:014 And 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. 16:004:015 And 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. 16:004:016 And 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. 16:004:017 They 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. 16:004:018 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. 16:004:019 And 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. 16:004:020 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, 16:004:021 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears 16:004:022 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every 16:004:023 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of 16:005:001 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. 16:005:002 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are 16:005:003 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, 16:005:004 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. 16:005:005 Yet 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. 16:005:006 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 16:005:007 Then 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. 16:005:008 And 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. 16:005:009 Also 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? 16:005:010 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. 16:005:011 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, 16:005:012 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing 16:005:013 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from 16:005:014 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their 16:005:015 But the former governors that had been before me were 16:005:016 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought 16:005:017 Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the 16:005:018 Now 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. 16:005:019 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people. 16:006:001 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;) 16:006:002 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us 16:006:003 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great 16:006:004 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I 16:006:005 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the 16:006:006 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and 16:006:007 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at 16:006:008 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. 16:006:009 For 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. 16:006:010 Afterward 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. 16:006:011 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, 16:006:012 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he 16:006:013 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, 16:006:014 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to 16:006:015 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. 16:006:016 And 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. 16:006:017 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them. 16:006:018 For 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. 16:006:019 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. 16:007:001 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up 16:007:002 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the 16:007:003 And 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. 16:007:004 Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. 16:007:005 And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, 16:007:006 These are the children of the province, that went up out of 16:007:007 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, 16:007:008 The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two. 16:007:009 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. 16:007:010 The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two. 16:007:011 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen. 16:007:012 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 16:007:013 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five. 16:007:014 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore. 16:007:015 The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight. 16:007:016 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight. 16:007:017 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two. 16:007:018 The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven. 16:007:019 The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven. 16:007:020 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five. 16:007:021 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. 16:007:022 The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight. 16:007:023 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four. 16:007:024 The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve. 16:007:025 The children of Gibeon, ninety and five. 16:007:026 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight. 16:007:027 The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight. 16:007:028 The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two. 16:007:029 The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three. 16:007:030 The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one. 16:007:031 The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two. 16:007:032 The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three. 16:007:033 The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two. 16:007:034 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 16:007:035 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty. 16:007:036 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five. 16:007:037 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and 16:007:038 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and 16:007:039 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 16:007:040 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. 16:007:041 The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. 16:007:042 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. 16:007:043 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the 16:007:044 The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and 16:007:045 The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, 16:007:046 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, 16:007:047 The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of 16:007:048 The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children 16:007:049 The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of 16:007:050 The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of 16:007:051 The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of 16:007:052 The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of 16:007:053 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children 16:007:054 The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children 16:007:055 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children 16:007:056 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 16:007:057 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the 16:007:058 The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of 16:007:059 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the 16:007:060 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, 16:007:061 And these were they which went up also from Telmelah, 16:007:062 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two. 16:007:063 And 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. 16:007:064 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by 16:007:065 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of 16:007:066 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, 16:007:067 Beside 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. 16:007:068 Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two 16:007:069 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven 16:007:070 And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The 16:007:071 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of 16:007:072 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand 16:007:073 So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the 16:008:001 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man 16:008:002 And 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. 16:008:003 And 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. 16:008:004 And 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. 16:008:005 And 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: 16:008:006 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people 16:008:007 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, 16:008:008 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 16:008:009 And 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. 16:008:010 Then 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. 16:008:011 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. 16:008:012 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to 16:008:013 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the 16:008:014 And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded 16:008:015 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, 16:008:016 So the people went forth, and brought them, and made 16:008:017 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of 16:008:018 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read 16:009:001 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of 16:009:002 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all 16:009:003 And 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. 16:009:004 Then 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. 16:009:005 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, 16:009:006 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the 16:009:007 Thou 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; 16:009:008 And 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: 16:009:009 And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea; 16:009:010 And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his 16:009:011 And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went 16:009:012 Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and 16:009:013 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them 16:009:014 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst 16:009:015 And 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. 16:009:016 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, 16:009:017 And 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. 16:009:018 Yea, 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; 16:009:019 Yet 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. 16:009:020 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and 16:009:021 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so 16:009:022 Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst 16:009:023 Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, 16:009:024 So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou 16:009:025 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed 16:009:026 Nevertheless 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. 16:009:027 Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their 16:009:028 But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: 16:009:029 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them 16:009:030 Yet 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. 16:009:031 Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God. 16:009:032 Now 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. 16:009:033 Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly: 16:009:034 Neither 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. 16:009:035 For 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. 16:009:036 Behold, 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: 16:009:037 And 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. 16:009:038 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; 16:010:001 Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son 16:010:002 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 16:010:003 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, 16:010:004 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 16:010:005 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 16:010:006 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 16:010:007 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 16:010:008 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests. 16:010:009 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the 16:010:010 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, 16:010:011 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, 16:010:012 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 16:010:013 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu. 16:010:014 The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani, 16:010:015 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16:010:016 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 16:010:017 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur, 16:010:018 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai, 16:010:019 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 16:010:020 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 16:010:021 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua, 16:010:022 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 16:010:023 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub, 16:010:024 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek, 16:010:025 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 16:010:026 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, 16:010:027 Malluch, Harim, Baanah. 16:010:028 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the 16:010:029 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a 16:010:030 And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, not take their daughters for our sons: 16:010:031 And 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. 16:010:032 Also 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; 16:010:033 For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and 16:010:034 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the 16:010:035 And 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: 16:010:036 Also 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: 16:010:037 And 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. 16:010:038 And 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. 16:010:039 For 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. 16:011:001 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. 16:011:002 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. 16:011:003 Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in |