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Nehemiah reforms usury.

CHAP. V.

Nehemiah's hospitality.

that we returned all of us to the wall, said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one every one unto his work. of his brother. And I set a great assembly 16 And it came to pass from that time against them. forth, that the half of my servants wrought| 8 And I said unto them, We, after our in the work, and the other half of them ability, have redeemed our brethren the held both the spears, the shields, and the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers and will ye even sell your brethren? or were behind all the house of Judah. shall they be sold unto us? Then held they 17 They which builded on the wall, and their peace, and found nothing to answer. they that bare burdens, with those that 9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: laded, every one with one of his hands ought ye not to walk in the fear of our wrought in the work, and with the other God because of the reproach of the heathen hand held a weapon. our enemies?

18 For the builders, every one had his 10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my sword girded by his side, and so builded. servants, might exact of them money and And he that sounded the trumpet was by corn: I pray you, let us leave off this

me.

usury.

19 T And I said unto the nobles, and to 11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even the rulers, and to the rest of the people, this day, their lands, their vineyards, their The work is great and large, and we are oliveyards, and their houses, also the hunseparated upon the wall, one far from dredth part of the money, and of the corn, another.

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

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

the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

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

22 Likewise at the same time said I unto 13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So the people, Let every one with his servant God shake out every man from his house, lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night and from his labour, that performeth not they may be a guard to us, and labour on this promise, even thus be he shaken out, the day. and emptied. And all the congregation 23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And my servants, nor the men of the guard the people did according to this promise. which followed me, none of us put off our 14 Moreover, from the time that I clothes, saving that every one put them off was appointed to be their governor in the for washing. land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of

CHAP. V.

AND there was a great cry of the peo-Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years,

ple and of their wives against their I and my brethren have not eaten the brethren the Jews. bread of the governor.

2 For there were that said, We, our 15 But the former governors that had sons, and our daughters, are many there-been before me were chargeable unto the fore we take up corn for them, that we people, and had taken of them bread and may eat, and live. wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, 3 Some also there were that said, We even their servants bare rule over the peohave mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and ple: but so did not I, because of the fear houses, that we might buy corn, because of God.

of the dearth.

16 Yea, also I continued in the work of 4 There were also that said, We have this wall, neither bought we any land: borrowed money for the king's tribute, and all my servants were gathered thither and that upon our lands and vineyards. Junto the work.

5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our 17 Moreover, there were at my table a brethren, our children as their children: bundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, and lo, we bring into bondage our sons and besides those that came unto us from our daughters to be servants, and some of among the heathen that are about us. our daughters are brought into bondage. 18 Now that which was prepared for already: neither is it in our power to re-me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; deem them; for other men have our lands also fowls were prepared for me, and once and vineyards. in ten days store of all sorts of wine; yet

6¶ And I was very angry when I heard for all this required not I the bread of the their cry and these words. governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and 19 Think upon me, my God, for good

Insidious conduct of Sanballat. NEHEMIAH.

The wall is finished.

according to all that I have done for this and Sanballat, according to these their

people.

NOW

CHAP. VI.

OW 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 ;)

works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.

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

16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these 2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto things, they were much cast down in their me, saying, Come, let us meet together in own eyes for they perceived that this some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. work was wrought of our God. But they thought to do me mischief.

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

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

18 For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his 4 Yet they sent unto me four times after son Johanan had taken the daughter of this sort; and I answered them after the Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19 Also they reported his good deeds

same manner.

5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto before me, and uttered my words to him. me in like manner the fifth time with an And Tobiah sent letters to put me in open letter in his hand;

fear.

CHAP. VII.

6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, NOW it came to pass, when the wall that thou and the Jews think to rebel: was built, and I had set up the which cause thou buildest the wall, that doors, and the porters, and the singers, and thou mayest be their king, according to the Levites were appointed, these words.

2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and

7 And thou hast also appointed pro- Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge phets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, say- over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, ing, There is a king in Judah and now and feared God above many. shall it be reported to the king according 3 And I said unto them, Let not the to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them 8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint are no such things done as thou sayest, but watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, thou feignest them out of thine own heart. every one in his watch, and every one to 9 For they all made us afraid, saying, be over against his house. Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

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

10 Afterward I came unto the house of 5 T And my God put into my heart to Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of gather together the nobles, and the rulers, Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he and the people, that they might be reckonsaid, Let us meet together in the house of ed by genealogy. And I found a register God, within the temple, and let us shut of the genealogy of them which came up the doors of the temple for they will at the first, and found written therein, come to slay thee; yea, in the night will 6 These are the children of the prothey come to slay thee.

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

vince, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom I Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city; 12 And lo, I perceived that God had 7 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, not sent him; but that he pronounced this Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, prophecy against me for Tobiah and Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Sanballat had hired him. Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of 13 Therefore was he hired,that I should the men of the people of Israel was this; be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

8 The children of Parosh, two thou sand a hundred seventy and two. 9 The children of Shephatiah, three

14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah hundred seventy and two.

The register of those that

CHAP. VII.

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

11 The children of Pahath moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, t vo thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.

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

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

14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24 The children of Hariph, a hundred and twelve.

25 The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.

26 The men of Beth-lehem and Netophah, a hundred fourscore and eight.

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

28 The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty and two.

29 The men of Kirjath-jearim, Chephirab, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three.

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

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

returned from Babylon.

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

42 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

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

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

45 T The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the chil dren of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred thirty and eight.

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

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

48 The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai, 49 The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,

50 The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 51 The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,

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

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

54 The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 55 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,

56 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.

57 T The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,

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

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

60 All the Nethinims, and the children 32 The men of Beth-el and Ai, a hun-of Solomon's servants, were three hundred dred twenty and three. ninety and two.

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

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

35 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

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

62 The children of Delaiah, the chil36 The children of Jericho, three hun-dren of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, dred forty and five.

37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one. 38 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.

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

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

six hundred forty and two.

63 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.

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

The law is read.

NEHEMIAH.

The people are comforted. 65 And the Tirshatha said unto them, sight of all the people; (for he was above that they should not eat of the most holy all the people;) and when he opened it, all things, till there stood up a priest with the people stood up:

Urim and Thummim. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great 66 The whole congregation together God. And all the people answered, Amen, was forty and two thousand three hundred Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they and threescore. bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

67 Besides their man-servants and their maid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing-men and singing-women.

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

Co Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six their mules, two hundred forty stood in their place. and five:

8 So they read in the book in the law of 69 Their camels, four hundred thirty God distinctly, and gave the sense, and and five six thousand seven hundred and caused them to understand the reading. twenty asses. 9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tir

70 And some of the chief of the fathers shatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave the Levites that taught the people, said to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, unto all the people, This day is holy unto fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests' the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. garments. For all the people wept, when they heard

71 And some of the chief of the fathers the words of the law. gave to the treasure of the work twenty 10 Then he said unto them, Go your thousand drams of gold, and two thousand way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and and two hundred pounds of silver. send portions unto them for whom nothing 72 And that which the rest of the peo- is prepared: for this day is holy unto our ple gave was twenty thousand drams of LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, the LORD is your strength.

and threescore and seven priests' garments. 11 So the Levites stilled all the people,

73 So the priests, and the Levites, and saying, Hold your peace, for the day is the porters, and the singers, and some of holy; neither be ye grieved.

the people, and the Nethinims, and all 12 And all the people went their way to Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when eat, and to drink, and to send portions, the seventh month came, the children of and to make great mirth, because they had Israel were in their cities. understood the words that were declared unto them.

AND all

CHAP. VIII.

ND all the people gathered them- 13 T And on the second day were gaselves together as one man into the thered together the chief of the fathers of street that was before the water-gate; and all the people, the priests, and the Levites, they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the book of the law of Moses, which the the words of the law. LORD had commanded to Israel.

14 And they found written in the law

2 And Ezra the priest brought the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, before the congregation both of men and that the children of Israel should dwell in women, and all that could hear with un-booths in the feast of the seventh month: derstanding, upon the first day of the 15 And that they should publish and seventh month. proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusa3 And he read therein before the street lem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and that was before the water-gate from the fetch olive-branches, and pine-branches, morning until mid-day, before the men and and myrtle-branches, and palm-branches, the women, and those that could under- and branches of thick trees, to make booths, stand; and the ears of all the people were as it is written. attentive unto the book of the law.

16 So the people went forth, and 4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pul-brought them, and made themselves booths, pit of wood, which they had made for the every one upon the roof of his house, and purpose; and beside him stood Matti- in their courts, and in the courts of the house thiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uri- of God, and in the street of the water-gate, jab, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, 17 And all the congregation of them that and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, were come again out of the captivity made and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshul- booths, and sat under the booths; for since lam. the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done

5 And Ezra opened the book in the

A solemn fast.

CHAP. IX.

Confession of the Levites. so. And there was very great gladness. a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way 18 Also day by day, from the first day wherein they should go. unto the last day, he read in the book of 13 Thou camest down also upon mount the law of God. And they kept the feast Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, seven days; and on the eighth day was a and gavest them right judgments, and true solemn assembly, according unto the laws, good statutes and commandments: 14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them pre

manner.

CHAP. IX.

NOW in the twenty and fourth day of cepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of

this month the children of Israel Moses thy servant: were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.

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

3 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.

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

17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst 4 Then stood up upon the stairs, of among them; but hardened their necks, the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, and in their rebellion appointed a captain Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and to return to their bondage: but thou art a Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto God ready to pardon, gracious and mercithe LORD their God. ful, slow to anger, and of great kindness,

5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kad- and forsookest them not. miel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodi- 18 Yea, when they had made them a jah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand molten calf, and said, This is thy God that up and bless the LORD your God for ever brought thee up out of Egypt, and had and ever and blessed be thy glorious wrought great provocations; name, which is exalted above all blessing 19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies and praise. forsookest them not in the wilderness: the 6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou pillar of the cloud departed not from them hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, by day, to lead them in the way; neither with all their host, the earth, and all things the pillar of fire by night, to shew them that are therein, the seas, and all that is light, and the way wherein they should go. therein, and thou preservest them all; and 20 Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to the host of heaven worshippeth thee. instruct them, and withheldest not thy 7 Thou art the LORD the God, who manna from their mouth, and gavest them didst choose Abram, and broughtest him water for their thirst. forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;

21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked 8 And foundest his heart faithful before nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and thee, and madest a covenant with him to their feet swelled not. give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, 22 Moreover, thou gavest them kingthe Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the doms and nations, and didst divide them Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I into corners: so they possessed the land of say, to his seed, and hast performed thy Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshwords; for thou art righteous: bon, and the land of Og king of Bashan. 9 And didst see the affliction of our 23 Their children also multipliedst thou fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them the Red sea; into the land, concerning which thou hadst 10 And shewedst signs and wonders promised to their fathers, that they should upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and go in to possess it.

on all the people of his land: for thou knew- 24 So the children went in and possessest that they dealt proudly against them. So ed the land, and thou subduedst before them didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day. the inhabitants of the land, the Canaan11 And thou didst divide the sea before ites, and gavest them into their hands, with them, so that they went through the midst their kings, and the people of the land, that of the sea on the dry land; and their per- they might do with them as they would. secutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a 25 And they too strong cities, and a stone into the mighty waters. fat land, and possessed houses full of all 12 Moreover, thou leddest them in the goods, wells digged, vineyards and oliveday by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by yards, and fruit-trees in abundance: so

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