\NormalFont\ShortTitle{1 Esdras}

{\MT The First Book of Esdras

\par }{\IP {\BK{The First Book of Esdras}} is recognised as Deuterocanonical Scripture by
the Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox Churches. It is not recognised by the Roman Catholic Church, but
1 Esdras is placed as an appendix to the Latin Vulgate Bible.


\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}\XREF{*}{{\XO 1:1: }{\XT{2 Kings 23:21;
2 Chronicles 35:1}}}Josias held the Passover in Jerusalem to his Lord,
and offered the Passover the fourteenth day of the first month,

\VS{2}having set the priests according to their daily courses, being arrayed in their
vestments, in the Lord’s temple.

\VS{3}He spoke to the Levites,
\XREF{*}{{\XO 1:3: }{\XT{Numbers 3:9}}}the temple servants of Israel, that they should
make themselves holy to the Lord, to set the holy ark of the Lord in the house that King Solomon the son
of David had built.

\VS{4}He said, “You no longer need to carry it on your shoulders. Now therefore serve
the Lord your God, and minister to his people Israel, and prepare yourselves by your fathers’ houses and
kindred,

\VS{5}according to the writing of King David of Israel, and according to the magnificence
of Solomon his son. Stand in the holy place according to the divisions of your Levite families who minister
in the presence of your kindred the descendants of Israel.

\VS{6}Offer the Passover in order, prepare the sacrifices for your kindred, and keep
the Passover according to the Lord’s commandment, which was given to Moses.


\par }{\PP \VS{7}To the people which were present, Josias gave thirty thousand lambs
and kids, and three thousand calves. These things were given from the king’s possessions, as he promised,
to the people and to the priests and Levites.

\VS{8}Helkias, Zacharias, and
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 1:8: }{\FQ{Jehiel,
}}{\FT{2 Chronicles 35:8.}}}Esyelus, the rulers of the temple, gave
to the priests for the Passover two thousand and six hundred sheep, and three hundred calves.

\VS{9}Jeconias, Samaias, Nathanael his brother, Sabias, Ochielus, and Joram, captains
over thousands, gave to the Levites for the Passover five thousand sheep and seven hundred calves.


\par }{\PP \VS{10}When these things were done, the priests and Levites, having
the unleavened bread, stood in proper order according to the kindred,

\VS{11}and according to the several divisions by fathers’ houses, before the people,
to offer to the Lord as it is written in the book of Moses. They did this in the morning.

\VS{12}They roasted the Passover lamb with fire, as required. They boiled the sacrifices
in the brazen vessels and cauldrons with a pleasing smell,

\VS{13}and set them before all the people. Afterward they prepared for themselves
and for their kindred the priests, the sons of Aaron.

\VS{14}For the priests offered the fat until night. The Levites prepared for themselves
and for their kindred the priests, the sons of Aaron.

\VS{15}The holy singers also, the sons of Asaph, were in their order, according to
the appointment of David: Asaph, Zacharias, and Eddinus, who represented the king.

\VS{16}Moreover the gatekeepers were at every gate. No one needed to depart from
his daily duties, for their kindred the Levites prepared for them.


\par }{\PP \VS{17}So the things that belonged to the Lord’s sacrifices were accomplished
in that day, in holding the Passover,

\VS{18}and offering sacrifices on the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment
of King Josias.

\VS{19}So the children of Israel which were present at that time held the Passover
and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.

\VS{20}Such a Passover had not been held in Israel since the time of the prophet
Samuel.

\VS{21}Indeed, none of the kings of Israel held such a Passover as Josias with the
priests, the Levites, and the Jews, held with all Israel that were present in their dwelling place at
Jerusalem.

\VS{22}This Passover was held in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josias.

\VS{23}The works of Josias were upright before his Lord with a heart full of godliness.

\VS{24}Moreover the things that came to pass in his days have been written in times
past, concerning those who sinned and did wickedly against the Lord more than any other people or kingdom,
and how they grieved him
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 1:24: }{\FT{Or,
}}{\FQA{sensibly
}}{\FT{Judges 16:17.}}}exceedingly, so that the Lord’s words were
confirmed against Israel.


\par }{\PP \VS{25}\XREF{*}{{\XO 1:25: }{\XT{2 Chronicles 35:20}}}Now after all these acts of Josias, it
came to pass that Pharaoh the king of Egypt came to make war at Carchemish on the Euphrates; and Josias
went out against him.

\VS{26}But the king of Egypt sent to him, saying, “What do I have to do with you,
O king of Judea?

\VS{27}I wasn’t sent out from the Lord God against you, for my war is against the
Euphrates. Now the Lord is with me, yes, the Lord is with me hastening me forward. Depart from me, and
don’t be against the Lord.”


\par }{\PP \VS{28}However, Josias didn’t turn back to his chariot, but tried to
fight with him, not regarding the words of the prophet Jeremy from the Lord’s mouth,

\VS{29}but joined battle with him in the plain of Megiddo, and the commanders came
down against King Josias.

\VS{30}Then the king said to his servants, “Carry me away out of the battle, for
I am very weak!” Immediately his servants carried him away out of the army.

\VS{31}Then he got into his second chariot. After he was brought back to Jerusalem
he died, and was buried in the tomb of his ancestors.

\VS{32}All Judea mourned for Josias. Jeremy the prophet lamented for Josias, and
the chief men with the women made lamentation for him to this day. This was given out for an ordinance
to be done continually in all the nation of Israel.

\VS{33}These things are written in the book of the histories of the kings of Judea,
and every one of the acts that Josias did, and his glory, and his understanding in the law of the Lord,
and the things that he had done before, and the things now told, are reported in the book of the kings
of Israel and Judah.


\par }{\PP \VS{34}\XREF{*}{{\XO 1:34: }{\XT{2 Kings 23:30;
2 Chronicles 36:1}}}The people took
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 1:34: }{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{Jeconias.}}}Joachaz the son of Josias, and made him king instead of Josias his father,
when he was twenty-three years old.

\VS{35}He reigned in Judah and Jerusalem for three months. Then the king of Egypt
deposed him from reigning in Jerusalem.

\VS{36}He set a tax upon the people of one hundred talents of silver and one talent
of gold.

\VS{37}The king of Egypt also made King Joakim his brother king of Judea and Jerusalem.

\VS{38}And Joakim imprisoned the nobles and apprehended his brother Zarakes, and
brought him up out of Egypt.


\par }{\PP \VS{39}\XREF{*}{{\XO 1:39: }{\XT{2 Chronicles 36:4-5}}}Joakim was twenty-five years old when he
began to reign in Judea and Jerusalem. He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.

\VS{40}King Nabuchodonosor of Babylon came up against him, bound him with a chain
of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

\VS{41}Nabuchodonosor also took some of the Lord’s holy vessels, carried them away,
and stored them in his own temple at Babylon.

\VS{42}But those things that are reported of him, and of his uncleanness and impiety,
are written in the chronicles of the kings.

\VS{43}Then Joakim his son reigned in his place. When he was made king, he was eighteen
years old.

\VS{44}He reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did that which was evil
before the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{45}So after a year Nabuchodonosor sent and caused him to be brought
to Babylon with the holy vessels of the Lord,

\VS{46}and made Sedekias king of Judea and Jerusalem when he was twenty-one years
old. He reigned eleven years.

\VS{47}He also did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and didn’t heed
the words that were spoken by Jeremy the prophet from the Lord’s mouth.

\VS{48}After King Nabuchodonosor had made him to swear by the name of the Lord, he
broke his oath and rebelled. Hardening his neck and his heart, he transgressed the laws of the Lord, the
God of Israel.

\VS{49}Moreover the governors of the people and of the priests did many things wickedly,
exceeding all the defilements of all nations, and defiled the temple of the Lord, which was sanctified
in Jerusalem.

\VS{50}The God of their ancestors sent by his messenger to call them back, because
he had compassion on them and on his dwelling place.

\VS{51}But they mocked his messengers. In the day when the Lord spoke, they scoffed
at his prophets

\VS{52}until he, being angry with his people for their great ungodliness, commanded
to bring up the kings of the Chaldeans against them.

\VS{53}They killed their young men with the sword around their holy temple, and spared
neither young man or young woman, old man or child; but he delivered all of them into their hands.

\VS{54}They took all the holy vessels of the Lord, both great and small, with the
treasure chests of the Lord’s ark and the king’s treasures, and carried them away to Babylon.

\VS{55}They burnt the Lord’s house, broke down Jerusalem’s walls, and burnt its towers
with fire.

\VS{56}As for her glorious things, they didn’t stop until they had brought them all
to nothing. He carried the people who weren’t slain with the sword to Babylon.

\VS{57}They were servants to him and to his children until the Persians reigned,
to fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremy:

\VS{58}“Until the land has enjoyed its Sabbaths, the whole time of her desolation
shall she keep Sabbath, to fulfil seventy years.



\par }\Chap{2}{\PP \VerseOne{1}In the
\XREF{*}{{\XO 2:1: }{\XT{2 Chronicles 36:22,23;
Ezra 1:1}}}first year of King Cyrus of the Persians, that the word of the
Lord by the mouth of Jeremy might be accomplished,

\VS{2}the Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of the Persians, and he made a
proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also by writing,

\VS{3}saying, “Cyrus king of the Persians says: The Lord of Israel, the Most High
Lord, has made me king of the whole world,

\VS{4}and commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem that is in Judea.

\VS{5}If therefore there are any of you that are of his people, let the Lord, even
his Lord, be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord
of Israel. He is the Lord who dwells in Jerusalem.

\VS{6}Therefore, of those who dwell in various places, let those who are in his own
place each help with gold, with silver,

\VS{7}with gifts, with horses, and cattle, beside the other things which have been
added by vow for the temple of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{8}Then the chief of the families of Judah and of the tribe of Benjamin
stood up, with the priests, the Levites, and all whose spirit the Lord had stirred to go up, to build
the house for the Lord which is in Jerusalem.

\VS{9}Those who lived around them helped them in all things with silver and gold,
with horses and cattle, and with very many gifts that were vowed by a great number whose minds were so
moved.


\par }{\PP \VS{10}King Cyrus also brought out the holy vessels of the Lord, which
Nabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem and had stored in his temple of idols.

\VS{11}Now when King Cyrus of the Persians had brought them out, he delivered them
to Mithradates his treasurer,

\VS{12}and by him they were delivered to
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 2:12: }{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{Simanassar.}}}Sanabassar the governor of Judea.

\VS{13}This was the number of them: one thousand gold cups, one thousand silver cups,
twenty-nine silver censers, thirty gold bowls, two thousand and four hundred and ten silver bowls, and
one thousand other vessels.

\VS{14}So all the vessels of gold and of silver were brought up, even five thousand and four
hundred and seventy-nine,

\VS{15}and were carried back by Sanabassar, together with the returning exiles, from
Babylon to Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{16}\XREF{*}{{\XO 2:16: }{\XT{Ezra 4:7}}}In the time of King Artaxerxes of the Persians, Belemus,
Mithradates, Tabellius,
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 2:16: }{\FQA{Rehum,}}}Rathumus, Beeltethmus, and
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 2:16: }{\FQA{Shimshai.}}}Samellius the scribe, with their other associates, dwelling in Samaria and
other places, wrote to him against those who lived in Judea and Jerusalem the following letter:


\par }{\PP \VS{17}“To King Artaxerxes our Lord, from your servants, Rathumus the
recorder, Samellius the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges who are in Coelesyria and
Phoenicia:

\VS{18}Let it now be known to our lord the king, that the Jews that have come up
from you to us, having come to Jerusalem, are building that rebellious and wicked city, and are repairing
its marketplaces and walls, and are laying the foundation of a temple.

\VS{19}Now if this city is built and its walls are finished, they will not only refuse
to give tribute, but will even stand up against kings.

\VS{20}Since the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it appropriate
not to neglect such a matter,

\VS{21}but to speak to our lord the king, to the intent that, if it is your pleasure,
search may be made in the books of your ancestors.

\VS{22}You will find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and
will understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and cities,

\VS{23}and that the Jews were rebellious, and kept starting wars there in the past.
For this cause, this city was laid waste.

\VS{24}Therefore now we do declare to you, O lord the king, that if this city is
built again, and its walls set up again, you will from then on have no passage into Coelesyria and Phoenicia.”


\par }{\PP \VS{25}Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the recorder, Beeltethmus,
Samellius the scribe, and to the rest of their associates who lived in Samaria, Syria, and Phoenicia,
as follows:


\par }{\PP \VS{26}“I have read the letter which you have sent to me. Therefore
I commanded to make search, and it has been found that that city of old time has fought against kings,

\VS{27}and the men were given to rebellion and war in it, and that mighty and fierce
kings were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tribute in Coelesyria and Phoenicia.

\VS{28}Now therefore I have commanded to prevent those men from building the city,
and heed to be taken that there be nothing done contrary to this order,

\VS{29}and that those wicked doings proceed no further to the annoyance of kings.”

\VS{30}Then King Artaxerxes, his letters being read, Rathumus, and Samellius the
scribe, and the rest of their associates, went in haste to Jerusalem with cavalry and a multitude of people
in battle array, and began to hinder the builders. So the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until
the second year of the reign of King Darius of the Persians.



\par }\Chap{3}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now King Darius made a great feast for all his subjects, for all
who were born in his house, for all the princes of Media and of Persia,

\VS{2}and for all the local governors and captains and governors who were under him,
from India to Ethiopia, in the one hundred and twenty seven provinces.

\VS{3}They ate and drank, and when they were satisfied went home. Then King Darius
went into his bedchamber and slept, but awakened out of his sleep.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}Then the three young men of the bodyguard, who guarded the king,
spoke one to another:

\VS{5}“Let every one of us state what one thing is strongest. King Darius will give
him whose statement seems wiser than the others great gifts and great honours in token of victory.

\VS{6}He shall be clothed in purple, drink from gold cups, sleep on a gold bed, and
have a chariot with bridles of gold, a fine linen turban, and a chain around his neck.

\VS{7}He shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be called cousin
of Darius.”


\par }{\PP \VS{8}Then they each wrote his sentence, sealed them, and laid them under
King Darius’ pillow,

\VS{9}and said, “When the king wakes up, someone will give him the writing. Whoever
the king and the three princes of Persia judge that his sentence is the wisest, to him shall the victory
be given, as it is written.”

\VS{10}The first wrote, “Wine is the strongest.”

\VS{11}The second wrote, “The king is strongest.”

\VS{12}The third wrote, “Women are strongest, but above all things Truth is the victor.”


\par }{\PP \VS{13}Now when the king woke up, they took the writing and gave it
to him, so he read it.

\VS{14}Sending out, he called all the princes of Persia and of Media, the local governors,
the captains, the governors, and the chief officers

\VS{15}and sat himself down in the royal seat of judgement; and the writing was read
before them.

\VS{16}He said, “Call the young men, and they shall explain their own sentences.
So they were called and came in.

\VS{17}They said to them, “Explain what you have written.”

\par }{\PP Then the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine, began

\VS{18}and said this: “O sirs, how exceedingly strong wine is! It causes all men
who drink it to go astray.

\VS{19}It makes the mind of the king and of the fatherless child to be the same,
likewise of the bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man and of the rich.

\VS{20}It also turns every thought into cheer and mirth, so that a man remembers
neither sorrow nor debt.

\VS{21}It makes every heart rich, so that a man remembers neither king nor local
governor. It makes people say things in large amounts.

\VS{22}When they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and kindred,
and before long draw their swords.

\VS{23}But when they awake from their wine, they don’t remember what they have done.

\VS{24}O sirs, isn’t wine the strongest, seeing that it forces people to do this?”
And when he had said this, he stopped speaking.



\par }\Chap{4}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Then the second, who had spoken of the strength of the king, began
to say,

\VS{2}“O sirs, don’t men excel in strength who rule over the sea and land, and all
things in them?

\VS{3}But yet the king is stronger. He is their lord and has dominion over them. In
whatever he commands them, they obey him.

\VS{4}If he tells them to make war against each other, they do it. If he sends them
out against the enemies, they go, and conquer mountains, walls, and towers.

\VS{5}They kill and are killed, and don’t disobey the king’s commandment. If they
win the victory, they bring everything to the king—all the plunder and everything else.

\VS{6}Likewise for those who are not soldiers, and don’t have anything to do with
wars, but farm, when they have reaped again that which they had sown, they bring some to the king and
compel one another to pay tribute to the king.

\VS{7}He is just one man! If he commands people to kill, they kill. If he commands
them to spare, they spare.

\VS{8}If he commands them to strike, they strike. If he commands them to make desolate,
they make desolate. If he commands to build, they build.

\VS{9}If he commands them to cut down, they cut down. If he commands them to plant,
they plant.

\VS{10}So all his people and his armies obey him. Furthermore, he lies down, he eats
and drinks, and takes his rest;

\VS{11}and these keep watch around him. None of them may depart and do his own business.
They don’t disobey him in anything.

\VS{12}O sirs, how could the king not be the strongest, seeing that he is obeyed
like this?” Then he stopped talking.


\par }{\PP \VS{13}Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of truth, (this
was Zorobabel) began to speak:

\VS{14}“O sirs, isn’t the king great, and men are many, and isn’t wine strong? Who
is it then who rules them, or has the lordship over them? Aren’t they women?

\VS{15}Women have given birth to the king and all the people who rule over sea and
land.

\VS{16}They came from women. Women nourished up those who planted the vineyards,
from where the wine comes.

\VS{17}Women also make garments for men. These bring glory to men. Without women,
men can’t exist.

\VS{18}Yes, and if men have gathered together gold and silver and any other beautiful
thing, and see a woman who is lovely in appearance and beauty,

\VS{19}they let all those things go and gape at her, and with open mouth stare at
her. They all have more desire for her than for gold, or silver, or any other beautiful thing.

\VS{20}A man leaves his own father who brought him up, leaves his own country, and
joins with his wife.

\VS{21}With his wife he ends his days, with no thought for his father, mother, or
country.

\VS{22}By this also you must know that women have dominion over you. Don’t you labour
and toil, and bring it all to give to women?

\VS{23}Yes, a man takes his sword and goes out to travel, to rob, to steal, and to
sail on the sea and on rivers.

\VS{24}He sees a lion and walks in the darkness. When he has stolen, plundered, and
robbed, he brings it to the woman he loves.

\VS{25}Therefore a man loves his wife better than father or mother.

\VS{26}Yes, there are many who have lost their minds for women, and become slaves
for their sakes.

\VS{27}Many also have perished, have stumbled, and sinned, for women.

\VS{28}Now don’t you believe me? Isn’t the king great in his power? Don’t all regions
fear to touch him?

\VS{29}Yet I saw him and Apame the king’s concubine, the daughter of the illustrious
Barticus, sitting at the right hand of the king,

\VS{30}and taking the crown from the king’s head, and setting it upon her own head.
Yes, she struck the king with her left hand.

\VS{31}At this, the king gaped and gazed at her with open mouth. If she smiles at
him, he laughs. But if she takes any displeasure at him, he flatters her, that she might be reconciled
to him again.

\VS{32}O sirs, how can it not be that women are strong, seeing they do this?”


\par }{\PP \VS{33}Then the king and the nobles looked at one another. So he began
to speak concerning truth.

\VS{34}“O sirs, aren’t women strong? The earth is great. The sky is high. The sun
is swift in its course, for it circles around the sky, and returns on its course again in one day.

\VS{35}Isn’t he who makes these things great? Therefore the truth is great, and stronger
than all things.

\VS{36}All the earth calls upon truth, and the sky blesses truth. All works shake
and tremble, but with truth there is no unrighteous thing.

\VS{37}Wine is unrighteous. The king is unrighteous. Women are unrighteous. All the
children of men are unrighteous, and all their works are unrighteous. There is no truth in them. They
shall also perish in their unrighteousness.

\VS{38}But truth remains, and is strong forever. Truth lives and conquers forevermore.

\VS{39}With truth there is no partiality towards persons or rewards, but truth does
the things that are just, instead of any unrighteous or wicked things. All men approve truth’s works.

\VS{40}In truth’s judgement is not any unrighteousness. Truth is the strength, the
kingdom, the power, and the majesty of all ages. Blessed be the God of truth!”


\par }{\PP \VS{41}With that, he stopped speaking. Then all the people shouted and
said, “Great is truth, and strong above all things!”


\par }{\PP \VS{42}Then the king said to him, “Ask what you wish, even more than
is appointed in writing, and we will give it to you, because you are found wisest. You shall sit next
to me, and shall be called my cousin.”


\par }{\PP \VS{43}Then he said to the king, “Remember your vow, which you vowed
to build Jerusalem, in the day when you came to your kingdom,

\VS{44}and to send back all the vessels that were taken out of Jerusalem, which Cyrus
set apart when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and vowed to send them back there.

\VS{45}You also vowed to build the temple which the Edomites burnt when Judea was
made desolate by the Chaldeans.

\VS{46}Now, O lord the king, this is what I request, and what I desire of you, and
this is the princely generosity that may proceed from you: I ask therefore that you make good the vow,
the performance of which you have vowed to the King of Heaven with your own mouth.”


\par }{\PP \VS{47}Then King Darius stood up, kissed him, and wrote letters for
him to all the treasurers and governors and captains and local governors, that they should safely bring
on their way both him, and all those who would go up with him to build Jerusalem.

\VS{48}He wrote letters also to all the governors who were in Coelesyria and Phoenicia,
and to them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar wood from Libanus to Jerusalem, and that they should
help him build the city.

\VS{49}Moreover he wrote for all the Jews who would go out of his realm up into Judea
concerning their freedom, that no officer, no governor, no local governor, nor treasurer, should forcibly
enter into their doors,

\VS{50}and that all the country which they occupied should be free to them without
tribute, and that the Edomites should give up the villages of the Jews which they held at that time,

\VS{51}and that there should be given twenty talents yearly towards the building
of the temple, until the time that it was built,

\VS{52}and another ten talents yearly for burnt offerings to be presented upon the
altar every day, as they had a commandment to make seventeen offerings,

\VS{53}and that all those who would come from Babylonia to build the city should
have their freedom—they and their descendants, and all the priests that came.

\VS{54}He wrote also to give them their support and the priests’ vestments in which
they minister.

\VS{55}For the Levites he wrote that their support should be given them until the
day that the house was finished and Jerusalem built up.

\VS{56}He commanded that land and wages should be given to all who guarded the city.

\VS{57}He also sent away all the vessels from Babylon that Cyrus had set apart, and
all that Cyrus had given in commandment, he commanded also to be done and to be sent to Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{58}Now when this young man had gone out, he lifted up his face to
heaven towards Jerusalem, and praised the King of heaven,

\VS{59}and said, “From you comes victory. From you comes wisdom. Yours is the glory,
and I am your servant.

\VS{60}Blessed are you, who have given me wisdom. I give thanks to you, O Lord of
our fathers.

\VS{61}So he took the letters, went out, came to Babylon, and told it to all his
kindred.

\VS{62}They praised the God of their ancestors, because he had given them freedom
and liberty

\VS{63}to go up and to build Jerusalem and the temple which is called by his name.
They feasted with instruments of music and gladness for seven days.



\par }\Chap{5}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After this, the chiefs of fathers’ houses were chosen to go up
according to their tribes, with their wives, sons, and daughters, with their menservants and maidservants,
and their livestock.

\VS{2}Darius sent with them one thousand cavalry to bring them back to Jerusalem with
peace, with musical instruments, drums, and flutes.

\VS{3}All their kindred were making merry, and he made them go up together with them.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}These are the names of the men who went up, according to their
families amongst their tribes, after their several divisions.

\VS{5}The priests, the sons of Phinees, the sons of Aaron: Jesus the son of Josedek,
the son of Saraias, and Joakim the son of Zorobabel, the son of Salathiel, of the house of David, of the
lineage of Phares, of the tribe of Judah,

\VS{6}who spoke wise words before Darius the king of Persia in the second year of
his reign, in the month Nisan, which is the first month.


\par }{\PP \VS{7}\XREF{*}{{\XO 5:7: }{\XT{Ezra 2:1}}}These are the of Judeans who came up from the captivity,
where they lived as foreigners, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon.

\VS{8}They returned to Jerusalem and to the other parts of Judea, every man to his
own city, who came with Zorobabel, with Jesus, Nehemias,
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:8: }{\FQA{Seralah.}}}Zaraias, Resaias,\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:8: }{\FT{Or,
}}{\FQA{Enenis.}}}Eneneus, Mardocheus, Beelsarus,\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:8: }{\FQA{Mispar.}}} Aspharsus,\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:8: }{\FQA{Reclaiah}}} Reelias, Roimus, and Baana, their leaders.


\par }{\PP \VS{9}The number of them of the nation and their leaders: the sons of
Phoros, two thousand and one hundred and seventy two; the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:9: }{\FQA{Shephatiah.}}} Saphat, four hundred and seventy two;

\VS{10}the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:10: }{\FQA{Arah.}}} Ares, seven hundred and fifty six;

\VS{11}the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:11: }{\FQA{Pahath-moab.}}} Phaath Moab, of the sons of Jesus and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and twelve;

\VS{12}the sons of Elam, one thousand and two hundred and fifty four; the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:12: }{\FQA{Zattu.}}} Zathui, nine hundred and forty five; the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:12: }{\FQA{Zaccai.}}} Chorbe, seven hundred and five; the sons of Bani, six hundred and forty eight;

\VS{13}the sons of Bebai, six hundred and twenty three; the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:13: }{\FQA{Asgad.}}} Astad,\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:13: }{\FT{According to other readings, 3622, or 3222.}}} one thousand and three hundred and twenty
two;

\VS{14}the sons of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty seven; the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:14: }{\FQA{Bigvai.}}} Bagoi, two thousand and sixty six; the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:14: }{\FQA{Adin.}}} Adinu, four hundred and fifty four;

\VS{15}the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:15: }{\FQA{Ater of Hezekiah.}}} Ater, of Ezekias, ninety two; the sons of Kilan and Azetas, sixty
seven; the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:15: }{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{Azuru.}}} Azaru, four hundred and thirty two;

\VS{16}the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:16: }{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{Annias.}}} Annis, one hundred and one; the sons of Arom, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:16: }{\FQA{Bezai.}}} Bassai, three hundred and twenty three; the sons of Arsiphurith, one hundred and twelve;

\VS{17}the sons of Baiterus, three thousand and five; the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:17: }{\FQA{Bethlehem.}}} Bethlomon, one hundred and twenty three;

\VS{18}those from Netophas, fifty five; those from Anathoth, one hundred and fifty
eight; those from\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:18: }{\FQA{Azmaveth.}}} Bethasmoth, forty two;

\VS{19}those from
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:19: }{\FQA{Kiriath-arim
}}{\FT{or
}}{\FQA{Kiriath-jearim.}}}Kariathiarius, twenty five: those from Caphira and Beroth, seven hundred and forty
three;

\VS{20}the Chadiasai and Ammidioi, four hundred and twenty two; those from
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:20: }{\FQA{Rumah.}}}Kirama and
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:20: }{\FQA{Geba.}}}Gabbe, six hundred and twenty one;

\VS{21}those from
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:21: }{\FQA{Michmas.}}}Macalon, one hundred and twenty two; those from
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:21: }{\FQA{Bethel.}}}Betolion, fifty two; the sons of
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:21: }{\FQA{Magbish}}}Niphis, one hundred and fifty six;

\VS{22}the sons of
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:22: }{\FQA{Lod, Hadid.}}}Calamolalus and
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:22: }{\FQA{Ono.}}}Onus, seven hundred and twenty five; the sons of
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:22: }{\FQA{Jericho.}}}Jerechu,
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:22: }{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{two}}}three hundred and forty five;

\VS{23}and the sons of
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:23: }{\FQA{Senaah.}}}Sanaas, three thousand and three hundred and thirty.


\par }{\PP \VS{24}The priests: the sons of
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:24: }{\FQA{Jedaiah.}}}Jeddu, the son of Jesus, amongst the sons of Sanasib, nine hundred and seventy
two; the sons of
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:24: }{\FQA{Immer.}}}Emmeruth, one thousand and fifty two;

\VS{25}the sons of
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:25: }{\FQA{Pashhur.}}}Phassurus, one thousand and two hundred and forty seven; and the sons of
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:25: }{\FQA{Harim.}}}Charme, one thousand and seventeen.

\VS{26}The Levites: the sons of Jesus, Kadmiel, Bannas, and Sudias, seventy four.

\VS{27}The holy singers: the sons of Asaph, one hundred and twenty eight.

\VS{28}The gatekeepers: the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:28: }{\FQA{Shallum.}}} Salum, the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:28: }{\FQA{Ater.}}} Atar, the sons of Tolman, the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:28: }{\FQA{Akkub.}}} Dacubi, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:28: }{\FQA{Hatita.}}} Ateta, the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:28: }{\FQA{Shobai.}}} Sabi, in all one hundred and thirty nine.


\par }{\PP \VS{29}The temple servants: the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:29: }{\FQA{Ziha.}}} Esau, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:29: }{\FQA{Hasupha.}}} Asipha, the sons of Tabaoth, the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:29: }{\FQA{Keros.}}} Keras, the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:29: }{\FQA{Siaha.}}} Sua, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:29: }{\FQA{Padon.}}} Phaleas, the sons of Labana, the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:29: }{\FQA{Hagaba.}}} Aggaba.

\VS{30}the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:30: }{\FQA{Akkub.}}} Acud, the sons of Uta, the sons of Ketab, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:30: }{\FQA{Hagab.}}} Accaba, the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:30: }{\FQA{Shamlai.}}} Subai, the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:30: }{\FQA{Hanan.}}} Anan, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:30: }{\FQA{Giddel.}}} Cathua, the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:30: }{\FQA{Gahar}}} Geddur,

\VS{31}the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:31: }{\FQA{Reaiah.}}} Jairus, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:31: }{\FQA{Rezin.}}} Daisan, the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:31: }{\FQA{Nekoda.}}} Noeba, the sons of Chaseba, the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:31: }{\FQA{Gazzam.}}} Gazera, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:31: }{\FQA{Uzza.}}} Ozias, the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:31: }{\FQA{Paseah.}}} Phinoe, the sons of Asara, the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:31: }{\FQA{Besai.}}} Basthai, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:31: }{\FQA{Asnah.}}} Asana, the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:31: }{\FQA{Meunim.}}} Maani, the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:31: }{\FQA{Nephisim.}}} Naphisi, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:31: }{\FQA{Bakbuk.
}}{\FT{According to other readings,
}}{\FQA{Acum,
}}{\FT{or
}}{\FQA{Acuph.}}} Acub, the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:31: }{\FQA{Hakupha.}}} Achipha, the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:31: }{\FQA{Harhur.}}} Asur, the sons of Pharakim, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:31: }{\FQA{Bazluth.}}} Basaloth,

\VS{32}the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:32: }{\FQA{Mehida.}}} Meedda, the sons of Cutha, the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:32: }{\FQA{Harsha}}} Charea, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:32: }{\FQA{Barkos.}}} Barchus, the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:32: }{\FQA{Sisera.}}} Serar, the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:32: }{\FQA{Temah}}} Thomei, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:32: }{\FQA{Neziah.
}}{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{Nasith.}}} Nasi, the sons of Atipha.


\par }{\PP \VS{33}The sons of the servants of Solomon: the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:33: }{\FQA{Hussophereth.}}} Assaphioth, the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:33: }{\FQA{Peruda.}}} Pharida, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:33: }{\FQA{Jaalah.}}} Jeeli, the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:33: }{\FQA{Darkon.}}} Lozon, the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:33: }{\FQA{Giddel.}}} Isdael, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:33: }{\FQA{Shephatia.}}} Saphuthi,

\VS{34}the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:34: }{\FQA{Hattil.}}} Agia, the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:34: }{\FQA{Pochereth-haz-zebaim,
}}{\FT{Ezra 2:57.}}} Phacareth, the sons of Sabie, the sons of Sarothie,
the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:34: }{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{Misaias.}}} Masias, the sons of Gas, the sons of Addus, the sons of Subas, the sons of
Apherra, the sons of Barodis, the sons of Saphat, the sons of Allon.


\par }{\PP \VS{35}All the temple-servants and the sons of the servants of Solomon
were three hundred and seventy two.

\VS{36}These came up from\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:36: }{\FQA{Telmelah.}}} Thermeleth, and\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:36: }{\FQA{Telharsha.}}} Thelersas,\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:36: }{\FQA{Cherub. Addan.}}} Charaathalan leading them, and Allar;

\VS{37}and they could not show their families, nor their stock, how they were of
Israel: the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:37: }{\FQA{Delaiah.
}}{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{Asan.}}} Dalan the son of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:37: }{\FQA{Tobiah
}}{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{Baenan.}}} Ban, the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:37: }{\FQA{Nekoda.}}} Nekodan, six hundred and fifty two.


\par }{\PP \VS{38}Of the priests, those who usurped the office of the priesthood
and were not found: the sons of\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:38: }{\FQA{Habaiah,
}}{\FT{or
}}{\FQA{Hobaiah.}}} Obdia, the sons of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:38: }{\FQA{Hakkoz.}}} Akkos, the sons of Jaddus, who married Augia one of the daughters of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:38: }{\FQA{Barzillai.
}}{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{Phaezeldaeus.}}} Zorzelleus, and was called after his name.

\VS{39}When the description of the kindred of these men was sought in the register
and was not found, they were removed from executing the office of the priesthood;

\VS{40}for Nehemias and Attharias told them that they should not be partakers of
the holy things until a high priest wearing\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:40: }{\FT{Gr.
}}{\FQA{the manifestation and truth.}}} Urim and Thummim should arise.


\par }{\PP \VS{41}So all those of Israel, from twelve years old and upward, beside
menservants and women servants, were in number forty two thousand and three hundred and sixty.

\VS{42}Their menservants and handmaids were seven thousand and three hundred and thirty
and seven; the minstrels and singers, two hundred and forty five;

\VS{43}four hundred and thirty and five camels, seven thousand and thirty six horses,
two hundred and forty five mules, and five thousand and five hundred and twenty five beasts of burden.


\par }{\PP \VS{44}And some of the chief men of their families, when they came to
the temple of God that is in Jerusalem, vowed to set up the house again in its own place according to
their ability,

\VS{45}and to give into the holy treasury of the works one thousand minas\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:45: }{\FT{A mina is about 570 grams or 1.25 pounds.}}} of gold, five thousand minas of silver, and
one hundred priestly vestments.


\par }{\PP \VS{46}The priests and the Levites and some of the people lived in Jerusalem
and the country. The holy singers also and the gatekeepers and all Israel lived in their villages.


\par }{\PP \VS{47}But when the seventh month was at hand, and when the children
of Israel were each in their own place, they all came together with one purpose into the broad place before
the first porch which is towards the east.

\VS{48}Then Jesus the son of Josedek, his kindred the priests, Zorobabel the son
of Salathiel, and his kindred stood up and made the altar of the God of Israel ready

\VS{49}to offer burnt sacrifices upon it, in accordance with the express commands
in the book of Moses the man of God.

\VS{50}Some people joined them out of the other nations of the land, and they erected
the altar upon its own place, because all the nations of the land were hostile to them and oppressed them;
and they offered sacrifices at the proper times and burnt offerings to the Lord both morning and evening.

\VS{51}They also held the feast of tabernacles, as it is commanded in the law, and
offered sacrifices daily, as appropriate.

\VS{52}After that, they offered the continual oblations and the sacrifices of the
Sabbaths, of the new moons, and of all the consecrated feasts.

\VS{53}All those who had made any vow to God began to offer sacrifices to God from
the new moon of the seventh month, although the temple of God was not yet built.

\VS{54}They gave money, food, and drink to the masons and carpenters.

\VS{55}They also gave carts to the people of Sidon and Tyre, that they should bring
cedar trees from Libanus, and convey them in rafts to the harbour of Joppa, according to the commandment
which was written for them by Cyrus king of the Persians.


\par }{\PP \VS{56}In the second year after his coming to the temple of God at Jerusalem,
in the second month, Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, Jesus the son of Josedek, their kindred, the Levitical
priests, and all those who had come to Jerusalem out of the captivity began work.

\VS{57}They laid the foundation of God’s temple on the new moon of the second month,
in the second year after they had come to Judea and Jerusalem.

\VS{58}\XREF{*}{{\XO 5:58: }{\XT{Ezra 3:8-9}}}They appointed the Levites who were at least twenty
years old over the Lord’s works. Then Jesus, with his sons and kindred, Kadmiel his brother, the sons
of Jesus, Emadabun, and the sons of Joda the son of Iliadun, and their sons and kindred, all the Levites,
with one accord stood up and started the business, labouring to advance the works in the house of God.
So the builders built the Lord’s temple.


\par }{\PP \VS{59}The priests stood arrayed in their vestments with musical instruments
and trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with their cymbals,

\VS{60}singing songs of thanksgiving and praising the Lord, according to the directions
of King David of Israel.

\VS{61}They sang aloud, praising the Lord in songs of thanksgiving, because his goodness
and his glory are forever in all Israel.

\VS{62}All the people sounded trumpets and shouted with a loud voice, singing songs
of thanksgiving to the Lord for the raising up of the Lord’s house.

\VS{63}\XREF{*}{{\XO 5:63: }{\XT{Ezra 3:12-13}}}Some of the Levitical priests and of the heads
of their families, the elderly who had seen the former house came to the building of this one with lamentation
and great weeping.

\VS{64}But many with trumpets and joy shouted with a loud voice,

\VS{65}so that the people couldn’t hear the trumpets for the weeping of the people,
for the multitude sounded loudly, so that it was heard far away.


\par }{\PP \VS{66}\XREF{*}{{\XO 5:66: }{\XT{Ezra 4:1}}}Therefore when the enemies of the tribe of Judah and
Benjamin heard it, they came to know what that noise of trumpets meant.

\VS{67}They learnt that those who returned from captivity built the temple for the
Lord, the God of Israel.

\VS{68}So they went to Zorobabel and Jesus, and to the chief men of the families,
and said to them, “We will build together with you.

\VS{69}For we, just like you, obey your Lord, and sacrifice to him from the days
of King
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:69: }{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{Asbacaphath.}}}Asbasareth of the Assyrians, who brought us here.”


\par }{\PP \VS{70}Then Zorobabel, Jesus and the chief men of the families of Israel
said to them, “It is not for you to build the house for the Lord our God.

\VS{71}We ourselves alone will build for the Lord of Israel, as King Cyrus of the
Persians has commanded us.”

\VS{72}But the heathen of the land pressed hard upon the inhabitants of Judea, cut
off their supplies, and hindered their building.

\VS{73}By their secret plots, and popular persuasions and commotions, they hindered
the finishing of the building all the time that King Cyrus lived. So they were hindered from building
for two years, until the reign of Darius.



\par }\Chap{6}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now
\XREF{*}{{\XO 6:1: }{\XT{Ezra 4:24;
5:1}}}in the second year of the reign of Darius, Aggaeus and Zacharius
the son of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 6:1: }{\FQA{Iddo.
}}{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{Eddin}}} Addo, the prophets, prophesied to the Jews in Judea and Jerusalem in the name
of the Lord, the God of Israel.

\VS{2}Then Zorobabel the son of Salathiel and Jesus the son of Josedek stood up and
began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, the prophets of the Lord being with them and helping
them.


\par }{\PP \VS{3}\XREF{*}{{\XO 6:3: }{\XT{Ezra 5:3}}}At the same time
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 6:3: }{\FQA{Tattenai.}}}Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia came to them, with
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 6:3: }{\FQA{Shetharbozenai}}}Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and said to them,

\VS{4}“By whose authority do you build this house and this roof, and perform all the
other things? Who are the builders who do these things?”

\VS{5}Nevertheless, the elders of the Jews obtained favour, because the Lord had visited
the captives;

\VS{6}and they were not hindered from building until such time as communication was
made to Darius concerning them, and his answer received.


\par }{\PP \VS{7}A copy of the letter which Sisinnes, governor of Syria and Phoenicia,
and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, the rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, wrote and sent to Darius:


\par }{\PP \VS{8}“To King Darius, greetings. Let it be fully known to our lord the
king, that having come into the country of Judea, and entered into the city of Jerusalem, we found in
the city of Jerusalem the elders of the Jews that were of the captivity

\VS{9}building a great new house for the Lord of hewn and costly stones, with timber
laid in the walls.

\VS{10}Those works are being done with great speed. The work goes on prosperously
in their hands, and it is being accomplished with all glory and diligence.

\VS{11}Then we asked these elders, saying, ‘By whose authority are you building this
house and laying the foundations of these works?’

\VS{12}Therefore, to the intent that we might give knowledge to you by writing who
the leaders were, we questioned them, and we required of them the names in writing of their principal
men.

\VS{13}So they gave us this answer, ‘We are the servants of the Lord who made heaven
and earth.

\VS{14}As for this house, it was built many years ago by a great and strong king
of Israel, and was finished.

\VS{15}But when our fathers sinned against the Lord of Israel who is in heaven, and
provoked him to wrath, he gave them over into the hands of King Nabuchodonosor of Babylon, king of the
Chaldeans.

\VS{16}They pulled down the house, burnt it, and carried away the people captive
to Babylon.

\VS{17}But in the first year that Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylon, King
Cyrus wrote that this house should be rebuilt.

\VS{18}The holy vessels of gold and of silver that Nabuchodonosor had carried away
out of the house at Jerusalem and had set up in his own temple, those King Cyrus brought out of the temple
in Babylonia, and they were delivered to Zorobabel and to
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 6:18: }{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{Sabunassarus.}}}Sanabassarus the governor,

\VS{19}with commandment that he should carry away all these vessels, and put them
in the temple at Jerusalem, and that the Lord’s temple should be built on its site.

\VS{20}Then Sanabassarus, having come here, laid the foundations of the Lord’s house
which is in Jerusalem. From that time to this we are still building. It is not yet fully completed.’

\VS{21}Now therefore, if it seems good, O king, let a search be made amongst the
royal archives of our lord the king that are in Babylon.

\VS{22}If it is found that the building of the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem
has been done with the consent of King Cyrus, and it seems good to our lord the king, let him send us
directions concerning these things.”


\par }{\PP \VS{23}\XREF{*}{{\XO 6:23: }{\XT{Ezra 6:1}}}Then King Darius commanded that a search be made amongst
the archives that were laid up at Babylon. So at Ekbatana the palace, which is in the country of Media,
a scroll was found where these things were recorded:

\VS{24}“In the first year of the reign of Cyrus, King Cyrus commanded to build up
the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, where they sacrifice with continual fire.

\VS{25}Its height shall be sixty cubits, and the breadth sixty cubits, with three
rows of hewn stones, and one row of new wood from that country. Its expenses are to be given out of the
house of King Cyrus.

\VS{26}The holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both gold and silver, that Nabuchodonosor
took out of the house at Jerusalem and carried away to Babylon, should be restored to the house at Jerusalem,
and be set in the place where they were before.”

\VS{27}Also he commanded that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes,
and their companions, and those who were appointed rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, should be careful not
to meddle with the place, but allow Zorobabel, the servant of the Lord, and governor of Judea, and the
elders of the Jews, to build that house of the Lord in its place.

\VS{28}“I also command to have it built up whole again; and that they look diligently
to help those who are of the captivity of Judea, until the house of the Lord is finished,

\VS{29}and that out of the tribute of Coelesyria and Phoenicia a portion shall be
carefully given to these men for the sacrifices of the Lord, that is, to Zorobabel the governor for bulls,
rams, and lambs,

\VS{30}and also corn, salt, wine and oil, and that continually every year without
further question, according as the priests who are in Jerusalem may direct to be daily spent,

\VS{31}that drink offerings may be made to the Most High God for the king and for
his children, and that they may pray for their lives.”

\VS{32}He commanded that whoever should transgress, yes, or neglect anything written
here, a beam shall be taken out of his own house, and he shall be hanged on it, and all his goods seized
for the king.

\VS{33}“Therefore may the Lord, whose name is called upon there, utterly destroy
every king and nation that stretches out his hand to hinder or damage that house of the Lord in Jerusalem.

\VS{34}I, King Darius have ordained that these things be done with diligence.”



\par }\Chap{7}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Then
\XREF{*}{{\XO 7:1: }{\XT{Ezra 6:13}}}Sisinnes the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia,
and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, following the commandments of King Darius,

\VS{2}very carefully supervised the holy work, assisting the elders of the Jews and
rulers of the temple.

\VS{3}So the holy work prospered, while Aggaeus and Zacharias the prophets prophesied.

\VS{4}They finished these things by the commandment of the Lord, the God of Israel,
and with the consent of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of the Persians.

\VS{5}So the holy house was finished by the twenty-third day of the month Adar, in
the sixth year of King Darius.

\VS{6}The children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the others who returned
from captivity who joined them did what was written in the book of Moses.

\VS{7}For the dedication of the Lord’s temple, they offered one hundred bulls, two
hundred rams, four hundred lambs,

\VS{8}and twelve male goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of
the twelve princes of the tribes of Israel.

\VS{9}The priests and the Levites stood arrayed in their vestments, according to their
kindred, for the services of the Lord, the God of Israel, according to the book of Moses. The gatekeepers
were at every gate.


\par }{\PP \VS{10}The children of Israel who came out of captivity held the Passover
the fourteenth day of the first month, when the priests and the Levites were sanctified together,

\VS{11}with all those who returned from captivity; for they were sanctified. For
the Levites were all sanctified together,

\VS{12}and they offered the Passover for all who returned from captivity, for their
kindred the priests, and for themselves.

\VS{13}The children of Israel who came out of the captivity ate, even all those who
had separated themselves from the abominations of the heathen of the land, and sought the Lord.

\VS{14}They kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days, rejoicing before the Lord,

\VS{15}because he had turned the counsel of the king of Assyria towards them, to
strengthen their hands in the works of the Lord, the God of Israel.



\par }\Chap{8}{\PP \VerseOne{1}\XREF{*}{{\XO 8:1: }{\XT{Ezra 7:1}}}After these things, when Artaxerxes the king of the
Persians reigned, Esdras came, who was the son of Azaraias, the son of Zechrias, the son of Helkias, the
son of Salem,

\VS{2}the son of Sadduk, the son of Ahitob, the son of Amarias, the son of Ozias,\FTNT{†}{{\FR 8:2: }{\FT{The Vatican MS. omits
}}{\FQ{the son of Memeroth, the son of Zaraias, the son of Savias.}}} the son of Memeroth, the
son of Zaraias, the son of Savias, the son of Boccas, the son of Abisne, the son of Phinees, the son of
Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the chief priest.

\VS{3}This Esdras went up from Babylon as a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which
was given by the God of Israel.

\VS{4}The king honoured him, for he found favour in his sight in all his requests.

\VS{5}There went up with him also some of the children of Israel, and of the priests,
Levites, holy singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants to Jerusalem

\VS{6}in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, in the fifth month (this was
the king’s seventh year); for they left Babylon on the new moon of the first month and came to Jerusalem,
by the prosperous journey which the Lord gave them\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 8:6: }{\FT{Some MSS. omit
}}{\FQ{for his sake.}}} for his sake.

\VS{7}For Esdras had very great skill, so that he omitted nothing of the law and commandments
of the Lord, but taught all Israel the ordinances and judgements.


\par }{\PP \VS{8}Now the commission, which was written from King Artaxerxes, came
to Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord, was as follows:


\par }{\PP \VS{9}“King Artaxerxes to Esdras the priest and reader of the law of
the Lord, greetings.

\VS{10}Having determined to deal graciously, I have given orders that those of the
nation of the Jews, and of the priests and Levites, and of those within our realm who are willing and
freely choose to, should go with you to Jerusalem.

\VS{11}As many therefore as are so disposed, let them depart with you, as it has
seemed good both to me and my seven friends the counsellors,

\VS{12}that they may look to the affairs of Judea and Jerusalem, in accordance with
what is in the Lord’s law,

\VS{13}and carry the gifts to the Lord of Israel to Jerusalem, which I and my friends
have vowed, and that all the gold and silver that can be found in the country of Babylonia for the Lord
in Jerusalem,

\VS{14}with that also which is given of the people for the temple of the Lord their
God that is at Jerusalem, be collected: even the gold and silver for bulls, rams, and lambs, and what
goes with them,

\VS{15}to the end that they may offer sacrifices to the Lord upon the altar of the
Lord their God, which is in Jerusalem.

\VS{16}Whatever you and your kindred decide to do with gold and silver, do that according
to the will of your God.

\VS{17}The holy vessels of the Lord, which are given you for the use of the temple
of your God, which is in Jerusalem,

\VS{18}and whatever else you shall remember for the use of the temple of your God,
you shall give it out of the king’s treasury.

\VS{19}I, King Artaxerxes, have also commanded the keepers of the treasures in Syria
and Phoenicia, that whatever Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Most High God shall send for,
they should give it to him with all diligence,

\VS{20}to the sum of one hundred talents of silver, likewise also of wheat even to
one hundred cors\FTNT{§}{{\FR 8:20: }{\FT{a cor is about 230 litres, so 100 cors is about 23 kilolitres or 652 bushels}}}, and one
hundred firkins\FTNT{†}{{\FR 8:20: }{\FT{a firkin is about 41 litres or 11 gallons.}}} of wine, and\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 8:20: }{\FT{So some authorities. See
Ezra 7:22. The common reading is,
}}{\FQA{other things.}}} salt in abundance.

\VS{21}Let all things be performed after God’s law diligently to the most high God,
that wrath come not upon the kingdom of the king and his sons.

\VS{22}I command you also that no tax, nor any other imposition, be laid upon any
of the priests, or Levites, or holy singers, or gatekeepers, or temple servants, or any that have employment
in this temple, and that no man has authority to impose any tax on them.

\VS{23}You, Esdras, according to the wisdom of God, ordain judges and justices that
they may judge in all Syria and Phoenicia all those who know the law of your God; and those who don’t
know it, you shall teach.

\VS{24}Whoever transgresses the law of your God and of the king shall be punished
diligently, whether it be by death, or other punishment, by penalty of money, or by imprisonment.”


\par }{\PP \VS{25}Then Esdras the scribe said, “Blessed be the only Lord, the God
of my fathers, who has put these things into the heart of the king, to glorify his house that is in Jerusalem,

\VS{26}and has honoured me in the sight of the king, his counsellors, and all his
friends and nobles.

\VS{27}Therefore I was encouraged by the help of the Lord my God, and gathered together
out of Israel men to go up with me.


\par }{\PP \VS{28}These are the chiefs according to their families and their several
divisions, who went up with me from Babylon in the reign of King Artaxerxes:

\VS{29}of the sons of Phinees, Gerson; of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael; of the sons
of David,\FTNT{§}{{\FR 8:29: }{\FQA{Hattush.}}} Attus\FTNT{†}{{\FR 8:29: }{\FT{Ezra 8:3,
}}{\FQA{of the sons of Shecaniah; of the sons of Parosh.}}} the son of Sechenias;

\VS{30}of the sons of Phoros, Zacharais; and with him were counted one hundred and fifty
men;

\VS{31}of the sons of Phaath Moab, Eliaonias the son of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 8:31: }{\FQA{Zerehiah.}}} Zaraias, and with him two hundred men;

\VS{32}\FTNT{§}{{\FR 8:32: }{\FT{Ezra 8:5,
}}{\FQA{of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel.}}}of the sons of Zathoes, Sechenias the
son of Jezelus, and with him three hundred men; of the sons of Adin, Obeth the son of Jonathan, and with
him two hundred and fifty men;

\VS{33}of the sons of Elam, Jesias son of Gotholias, and with him seventy men;

\VS{34}of the sons of Saphatias, Zaraias son of Michael, and with him seventy men;

\VS{35}of the sons of Joab, Abadias son of Jehiel. Jezelus, and with him two hundred and twelve
men;

\VS{36}\FTNT{†}{{\FR 8:36: }{\FT{Ezra 8:10,
}}{\FQA{of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah.}}}of the sons of Banias, Salimoth son
of Josaphias, and with him one hundred and sixty men;

\VS{37}of the sons of Babi, Zacharias son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight men;

\VS{38}of the sons of Azgad: Astath, Joannes son of Hakkatan Akatan, and with him
one hundred and ten men;

\VS{39}of the sons of Adonikam, the last, and these are the names of them, Eliphalat,
Jeuel, and Samaias, and with them seventy men;

\VS{40}of the sons of Bago, Uthi the son of Istalcurus, and with him seventy men.


\par }{\PP \VS{41}I gathered them together to the river called Theras. There we
pitched our tents three days, and I inspected them.

\VS{42}When I had found there none of the priests and Levites,

\VS{43}then sent I to Eleazar, Iduel, Maasmas,

\VS{44}Elnathan, Samaias, Joribus, Nathan, Ennatan, Zacharias, and Mosollamus, principal
men and men of understanding.

\VS{45}I asked them to go to Loddeus the captain, who was in the place of the treasury,

\VS{46}and commanded them that they should speak to Loddeus, to his kindred, and
to the treasurers in that place, to send us such men as might execute the priests’ office in our Lord’s
house.

\VS{47}By the mighty hand of our Lord, they brought to us men of understanding of
the sons of\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 8:47: }{\FQA{Mahli.}}} Mooli the son of Levi, the son of Israel,\FTNT{§}{{\FR 8:47: }{\FQA{Sherebiah.}}} Asebebias, and his sons, and his kindred, who were eighteen,

\VS{48}and\FTNT{†}{{\FR 8:48: }{\FQA{Hashabiah.}}} Asebias, Annuus, and Osaias his brother, of the sons of Chanuneus, and
their sons were twenty men;

\VS{49}and of the temple servants whom David and the principal men had appointed
for the servants of the Levites, two hundred and twenty temple servants. The list of all their names was
reported.


\par }{\PP \VS{50}There I vowed a fast for the young men before our Lord, to seek
from him a prosperous journey both for us and for our children and livestock that were with us;

\VS{51}for I was ashamed to ask of the king infantry, cavalry, and an escort for
protection against our adversaries.

\VS{52}For we had said to the king that the power of our Lord would be with those
who seek him, to support them in all ways.

\VS{53}Again we prayed to our lord about these things, and found him to be merciful.


\par }{\PP \VS{54}Then I set apart twelve men of the chiefs of the priests,\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 8:54: }{\FQA{Sherebiah, Hashabiah.}}} Eserebias, Assamias, and ten men of their kindred with them.

\VS{55}I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the holy vessels of the house
of our Lord, which the king, his counsellors, the nobles, and all Israel had given.

\VS{56}When I had weighed it, I delivered to them six hundred and fifty talents of
silver, silver vessels weighing one hundred talents, one hundred talents of gold,

\VS{57}twenty golden vessels, and twelve vessels of brass, even of fine brass, glittering
like gold.

\VS{58}I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, the vessels are holy, and the gold
and the silver are a vow to the Lord, the Lord of our fathers.

\VS{59}Watch and keep them until you deliver them to the chiefs of the priests and
Levites, and to the principal men of the families of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of our Lord’s
house.

\VS{60}So the priests and the Levites who received the silver, the gold, and the
vessels which were in Jerusalem, brought them into the temple of the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{61}We left the river Theras on the twelfth day of the first month.
We came to Jerusalem by the mighty hand of our Lord which was upon us. The Lord delivered us from every
enemy on the way, and so we came to Jerusalem.

\VS{62}When we had been there three days, the silver and gold was weighed and delivered
in our Lord’s house on the fourth day to\FTNT{§}{{\FR 8:62: }{\FQA{Meremoth.}}} Marmoth the priest the son of\FTNT{†}{{\FR 8:62: }{\FQA{Uriah.}}} Urias.

\VS{63}With him was Eleazar the son of Phinees, and with them were Josabdus the son
of Jesus and\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 8:63: }{\FQA{Noadiah the son of Binnui.}}} Moeth the son of Sabannus, the Levites. All was delivered
to them by number and weight.

\VS{64}All the weight of them was recorded at the same hour.

\VS{65}Moreover those who had come out of captivity offered sacrifices to the Lord,
the God of Israel, even twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams,

\VS{66}seventy-two lambs, and twelve goats for a peace offering—all of them a sacrifice
to the Lord.

\VS{67}They delivered the king’s commandments to the king’s stewards and to the governors
of Coelesyria and Phoenicia; and they honoured the people and the temple of the Lord.


\par }{\PP \VS{68}Now when these things were done, the principal men came to me
and said,

\VS{69}“The nation of Israel, the princes, the priests, and the Levites haven’t put
away from themselves the foreign people of the land nor the uncleannesses of the Gentiles—the Canaanites,
Hittites, Pherezites, Jebusites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Edomites.

\VS{70}For both they and their sons have married with their daughters, and the holy
seed is mixed with the foreign people of the land. From the beginning of this matter the rulers and the
nobles have been partakers of this iniquity.”


\par }{\PP \VS{71}And as soon as I had heard these things, I tore my clothes and
my holy garment, and plucked the hair from off my head and beard, and sat down sad and full of heaviness.

\VS{72}So all those who were moved at the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, assembled
to me while I mourned for the iniquity, but I sat still full of heaviness until the evening sacrifice.

\VS{73}Then rising up from the fast with my clothes and my holy garment torn, and
bowing my knees and stretching out my hands to the Lord,

\VS{74}I said, “O Lord, I am ashamed and confounded before your face,

\VS{75}for our sins are multiplied above our heads, and our errors have reached up
to heaven

\VS{76}ever since the time of our fathers. We are in great sin, even to this day.

\VS{77}For our sins and our fathers’ sins we with our kindred, our kings, and our
priests were given up to the kings of the earth, to the sword, and to captivity, and for a prey with shame,
to this day.

\VS{78}Now in some measure mercy has been shown to us from you, O Lord, that there
should be left us a root and a name in the place of your sanctuary,

\VS{79}and to uncover a light in the house of the Lord our God, and to give us food
in the time of our servitude.

\VS{80}Yes, when we were in bondage, we were not forsaken by our Lord, but he gave
us favour before the kings of Persia, so that they gave us food,

\VS{81}glorified the temple of our Lord, and raised up the desolate Zion, to give
us a sure dwelling in Judea and Jerusalem.


\par }{\PP \VS{82}“Now, O Lord, what shall we say, having these things? For we
have transgressed your commandments which you gave by the hand of your servants the prophets, saying,

\VS{83}‘The land, which you enter into to possess as an inheritance, is a land polluted
with the pollutions of the foreigners of the land, and they have filled it with their uncleanness.

\VS{84}Therefore now you shall not join your daughters to their sons, neither shall
you take their daughters for your sons.

\VS{85}You shall never seek to have peace with them, that you may be strong, and
eat the good things of the land, and that you may leave it for an inheritance to your children for evermore.’

\VS{86}All that has happened is done to us for our wicked works and great sins, for
you, O Lord, made our sins light,

\VS{87}and gave to us such a root; but we have turned back again to transgress your
law in mingling ourselves with the uncleanness of the heathen of the land.

\VS{88}You weren’t angry with us to destroy us until you had left us neither root,
seed, nor name.

\VS{89}O Lord of Israel, you are true, for we are left a root this day.

\VS{90}Behold, now we are before you in our iniquities, for we can’t stand any longer
before you because of these things.”


\par }{\PP \VS{91}\XREF{*}{{\XO 8:91: }{\XT{Ezra 10:1}}}As Esdras in his prayer made his confession, weeping,
and lying flat on the ground before the temple, a very great throng of men, women, and children gathered
to him from Jerusalem; for there was great weeping amongst the multitude.

\VS{92}Then Jechonias the son of Jeelus, one of the sons of Israel, called out, and
said, “O Esdras, we have sinned against the Lord God, we have married foreign women of the heathen of
the land, but there is still hope for Israel.

\VS{93}Let’s make an oath to the Lord about this, that we will put away all our foreign
wives with their children,

\VS{94}as seems good to you, and to as many as obey the Lord’s Law.

\VS{95}Arise, and take action, for this is your task, and we will be with you to
do valiantly.”

\VS{96}So Esdras arose, and took an oath from the chief of the priests and Levites
of all Israel to do these things; and they swore to it.



\par }\Chap{9}{\PP \VerseOne{1}\XREF{*}{{\XO 9:1: }{\XT{Ezra 10:6}}}Then Esdras rose up from the court of the temple
and went to the chamber of Jonas the son of Eliasib,

\VS{2}and lodged there, and ate no bread and drank no water, mourning for the great
iniquities of the multitude.

\VS{3}A proclamation was made in all Judea and Jerusalem to all those who returned
from captivity, that they should be gathered together at Jerusalem,

\VS{4}and that whoever didn’t meet there within two or three days, in accordance with
the ruling of the elders, that their livestock would be seized for the use of the temple, and they would
be expelled from the multitude of those who returned from captivity.


\par }{\PP \VS{5}Within three days, all those of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin
gathered together at Jerusalem. This was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month.

\VS{6}All the multitude sat together shivering in the broad place before the temple
because of the present foul weather.

\VS{7}So Esdras arose up and said to them, “You have transgressed the law and married
foreign wives, increasing the sins of Israel.

\VS{8}Now make confession and give glory to the Lord, the God of our fathers,

\VS{9}and do his will, and separate yourselves from the heathen of the land, and from
the foreign women.”


\par }{\PP \VS{10}Then the whole multitude cried out, and said with a loud voice,
“Just as you have spoken, so we will do.

\VS{11}But because the multitude is great, and it is foul weather, so that we can’t
stand outside, and this is not a work of one day or two, seeing our sin in these things has spread far,

\VS{12}therefore let the rulers of the multitude stay, and let all those of our settlements
that have foreign wives come at the time appointed,

\VS{13}and with them the rulers and judges of every place, until we turn away the
wrath of the Lord from us for this matter.”


\par }{\PP \VS{14}So Jonathan the son of Azael and\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:14: }{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{Ezias.}}} Ezekias the son of Thocanus took the matter on themselves. Mosollamus and Levis
and Sabbateus were judges with them.

\VS{15}Those who returned from captivity did according to all these things.


\par }{\PP \VS{16}Esdras the priest chose for himself principal men of their families,
all by name. On the new moon of the tenth month they met together to examine the matter.

\VS{17}So their cases of men who had foreign wives was brought to an end by the new
moon of the first month.


\par }{\PP \VS{18}Of the priests who had come together and had foreign wives, there
were found

\VS{19}of the sons of Jesus the son of Josedek, and his kindred,\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:19: }{\FQA{Maaseiah.}}} Mathelas, Eleazar, and\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:19: }{\FQA{Jarib.}}} Joribus, and\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:19: }{\FQA{Gedaliah}}} Joadanus.

\VS{20}They gave their hands to put away their wives, and to offer rams to make reconciliation
for their error.

\VS{21}Of the sons of Emmer: Ananias, Zabdeus,
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:21: }{\FQA{Harim}}}Manes,
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:21: }{\FQA{Maaseiah.}}}Sameus,
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:21: }{\FQA{Jehiel.}}}Hiereel, and
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:21: }{\FQA{Uzziah.}}}Azarias.

\VS{22}Of the sons of
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:22: }{\FQA{Pashhur.}}}Phaisur: Elionas, Massias, Ishmael, Nathanael,
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:22: }{\FQA{Jozabad.}}}Ocidelus, and
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:22: }{\FQA{Elasah.}}}Saloas.


\par }{\PP \VS{23}Of the Levites: Jozabdus, Semeis,
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:23: }{\FQA{Kelaiah.}}}Colius who was called
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:23: }{\FQA{Kelita.}}}Calitas,
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:23: }{\FQA{Pethahiah.}}}Patheus, Judas, and Jonas.

\VS{24}Of the holy singers:
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:24: }{\FQA{Eliashib.}}}Eliasibus and Bacchurus.

\VS{25}Of the gatekeepers: Sallumus and\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:25: }{\FQA{Telem.}}} Tolbanes.


\par }{\PP \VS{26}Of Israel, of the sons of Phoros:\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:26: }{\FQA{Parosh.}}} Hiermas,\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:26: }{\FQA{Ramiah}}} Ieddias,\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:26: }{\FQA{Izziah.
}}{\FT{Another reading is,
}}{\FQA{Iezias}}} Melchias, Maelus,\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:26: }{\FQA{Mijamin.}}} Eleazar, Asibas,
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:26: }{\FQA{Malchijah.}}}and Banneas.

\VS{27}Of the sons of Ela: Matthanias, Zacharias,
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:27: }{\FQA{Jehiel.}}}Jezrielus, Oabdius, Hieremoth, and\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:27: }{\FQA{Abdi.}}}Aedias.

\VS{28}Of the sons of
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:28: }{\FQA{Zattu.}}}Zamoth:
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:28: }{\FQA{Elioenai.}}}Eliadas,
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:28: }{\FQA{Eliashib.}}}Eliasimus,
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:28: }{\FQA{Mattaniah.}}}Othonias, Jarimoth,
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:28: }{\FQA{Zabad.}}}Sabathus, and
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:28: }{\FQA{Aziza.}}}Zardeus.

\VS{29}Of the sons of Bebai: Joannes, Ananias,
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:29: }{\FQA{Zabbai.}}}Jozabdus, and
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:29: }{\FQA{Athlai.}}}Ematheis.

\VS{30}Of the sons of
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:30: }{\FQA{Bani.}}}Mani:
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:30: }{\FQA{Meshullam.}}}Olamus,
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:30: }{\FQA{Malluch.}}}Mamuchus,
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:30: }{\FQA{Adaiah.}}}Jedeus, Jasubas,
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:30: }{\FQA{Sheal.}}}Jasaelus, and Hieremoth.

\VS{31}Of the sons of Addi: Naathus, Moossias, Laccunus, Naidus, Matthanias, Sesthel,
Balnuus, and Manasseas.

\VS{32}Of the sons of Annas: Elionas, Aseas, Melchias, Sabbeus, and Simon Chosameus.

\VS{33}Of the sons of Asom:
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:33: }{\FQA{Mattenai.}}}Maltanneus,
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:33: }{\FQA{Mattattah.}}}Mattathias,
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:33: }{\FQA{Zabad.}}}Sabanneus, Eliphalat, Manasses, and Semei.

\VS{34}Of the sons of Baani: Jeremias, Momdis, Ismaerus, Juel, Mamdai, Pedias, Anos,
Carabasion, Enasibus, Mamnitamenus, Eliasis, Bannus, Eliali, Someis, Selemias, and Nathanias. Of the sons
of Ezora: Sesis, Ezril, Azaelus, Samatus, Zambri, and Josephus.

\VS{35}Of the sons of Nooma: Mazitias, Zabadeas, Edos, Juel, and Banaias.

\VS{36}All these had taken foreign wives, and they put them away with their children.


\par }{\PP \VS{37}The priests and Levites, and those who were of Israel, lived
in Jerusalem and in the country, on the new moon of the seventh month, and the children of Israel in their
settlements.


\par }{\PP \VS{38}\XREF{*}{{\XO 9:38: }{\XT{Nehemiah 8:1}}}The whole multitude gathered together with one
accord into the broad place before the porch of the temple towards the east.

\VS{39}They said to Esdras the priest and reader, “Bring the law of Moses that was
given by the Lord, the God of Israel.”


\par }{\PP \VS{40}So Esdras the chief priest brought the law to the whole multitude
both of men and women, and to all the priests, to hear the law on the new moon of the seventh month.

\VS{41}He read in the broad place before the porch of the temple from morning until
midday, before both men and women; and all the multitude gave attention to the law.

\VS{42}Esdras the priest and reader of the law stood up upon the pulpit of wood which
had been prepared.

\VS{43}Beside him stood Mattathias, Sammus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias,
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:43: }{\FQA{Hilkiah.}}}Ezekias, and Baalsamus on the right hand,

\VS{44}and on his left hand,
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:44: }{\FQA{Pedaiah.}}}Phaldeus, Misael, Melchias,
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:44: }{\FQA{Hashuin.}}}Lothasubus, Nabarias, and Zacharias.

\VS{45}Then Esdras took the book of the law before the multitude, and sat honourably
in the first place before all.

\VS{46}When he opened the law, they all stood straight up. So Esdras blessed the
Lord God Most High, the God of armies, the Almighty.

\VS{47}All the people answered, “Amen.” Lifting up their hands, they fell to the
ground and worshipped the Lord.

\VS{48}Also Jesus, Annus, Sarabias, Iadinus, Jacubus, Sabateus,
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:48: }{\FQA{Hodiah.}}}Auteas, Maiannas, Calitas, Azarias, Jozabdus, Ananias, and Phalias, the Levites,
taught the law of the Lord,
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:48: }{\FT{Some authorities omit
}}{\FQ{and read...Lord.}}}and read to the multitude the law of the Lord, explaining what was read.


\par }{\PP \VS{49}Then Attharates said to Esdras the chief priest and reader, and
to the Levites who taught the multitude, even to all,

\VS{50}“This day is holy to the Lord—now they all wept when they heard the law—

\VS{51}go then, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those who have
nothing;

\VS{52}for the day is holy to the Lord. Don’t be sorrowful, for the Lord will bring
you to honour.”

\VS{53}So the Levites commanded all things to the people, saying, “This day is holy.
Don’t be sorrowful.”

\VS{54}Then they went their way, every one to eat, drink, enjoy themselves, to give
portions to those who had nothing, and to rejoice greatly,

\VS{55}because they
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:55: }{\FT{Or,
}}{\FQA{were inspired by}}}understood the words they were instructed with, and for which they
had been assembled.


\par }