Category: DAB Readings

Queen Vashti Defies King Xerxes

1 ^(A)1-2 From his royal throne in Persia's capital city of Susa, King Xerxes ruled 127 provinces, all the way from India to Ethiopia.^[a]

³ In the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his officials and administrators. The armies of Persia and Media were present, as well as the governors and noblemen of the provinces. ⁴ For six whole months he made a show of the riches of the imperial court with all its splendor and majesty.

⁵ After that, the king gave a banquet for all the people in the capital city of Susa, rich and poor alike. It lasted a whole week and was held in the gardens of the royal palace. ⁶ The courtyard there was decorated with blue and white cotton curtains, tied by cords of fine purple linen to silver rings on marble columns. Couches made of gold and silver had been placed in the courtyard, which was paved with white marble, red feldspar, shining mother-of-pearl, and blue turquoise. ⁷ Drinks were served in gold cups, no two of them alike, and the king was generous with the royal wine. ⁸ There were no limits on the drinks; the king had given orders to the palace servants that everyone could have as much as they wanted.^[b]

⁹ Meanwhile, inside the royal palace Queen Vashti was giving a banquet for the women.

¹⁰ On the seventh day of his banquet the king was drinking and feeling happy, so he called in the seven eunuchs who were his personal servants, Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas. ¹¹ He ordered them to bring in Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown. The queen was a beautiful woman, and the king wanted to show off her beauty to the officials and all his guests. ¹² But when the servants told Queen Vashti of the king's command, she refused to come. This made the king furious.

¹³ Now it was the king's custom to ask for expert opinion on questions of law and order, so he called for his advisers, who would know what should be done. ¹⁴ Those he most often turned to for advice were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan—seven officials of Persia and Media who held the highest offices in the kingdom. ¹⁵ He said to these men, “I, King Xerxes, sent my servants to Queen Vashti with a command, and she refused to obey it! What does the law say that we should do with her?”

¹⁶ Then Memucan declared to the king and his officials: “Queen Vashti has insulted not only the king but also his officials—in fact, every man in the empire! ¹⁷ Every woman in the empire will start looking down on her husband as soon as she hears what the queen has done. They'll say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to come to him, and she refused.’ ¹⁸ When the wives of the royal officials of Persia and Media hear about the queen's behavior, they will be telling their husbands about it before the day is out. Wives everywhere will have no respect for their husbands, and husbands will be angry with their wives. ¹⁹ If it please Your Majesty, issue a royal proclamation that Vashti may never again appear before the king. Have it written into the laws of Persia and Media, so that it can never be changed. Then give her place as queen to some better woman. ²⁰ When your proclamation is made known all over this huge empire, every woman will treat her husband with proper respect, whether he's rich or poor.”

²¹ The king and his officials liked this idea, and the king did what Memucan suggested. ²² To each of the royal provinces he sent a message in the language and the system of writing of that province, saying^[c] that every husband should be the master of his home and speak with final authority.

Esther Becomes Queen

2 Later, even after the king's anger had cooled down, he kept thinking about what Vashti had done and about his proclamation against her. ² So some of the king's advisers who were close to him suggested, “Why don't you make a search to find some beautiful young virgins? ³ You can appoint officials in every province of the empire and have them bring all these beautiful young women to your harem here in Susa, the capital city. Put them in the care of Hegai, the eunuch who is in charge of your women, and let them be given a beauty treatment. ⁴ Then take the young woman you like best and make her queen in Vashti's place.”

The king thought this was good advice, so he followed it.

⁵ There in Susa lived a Jew named Mordecai son of Jair; he was from the tribe of Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish and Shimei. ^6 (B)When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jehoiachin of Judah into exile from Jerusalem, along with a group of captives, Mordecai was among them. ⁷ He had a cousin, Esther, whose Hebrew name was Hadassah; she was a beautiful young woman, and had a good figure. At the death of her parents, Mordecai had adopted her and brought her up as his own daughter.

⁸ When the king had issued his new proclamation and many young women were being brought to Susa, Esther was among them. She too was put in the royal palace in the care of Hegai, who had charge of the harem. ⁹ Hegai liked Esther, and she won his favor. He lost no time in beginning her beauty treatment of massage and special diet. He gave her the best place in the harem and assigned seven young women specially chosen from the royal palace to serve her.

¹⁰ Now, on the advice of Mordecai, Esther had kept it secret that she was Jewish. ¹¹ Every day Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the courtyard of the harem, in order to find out how she was getting along and what was going to happen to her.

¹² The regular beauty treatment for the women lasted a year—massages with oil of myrrh for six months and with oil of balsam for six more. After that, each woman would be taken in turn to King Xerxes. ¹³ When she went from the harem to the palace, she could wear whatever she wanted. ¹⁴ She would go there in the evening, and the next morning she would be taken to another harem and put in the care of Shaashgaz, the eunuch in charge of the king's concubines. She would not go to the king again unless he liked her enough to ask for her by name.

¹⁵ The time came for Esther to go to the king. Esther—the daughter of Abihail and the cousin of Mordecai, who had adopted her as his daughter; Esther—admired by everyone who saw her. When her turn came, she wore just what Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the harem, advised her to wear. ¹⁶ So in Xerxes' seventh year as king, in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, Esther was brought to King Xerxes in the royal palace. ¹⁷ The king liked her more than any of the other women, and more than any of the others she won his favor and affection. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. ¹⁸ Then the king gave a great banquet in Esther's honor and invited all his officials and administrators. He proclaimed a holiday^[d] for the whole empire and distributed gifts worthy of a king.

Mordecai Saves the King's Life

¹⁹ Meanwhile Mordecai had been appointed by the king to an administrative position. ²⁰ As for Esther, she had still not let it be known that she was Jewish. Mordecai had told her not to tell anyone, and she obeyed him in this, just as she had obeyed him when she was a little girl under his care.

²¹ During the time that Mordecai held office in the palace, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the palace eunuchs who guarded the entrance to the king's rooms, became hostile to King Xerxes and plotted to assassinate him. ²² Mordecai learned about it and told Queen Esther, who then told the king what Mordecai had found out. ²³ There was an investigation, and it was discovered that the report was true, so both men were hanged on the gallows. The king ordered an account of this to be written down in the official records of the empire.

Haman Plots to Destroy the Jews

3 Some time later King Xerxes promoted a man named Haman to the position of prime minister. Haman was the son of Hammedatha, a descendant of Agag.^{[e] 2} The king ordered all the officials in his service to show their respect for Haman by kneeling and bowing to him. They all did so, except for Mordecai, who refused to do it. ³ The other officials in the royal service asked him why he was disobeying the king's command; ⁴ day after day they urged him to give in, but he would not listen to them. “I am a Jew,” he explained, “and I cannot bow to Haman.” So they told Haman about this, wondering if he would tolerate Mordecai's conduct. ⁵ Haman was furious when he realized that Mordecai was not going to kneel and bow to him, ⁶ and when he learned that Mordecai was a Jew, he decided to do more than punish Mordecai alone. He made plans to kill every Jew in the whole Persian Empire.

⁷ In the twelfth year of King Xerxes' rule, in the first month, the month of Nisan, Haman ordered the lots to be cast (“purim,” they were called) to find out the right day and month to carry out his plot. The thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, was decided on.

^8 (C)So Haman told the king, “There is a certain race of people scattered all over your empire and found in every province. They observe customs that are not like those of any other people. Moreover, they do not obey the laws of the empire, so it is not in your best interests to tolerate them. ⁹ If it please Your Majesty, issue a decree that they are to be put to death. If you do, I guarantee that I will be able to put 375 tons of silver into the royal treasury for the administration of the empire.”

¹⁰ The king took off his ring, which was used to stamp proclamations and make them official, and gave it to the enemy of the Jewish people, Haman son of Hammedatha, the descendant of Agag. ¹¹ The king told him, “The people and their money are yours; do as you like with them.”

¹² So on the thirteenth day of the first month Haman called the king's secretaries and dictated a proclamation to be translated into every language and system of writing used in the empire and to be sent to all the rulers, governors, and officials. It was issued in the name of King Xerxes and stamped with his ring. ¹³ Runners took this proclamation to every province of the empire. It contained the instructions that on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, all Jews—young and old, women and children—were to be killed. They were to be slaughtered without mercy and their belongings were to be taken. ¹⁴ The contents of the proclamation were to be made public in every province, so that everyone would be prepared when that day came.

¹⁵ At the king's command the decree was made public in the capital city of Susa, and runners carried the news to the provinces. The king and Haman sat down and had a drink while the city of Susa was being thrown into confusion.

The Lord's Supper^(A)

¹⁷ In the following instructions, however, I do not praise you, because your meetings for worship actually do more harm than good. ¹⁸ In the first place, I have been told that there are opposing groups in your meetings; and this I believe is partly true. (¹⁹ No doubt there must be divisions among you so that the ones who are in the right may be clearly seen.) ²⁰ When you meet together as a group, it is not the Lord's Supper that you eat. ²¹ For as you eat, you each go ahead with your own meal, so that some are hungry while others get drunk. ²² Don't you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or would you rather despise the church of God and put to shame the people who are in need? What do you expect me to say to you about this? Shall I praise you? Of course I don't!

²³ For I received from the Lord the teaching that I passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of bread, ²⁴ gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in memory of me.” ^25 (B)In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, “This cup is God's new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of me.”

²⁶ This means that every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. ²⁷ It follows that if one of you eats the Lord's bread or drinks from his cup in a way that dishonors him, you are guilty of sin against the Lord's body and blood. ²⁸ So then, you should each examine yourself first, and then eat the bread and drink from the cup. ²⁹ For if you do not recognize the meaning of the Lord's body when you eat the bread and drink from the cup, you bring judgment on yourself as you eat and drink. ³⁰ That is why many of you are sick and weak, and several have died. ³¹ If we would examine ourselves first, we would not come under God's judgment. ³² But we are judged and punished by the Lord, so that we shall not be condemned together with the world.

³³ So then, my friends, when you gather together to eat the Lord's Supper, wait for one another. ³⁴ And if any of you are hungry, you should eat at home, so that you will not come under God's judgment as you meet together. As for the other matters, I will settle them when I come.

¹⁹ Better to live out in the desert than with a nagging, complaining wife.

²⁰ Wise people live in wealth and luxury, but stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it.

Nehemiah Dedicates the City Wall

²⁷ When the city wall of Jerusalem was dedicated, the Levites were brought in from wherever they were living, so that they could join in celebrating the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals and harps. ²⁸ The Levite families of singers gathered from the area where they had settled around Jerusalem and from the towns around Netophah, ²⁹ and from Bethgilgal, Geba, and Azmaveth. ³⁰ The priests and the Levites performed ritual purification for themselves, the people, the gates, and the city wall.

³¹ I assembled the leaders of Judah on top of the wall and put them in charge of two large groups to march around the city, giving thanks to God.

The first group went to the right on top of the wall toward the Rubbish Gate.^{[a] 32} Hoshaiah marched behind the singers, followed by half the leaders of Judah. ^33-35 The following priests, blowing trumpets, marched next: Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah. Next came Zechariah, the son of Jonathan and grandson of Shemaiah. (His ancestors also included Mattaniah, Micaiah, and Zaccur, of the clan of Asaph.) ³⁶ He was followed by other members of his clan—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani—all of whom carried musical instruments of the kind played by King David, the man of God. Ezra the scholar led this group in the procession. ³⁷ At the Fountain Gate they went up the steps that led to David's City, past David's palace, and back to the wall at the Water Gate, on the east side of the city.

³⁸ The other group of those who gave thanks went to the left along the top of the wall, and I followed with half of the people. We marched past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, ³⁹ and from there we went past Ephraim Gate, Jeshanah Gate,^[b] the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate. We ended our march near the gate to the Temple.

⁴⁰ So both the groups that were giving thanks to God reached the Temple area.

In addition to the leaders who were with me, ⁴¹ my group included the following priests, blowing trumpets: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah; ⁴² and they were followed by Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers, led by Jezrahiah, sang at the top of their voices.

⁴³ That day many sacrifices were offered, and the people were full of joy because God had made them very happy. The women and the children joined in the celebration, and the noise they all made could be heard for miles.

Providing for Worship in the Temple

⁴⁴ At that time men were put in charge of the storerooms where contributions for the Temple were kept, including the tithes and the first grain and fruit that ripened each year. These men were responsible for collecting from the farms near the various cities the contributions for the priests and the Levites which the Law required. All the people of Judah were pleased with the priests and the Levites, ^45 (A)because they performed the ceremonies of purification and the other rituals that God had commanded. The Temple musicians and the Temple guards also performed their duties in accordance with the regulations made by King David and his son Solomon. ⁴⁶ From the time of King David and the musician Asaph long ago, the musicians have led songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. ⁴⁷ In the time of Zerubbabel and also in the time of Nehemiah, all the people of Israel gave daily gifts for the support of the Temple musicians and the Temple guards. The people gave a sacred offering to the Levites, and the Levites gave the required portion to the priests.

Separation from Foreigners

13 ^(B)When the Law of Moses was being read aloud to the people, they came to the passage that said that no Ammonite or Moabite was ever to be permitted to join God's people. ^2 (C)This was because the people of Ammon and Moab did not give food and water to the Israelites on their way out of Egypt. Instead, they paid money to Balaam to curse Israel, but our God turned the curse into a blessing. ³ When the people of Israel heard this law read, they excluded all foreigners from the community.

Nehemiah's Reforms

⁴ The priest Eliashib, who was in charge of the Temple storerooms, had for a long time been on good terms with Tobiah. ⁵ He allowed Tobiah to use a large room that was intended only for storing offerings of grain and incense, the equipment used in the Temple, the offerings for the priests, and the tithes of grain, wine, and olive oil given to the Levites, to the Temple musicians, and to the Temple guards. ⁶ While this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, because in the thirty-second year that Artaxerxes^[c] was king of Babylon I had gone back to report to him. After some time I received his permission ⁷ and returned to Jerusalem. There I was shocked to find that Eliashib had allowed Tobiah to use a room in the Temple. ⁸ I was furious and threw out all of Tobiah's belongings. ⁹ I gave orders for the rooms to be ritually purified and for the Temple equipment, grain offerings, and incense to be put back.

^10 (D)I also learned that the Temple musicians and other Levites had left Jerusalem and gone back to their farms, because the people had not been giving them enough to live on. ¹¹ I reprimanded the officials for letting the Temple be neglected. And I brought the Levites and musicians back to the Temple and put them to work again. ^12 (E)Then all the people of Israel again started bringing to the Temple storerooms their tithes of grain, wine, and olive oil. ¹³ I put the following men in charge of the storerooms: Shelemiah, a priest; Zadok, a scholar of the Law; and Pedaiah, a Levite. Hanan, the son of Zaccur and grandson of Mattaniah, was to be their assistant. I knew I could trust these men to be honest in distributing the supplies to the other workers.

¹⁴ Remember, my God, all these things that I have done for your Temple and its worship.

^15 (F)At that time I saw people in Judah pressing juice from grapes on the Sabbath. Others were loading grain, wine, grapes, figs, and other things on their donkeys and taking them into Jerusalem; I warned them not to sell anything on the Sabbath. ¹⁶ Some people from the city of Tyre were living in Jerusalem, and they brought fish and all kinds of goods into the city to sell to our people on the Sabbath. ¹⁷ I reprimanded the Jewish leaders and told them, “Look at the evil you're doing! You're making the Sabbath unholy. ¹⁸ This is exactly why God punished your ancestors when he brought destruction on this city. And yet you insist on bringing more of God's anger down on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

¹⁹ So I gave orders for the city gates to be shut at the beginning of every Sabbath, as soon as evening^[d] began to fall, and not to be opened again until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my men at the gates to make sure that nothing was brought into the city on the Sabbath. ²⁰ Once or twice merchants who sold all kinds of goods spent Friday night outside the city walls. ²¹ I warned them, “It's no use waiting out there for morning to come. If you try this again, I'll use force on you.” From then on they did not come back on the Sabbath. ²² I ordered the Levites to purify themselves and to go and guard the gates to make sure that the Sabbath was kept holy.

Remember me, O God, for this also, and spare me because of your great love.

^23 (G)At that time I also discovered that many of the Jewish men had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. ²⁴ Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or some other language and didn't know how to speak our language. ²⁵ I reprimanded the men, called down curses on them, beat them, and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath in God's name that never again would they or their children intermarry with foreigners. ^26 (H)I told them, “It was foreign women that made King Solomon sin. Here was a man who was greater than any of the kings of other nations. God loved him and made him king over all of Israel, and yet he fell into this sin. ²⁷ Are we then to follow your example and disobey our God by marrying foreign women?”

^28 (I)Joiada was the son of Eliashib the High Priest, but one of Joiada's sons married the daughter of Sanballat, from the town of Beth Horon, so I made Joiada leave Jerusalem.

²⁹ Remember, God, how those people defiled both the office of priest and the covenant you made with the priests and the Levites.

³⁰ I purified the people from everything foreign; I prepared regulations for the priests and the Levites so that all of them would know their duties; ³¹ I arranged for the wood used for burning the offerings to be brought at the proper times, and for the people to bring their offerings of the first grain and the first fruits that ripened.

Remember all this, O God, and give me credit for it.

11 ^(A)Imitate me, then, just as I imitate Christ.

Covering the Head in Worship

² I praise you because you always remember me and follow the teachings that I have handed on to you. ³ But I want you to understand that Christ is supreme over every man, the husband is supreme over his wife, and God is supreme over Christ. ⁴ So a man who prays or proclaims God's message in public worship with his head covered disgraces Christ. ⁵ And any woman who prays or proclaims God's message in public worship with nothing on her head disgraces her husband; there is no difference between her and a woman whose head has been shaved. ⁶ If the woman does not cover her head, she might as well cut her hair. And since it is a shameful thing for a woman to shave her head or cut her hair, she should cover her head. ^7 (B)A man has no need to cover his head, because he reflects the image and glory of God. But woman reflects the glory of man; ^8 (C)for man was not created from woman, but woman from man. ⁹ Nor was man created for woman's sake, but woman was created for man's sake. ¹⁰ On account of the angels, then, a woman should have a covering over her head to show that she is under her husband's authority. ¹¹ In our life in the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. ¹² For as woman was made from man, in the same way man is born of woman; and it is God who brings everything into existence.

¹³ Judge for yourselves whether it is proper for a woman to pray to God in public worship with nothing on her head. ¹⁴ Why, nature itself teaches you that long hair on a man is a disgrace, ¹⁵ but on a woman it is a thing of beauty. Her long hair has been given her to serve as a covering. ¹⁶ But if anyone wants to argue about it, all I have to say is that neither we nor the churches of God have any other custom in worship.

A Prayer for Help^[a]

¹⁷ Indulging in luxuries, wine, and rich food will never make you wealthy.

¹⁸ The wicked bring on themselves the suffering they try to cause good people.

The People Who Lived in Jerusalem

11 The leaders settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people drew lots to choose one family out of every ten to go and live in the holy city of Jerusalem, while the rest were to live in the other cities and towns. ² The people praised anyone else who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. ^3 (A)In the other towns and cities the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the Temple workers, and the descendants of Solomon's servants lived on their own property in their own towns.

The following is the list of the leading citizens of the province of Judah who lived in Jerusalem:

Members of the tribe of Judah

⁴ Athaiah, the son of Uzziah and grandson of Zechariah. His other ancestors included Amariah, Shephatiah, and Mahalalel, descendants of Judah's son Perez.

⁵ Maaseiah, the son of Baruch and grandson of Colhozeh. His other ancestors included Hazaiah, Adaiah, Joiarib, and Zechariah, descendants of Judah's son Shelah.

⁶ Of the descendants of Perez, 468 outstanding soldiers lived in Jerusalem.

Members of the tribe of Benjamin

⁷ Sallu, the son of Meshullam and grandson of Joed. His other ancestors included Pedaiah, Kolaiah, Maaseiah, Ithiel, and Jeshaiah.

⁸ Gabbai and Sallai, close relatives^[a] of Sallu.

In all, 928 Benjaminites lived in Jerusalem. ⁹ Joel son of Zichri was their leader, and Judah son of Hassenuah was the second ranking official in the city.

Priests

¹⁰ Jedaiah son of Joiarib, and Jachin.

¹¹ Seraiah, the son of Hilkiah and grandson of Meshullam. His ancestors included Zadok, Meraioth, and Ahitub, who was the High Priest. ¹² In all, 822 members of this clan served in the Temple.

Adaiah, the son of Jeroham and grandson of Pelaliah. His ancestors included Amzi, Zechariah, Pashhur, and Malchijah. ¹³ In all, 242 members of this clan were heads of families.

Amashsai, the son of Azarel and grandson of Ahzai. His ancestors included Meshillemoth and Immer. ¹⁴ There were 128 members of this clan who were outstanding soldiers. Their leader was Zabdiel, a member of a leading family.^[b]

Levites

¹⁵ Shemaiah, the son of Hasshub and grandson of Azrikam. His ancestors included Hashabiah and Bunni.

¹⁶ Shabbethai and Jozabad, prominent Levites in charge of the work outside the Temple.

¹⁷ Mattaniah, the son of Mica and grandson of Zabdi, a descendant of Asaph. He led the Temple choir in singing the prayer of thanksgiving.

Bakbukiah, who was Mattaniah's assistant.

Abda, the son of Shammua and grandson of Galal, a descendant of Jeduthun.

¹⁸ In all, 284 Levites lived in the holy city of Jerusalem.

Temple guards

¹⁹ Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives, 172 in all.

²⁰ The rest of the people of Israel and the remaining priests and Levites lived on their own property in the other cities and towns of Judah. ²¹ The Temple workers lived in the part of Jerusalem called Ophel and worked under the supervision of Ziha and Gishpa.

²² The supervisor of the Levites who lived in Jerusalem was Uzzi, the son of Bani and grandson of Hashabiah. His ancestors included Mattaniah and Mica, and he belonged to the clan of Asaph, the clan that was responsible for the music in the Temple services. ²³ There were royal regulations stating how the clans should take turns in leading the Temple music each day.

²⁴ Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, of the clan of Zerah and the tribe of Judah, represented the people of Israel at the Persian court.

The People in Other Towns and Cities

²⁵ Many of the people lived in towns near their farms. Those who were of the tribe of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba, Dibon, and Jekabzeel, and in the villages near these cities. ²⁶ They also lived in the cities of Jeshua, Moladah, Bethpelet, ²⁷ and Hazarshual, and in Beersheba and the villages around it. ²⁸ They lived in the city of Ziklag, in Meconah and its villages, ²⁹ in Enrimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, ³⁰ in Zanoah, in Adullam, and in the villages near these towns. They lived in Lachish and on the farms nearby, and in Azekah and its villages. That is to say, the people of Judah lived in the territory between Beersheba in the south and Hinnom Valley in the north.

³¹ The people of the tribe of Benjamin lived in Geba, Michmash, Ai, Bethel and the nearby villages, ³² Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, ³³ Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, ³⁴ Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, ³⁵ Lod, and Ono, and in Craftsmen's Valley. ³⁶ Some groups of Levites that had lived in the territory of Judah were assigned to live with the people of Benjamin.

List of Priests and Levites

12 The following is a list of the priests and Levites who returned from exile with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with the High Priest Joshua:

Priests

^2-7 Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah.

These men were leaders among all their fellow priests in the days of Joshua.

Levites

⁸ The following were in charge of the singing of hymns of thanksgiving: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah.

⁹ The following formed the choir that sang the responses: Bakbukiah, Unno, and their fellow Levites.

Descendants of the High Priest Joshua

¹⁰ Joshua was the father of Joiakim; Joiakim was the father of Eliashib; Eliashib was the father of Joiada; ¹¹ Joiada was the father of Jonathan; and Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.

Heads of the Priestly Clans

^12-21 When Joiakim was High Priest, the following priests were the heads of the priestly clans:

Priest	Clan
Meraiah	Seraiah
Hananiah	Jeremiah
Meshullam	Ezra
Jehohanan	Amariah
Jonathan	Malluchi
Joseph	Shebaniah
Adna	Harim
Helkai	Meraioth
Zechariah	Iddo
Meshullam	Ginnethon
Zichri	Abijah
[c]	Miniamin
Piltai	Moadiah
Shammua	Bilgah
Jehonathan	Shemaiah
Mattenai	Joiarib
Uzzi	Jedaiah
Kallai	Sallai
Eber	Amok
Hashabiah	Hilkiah
Nethanel	Jedaiah

Record of the Priestly and Levite Families

²² A record was kept of the heads of the Levite families and of the priestly families during the lifetimes of the following High Priests: Eliashib, Joiada, Jonathan, and Jaddua. This record was finished when Darius was emperor of Persia.

²³ The heads of the Levite families, however, were recorded in the official records only until the time of Jonathan, the grandson of Eliashib.

Assignment of Duties in the Temple

²⁴ Under the direction of Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua, Binnui,^[d] and Kadmiel, the Levites were organized into groups. Two groups at a time praised God responsively and gave thanks to him, in accordance with the instructions given by King David, the man of God.

²⁵ The following Temple guards were in charge of guarding the storerooms by the gates to the Temple: Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub.

²⁶ These people lived during the time of Joiakim, the son of Joshua and grandson of Jehozadak, and the time of Nehemiah the governor, and the time of Ezra, the priest who was a scholar of the Law.

¹⁴ So then, my dear friends, keep away from the worship of idols. ¹⁵ I speak to you as sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. ^16 (A)The cup we use in the Lord's Supper and for which we give thanks to God: when we drink from it, we are sharing in the blood of Christ. And the bread we break: when we eat it, we are sharing in the body of Christ. ¹⁷ Because there is the one loaf of bread, all of us, though many, are one body, for we all share the same loaf.

^18 (B)Consider the people of Israel; those who eat what is offered in sacrifice share in the altar's service to God. ¹⁹ Do I imply, then, that an idol or the food offered to it really amounts to anything? ^20 (C)No! What I am saying is that what is sacrificed on pagan altars is offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be partners with demons. ²¹ You cannot drink from the Lord's cup and also from the cup of demons; you cannot eat at the Lord's table and also at the table of demons. ^22 (D)Or do we want to make the Lord jealous? Do we think that we are stronger than he?

^23 (E)“We are allowed to do anything,” so they say. That is true, but not everything is good. “We are allowed to do anything”—but not everything is helpful. ²⁴ None of you should be looking out for your own interests, but for the interests of others.

²⁵ You are free to eat anything sold in the meat market, without asking any questions because of your conscience. ^26 (F)For, as the scripture says, “The earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.”

²⁷ If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you decide to go, eat what is set before you, without asking any questions because of your conscience. ²⁸ But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat that food, for the sake of the one who told you and for conscience' sake— ²⁹ that is, not your own conscience, but the other person's conscience.

“Well, then,” someone asks, “why should my freedom to act be limited by another person's conscience? ³⁰ If I thank God for my food, why should anyone criticize me about food for which I give thanks?”

³¹ Well, whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for God's glory. ³² Live in such a way as to cause no trouble either to Jews or Gentiles or to the church of God. ³³ Just do as I do; I try to please everyone in all that I do, not thinking of my own good, but of the good of all, so that they might be saved.

¹⁴ If someone is angry with you, a gift given secretly will calm him down.

¹⁵ When justice is done, good people are happy, but evil people are brought to despair.

¹⁶ Death is waiting for anyone who wanders away from good sense.

The People Sign an Agreement

³⁸ Because of all that has happened, we, the people of Israel, hereby make a solemn written agreement, and our leaders, our Levites, and our priests put their seals to it.

10 The first to sign was the governor, Nehemiah son of Hacaliah, and then Zedekiah signed. The following also signed:

Priests:

• ^2-8 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
• Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,
• Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
• Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
• Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
• Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
• Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaia.

Levites:

• ^9-13 Jeshua son of Azaniah,
• Binnui of the clan of Henadad,
• Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Hodiah,
• Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
• Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
• Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
• Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.

Leaders of the people:

• ^14-27 Parosh, Pahath Moab,
• Elam, Zattu, Bani,
• Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
• Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
• Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
• Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
• Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
• Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
• Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
• Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
• Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
• Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
• Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
• Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,
• Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

The Agreement

²⁸ We, the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the Temple guards, the Temple musicians, the Temple workers, and all others who in obedience to God's Law have separated themselves from the foreigners living in our land, we, together with our wives and all our children old enough to understand, ²⁹ do hereby join with our leaders in an oath, under penalty of a curse if we break it, that we will live according to God's Law, which God gave through his servant Moses; that we will obey all that the Lord, our Lord, commands us; and that we will keep all his laws and requirements.

^30 (I)We will not intermarry with the foreigners living in our land.

^31 (J)If foreigners bring grain or anything else to sell to us on the Sabbath or on any other holy day, we will not buy from them.

Every seventh year we will not farm the land, and we will cancel all debts.

^32 (K)Every year we will each contribute one-eighth of an ounce of silver to help pay the expenses of the Temple.

³³ We will provide for the Temple worship the following: the sacred bread, the daily grain offering, the animals to be burned each day as sacrifices, the sacred offerings for Sabbaths, New Moon Festivals, and other festivals, the other sacred offerings, the offerings to take away the sins of Israel, and anything else needed for the Temple.

³⁴ We, the people, priests, and Levites, will draw lots each year to determine which clans are to provide wood to burn the sacrifices offered to the Lord our God, according to the requirements of the Law.

^35 (L)We will take to the Temple each year an offering of the first grain we harvest and of the first fruit that ripens on our trees.

^36 (M)The first son born to each of us we will take to the priests in the Temple and there, as required by the Law, dedicate him to God. We will also dedicate the first calf born to each of our cows, and the first lamb or kid born to each of our sheep or goats.

^37 (N)We will take to the priests in the Temple the dough made from the first grain harvested each year and our other offerings of wine, olive oil, and all kinds of fruit.

We will take to the Levites, who collect tithes in our farming villages, the tithes from the crops that grow on our land. ^38 (O)Priests who are descended from Aaron are to be with the Levites when tithes are collected, and for use in the Temple the Levites are to take to the Temple storerooms one-tenth of all the tithes they collect. ³⁹ The people of Israel and the Levites are to take the contributions of grain, wine, and olive oil to the storerooms where the utensils for the Temple are kept and where the priests who are on duty, the Temple guards, and the members of the Temple choir have their quarters.

We will not neglect the house of our God.

¹⁹ I am a free man, nobody's slave; but I make myself everybody's slave in order to win as many people as possible. ²⁰ While working with the Jews, I live like a Jew in order to win them; and even though I myself am not subject to the Law of Moses, I live as though I were when working with those who are, in order to win them. ²¹ In the same way, when working with Gentiles, I live like a Gentile, outside the Jewish Law, in order to win Gentiles. This does not mean that I don't obey God's law; I am really under Christ's law. ²² Among the weak in faith I become weak like one of them, in order to win them. So I become all things to all people, that I may save some of them by whatever means are possible.

²³ All this I do for the gospel's sake, in order to share in its blessings. ²⁴ Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize. ^25 (A)Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever. ²⁶ That is why I run straight for the finish line; that is why I am like a boxer who does not waste his punches. ²⁷ I harden my body with blows and bring it under complete control, to keep myself from being disqualified after having called others to the contest.

Warnings against Idols

10 ^(B)I want you to remember, my friends, what happened to our ancestors who followed Moses. They were all under the protection of the cloud, and all passed safely through the Red Sea. ² In the cloud and in the sea they were all baptized as followers of Moses. ^3 (C)All ate the same spiritual bread ^4 (D)and drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them; and that rock was Christ himself. ^5 (E)But even then God was not pleased with most of them, and so their dead bodies were scattered over the desert.

^6 (F)Now, all of this is an example for us, to warn us not to desire evil things, as they did, ^7 (G)nor to worship idols, as some of them did. As the scripture says, “The people sat down to a feast which turned into an orgy of drinking and sex.” ^8 (H)We must not be guilty of sexual immorality, as some of them were—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them fell dead. ^9 (I)We must not put the Lord^[a] to the test, as some of them did—and they were killed by snakes. ^10 (J)We must not complain, as some of them did—and they were destroyed by the Angel of Death.

¹¹ All these things happened to them as examples for others, and they were written down as a warning for us. For we live at a time when the end is about to come.

¹² If you think you are standing firm you had better be careful that you do not fall. ^13 (K)Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.

^(A)In Praise of God's Goodness^[a]

¹³ If you refuse to listen to the cry of the poor, your own cry for help will not be heard.

8 all the people gathered together^(A) at the square in front of the Water Gate.^(B) They asked the scribe Ezra^(C) to bring the book of the law of Moses^(D) that the Lord had given Israel. ² On the first day of the seventh month,^(E) the priest Ezra^(F) brought the law^(G) before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. ³ While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate,^(H) he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively^[a] to the book of the law.^{(I) 4} The scribe Ezra stood on a high wooden platform^(J) made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. ⁵ Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. ⁶ Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted^(K) all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” ^(L) Then they knelt low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.^(M)

⁷ Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah,^(N) who were Levites,^[b](O) explained the law^(P) to the people as they stood in their places. ⁸ They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read. ⁹ Nehemiah the governor,^(Q) Ezra the priest and scribe,^(R) and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day^(S) is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.”^(T) For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared,^(U) since today^(V) is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”^{[c](W) 11} And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still,^(X) since today^(Y) is holy. Don’t grieve.” ¹² Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration,^(Z) because they had understood the words that were explained to them.

Festival of Shelters Observed

¹³ On the second day, the family heads of all the people, along with the priests and Levites,^(AA) assembled before the scribe Ezra^(AB) to study the words of the law. ¹⁴ They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in shelters during the festival of the seventh month.^{(AC) 15} So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make shelters, just as it is written.”^{(AD) 16} The people went out, brought back branches, and made shelters for themselves on each of their rooftops^(AE) and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate,^(AF) and the square by the Ephraim Gate.^{(AG) 17} The whole community that had returned from exile^(AH) made shelters and lived in them. The Israelites had not celebrated like this from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day.^(AI) And there was tremendous joy.^{(AJ) 18} Ezra^[d] read out of the book of the law of God^(AK) every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.^(AL)

National Confession of Sin

9 On the twenty-fourth day of this month^(AM) the Israelites assembled; they were fasting, wearing sackcloth, and had put dust on their heads.^{(AN) 2} Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners,^(AO) and they stood^(AP) and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their ancestors.^{(AQ) 3} While they stood in their places,^(AR) they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day and spent another fourth of the day^(AS) in confession^(AT) and worship of the Lord their God. ⁴ Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the raised platform built for the Levites^(AU) and cried out loudly to the Lord their God. ⁵ Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah^(AV)—said, “Stand up. Blessed be the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting.”^(AW)

Paul’s Example as an Apostle

9 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? ² If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, because you are the seal^(A) of my apostleship in the Lord.

³ My defense to those who examine me is this: ⁴ Don’t we have the right to eat and drink?^{(B) 5} Don’t we have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife^[a] like the other apostles,^(C) the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas?^{(D) 6} Or do only Barnabas^(E) and I have no right to refrain from working? ⁷ Who serves as a soldier at his own expense?^(F) Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink the milk from the flock?

⁸ Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the law also say the same thing? ⁹ For it is written in the law of Moses, Do not muzzle an ox^(G) while it treads out grain.^[b](H) Is God really concerned about oxen? ¹⁰ Isn’t he really saying it for our sake? Yes, this is written for our sake,^(I) because he who plows ought to plow in hope,^(J) and he who threshes should thresh in hope of sharing the crop.^{(K) 11} If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you? ¹² If others have this right to receive benefits from you, don’t we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right; instead, we endure everything^(L) so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ.

¹³ Don’t you know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar^(M) share in the offerings of the altar? ¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel.^(N)

¹⁵ For my part I have used none of these rights, nor have I written these things that they may be applied in my case. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast! ¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach^[c]—and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted^(O) with a commission. ¹⁸ What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my rights in the gospel.^(P)

Good and Bad Governors

¹⁴ Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes^(A) appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah—from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, twelve years^(B)—I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor. ¹⁵ The governors^(C) who preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them food and wine as well as a pound^[a] of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but because of the fear of God, I didn’t do this.^{(D) 16} Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of this wall,^(E) and all my subordinates were gathered there for the work. We didn’t buy any land.^(F)

¹⁷ There were 150 Jews and officials, as well as guests from the surrounding nations at my table.^{(G) 18} Each^[b] day, one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me. An abundance of all kinds of wine was provided every ten days.^(H) But I didn’t demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.

¹⁹ Remember me favorably, my God, for all that I have done for this people.^(I)

Attempts to Discourage the Builders

6 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies^(J) heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gap was left in it^(K)—though at that time I had not installed the doors in the city gates^(L)— ² Sanballat and Geshem^(M) sent me a message: “Come, let’s meet together in the villages of^[c] the Ono Valley.”^(N) They were planning to harm me.

³ So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing important work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” ⁴ Four times they sent me the same proposal, and I gave them the same reply.

⁵ Sanballat^(O) sent me this same message a fifth time by his aide, who had an open letter in his hand. ⁶ In it was written:

It is reported among the nations—and Geshem^[d](P) agrees—that you and the Jews plan to rebel. This is the reason you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king ⁷ and have even set up the prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf, “There is a king in Judah.”^(Q) These rumors will be heard by the king. So come, let’s confer together.

⁸ Then I replied to him, “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.”^{(R) 9} For they were all trying to intimidate^(S) us, saying, “They will drop their hands from^[e] the work,^(T) and it will never be finished.”

But now, my God, strengthen my hands.^(U)

Attempts to Intimidate Nehemiah

¹⁰ I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was restricted to his house. He said:

¹¹ But I said, “Should a man like me run away? How can someone like me enter the temple and live?^(V) I will not go.” ¹² I realized that God had not sent him, because of the prophecy he spoke against me. Tobiah and Sanballat^(W) had hired him. ¹³ He was hired, so that I would be intimidated,^(X) do as he suggested, sin, and get a bad reputation, in order that they could discredit me.

¹⁴ My God, remember^(Y) Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also the prophetess Noadiah^(Z) and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me.

The Wall Completed

¹⁵ The wall was completed^(AA) in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul.^{(AB) 16} When all our enemies^(AC) heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated^(AD) and lost their confidence,^[g] for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.^(AE)

¹⁷ During those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah,^(AF) and Tobiah’s letters came to them. ¹⁸ For many in Judah were bound by oath^(AG) to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam^(AH) son of Berechiah. ¹⁹ These nobles kept mentioning Tobiah’s good deeds to me, and they reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate^(AI) me.

The Exiles Return

7 When the wall had been rebuilt and I had the doors installed,^(AJ) the gatekeepers,^(AK) singers, and Levites were appointed. ² Then I put my brother Hanani^(AL) in charge of Jerusalem,^(AM) along with Hananiah,^(AN) commander of the fortress,^(AO) because he was a faithful man who feared God^(AP) more than most. ³ I said to them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot, and let the doors be shut and securely fastened while the guards are on duty. Station the citizens of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their homes.”^(AQ)

⁴ The city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and no houses had been built yet.^{(AR) 5} Then my God put it into my mind^(AS) to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be registered by genealogy. I found the genealogical record of those who came back first, and I found the following written in it:^(AT)

⁶ These are the people of the province who went up among the captive exiles deported by King Nebuchadnezzar^(AU) of Babylon. Each of them returned to Jerusalem and Judah, to his own town.^{(AV) 7} They came with Zerubbabel,^(AW) Jeshua,^(AX) Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.

The number of the Israelite men included^[h]

8 Parosh’s descendants(AY)	2,172
9 Shephatiah’s descendants	372
10 Arah’s descendants	652
11 Pahath-moab’s descendants:
Jeshua’s and Joab’s descendants	2,818
12 Elam’s descendants	1,254
13 Zattu’s descendants	845
14 Zaccai’s descendants	760
15 Binnui’s descendants	648
16 Bebai’s descendants	628
17 Azgad’s descendants	2,322
18 Adonikam’s descendants(AZ)	667
19 Bigvai’s descendants	2,067
20 Adin’s descendants(BA)	655
21 Ater’s descendants: of Hezekiah	98
22 Hashum’s descendants	328
23 Bezai’s descendants	324
24 Hariph’s descendants	112
25 Gibeon’s[i] descendants	95
26 Bethlehem’s(BB) and Netophah’s(BC) men	188
27 Anathoth’s(BD) men	128
28 Beth-azmaveth’s men	42
29 Kiriath-jearim’s, Chephirah’s, and Beeroth’s men	743
30 Ramah’s and Geba’s men	621
31 Michmas’s men	122
32 Bethel’s and Ai’s men(BE)	123
33 the other Nebo’s men	52
34 the other Elam’s people	1,254
35 Harim’s people	320
36 Jericho’s people(BF)	345
37 Lod’s,(BG) Hadid’s, and Ono’s people	721
38 Senaah’s people	3,930.

³⁹ The priests included

Jedaiah’s(BH) descendants of the house of Jeshua	973
40 Immer’s descendants	1,052
41 Pashhur’s descendants	1,247
42 Harim’s descendants	1,017.

⁴³ The Levites^(BI) included

Jeshua’s descendants: of Kadmiel
Hodevah’s descendants	74.

⁴⁴ The singers^(BJ) included

Asaph’s descendants

148.

⁴⁵ The gatekeepers^(BK) included

Shallum’s descendants, Ater’s descendants,
Talmon’s descendants, Akkub’s descendants,
Hatita’s descendants, Shobai’s descendants	138.

⁴⁶ The temple servants^(BL) included

⁵⁷ The descendants of Solomon’s servants^(BM) included

60 All the temple servants
and the descendants of Solomon’s servants(BN)	392.

⁶¹ The following^(BO) are those who came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but were unable to prove that their ancestral families^[k] and their lineage were Israelite:

62 Delaiah’s descendants,
Tobiah’s descendants,
and Nekoda’s descendants	642

⁶³ and from the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai—who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and who bore their name. ⁶⁴ These searched for their entries in the genealogical records, but they could not be found, so they were disqualified from the priesthood. ⁶⁵ The governor^(BP) ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest who could consult the Urim and Thummim.^(BQ)

66 The whole combined assembly numbered	42,360
67 not including their 7,337 male and female servants,
as well as their 245 male and female singers.
68 They had 736 horses, 245 mules,[l]
69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.(BR)

⁷⁰ Some of the family heads contributed to the project. The governor gave 1,000 gold coins,^[m] 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments to the treasury. ⁷¹ Some of the family heads gave 20,000 gold coins and 2,200 silver minas to the treasury for the project. ⁷² The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold coins, 2,000 silver minas, and 67 priestly garments. ⁷³ The priests, Levites, gatekeepers, temple singers, some of the people, temple servants, and all Israel settled in their towns.^(BS)

Public Reading of the Law

When the seventh month^(BT) came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,

Food Offered to Idols

8 Now about food sacrificed to idols:^(A) We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up,^(B) but love^(C) builds up. ² If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it.^{(D) 3} But if anyone loves God,^(E) he is known^(F) by him.

⁴ About eating food sacrificed to idols, then, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,”^[a] and that “there is no God but one.”^{(G) 5} For even if there are so-called gods,^(H) whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”— ⁶ yet for us there is one God, the Father.^(I) All things are from him,^(J) and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.^(K)

⁷ However, not everyone has this knowledge. Some have been so used to idolatry up until now that when they eat food sacrificed to an idol, their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁸ Food will not bring us close to God.^[b] We are not worse off if we don’t eat, and we are not better if we do eat.^{(L) 9} But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block^(M) to the weak. ¹⁰ For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged^[c] to eat food offered to idols? ¹¹ So the weak person, the brother or sister for whom Christ died,^(N) is ruined^[d](O) by your knowledge.^{(P) 12} Now when you sin like this against brothers and sisters and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. ¹³ Therefore, if food causes my brother or sister to fall, I will never again eat meat,^(Q) so that I won’t cause my brother or sister to fall.

Psalm 33

Praise to the Creator

¹⁵ Shallun^[a] son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate.^(A) He rebuilt it and roofed it. Then he installed its doors, bolts, and bars. He also made repairs to the wall of the Pool of Shelah^(B) near the king’s garden,^(C) as far as the stairs that descend from the city of David.^(D)

¹⁶ After him Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur,^(E) made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David,^(F) as far as the artificial pool^(G) and the House of the Warriors.^{(H) 17} Next to him the Levites^(I) made repairs under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah,^(J) made repairs for his district. ¹⁸ After him their fellow Levites made repairs under Binnui^[b] son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah. ¹⁹ Next to him Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, made repairs to another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the Angle.^(K)

The Angle, Water Gate, and Tower on Ophel

²⁰ After him Baruch son of Zabbai^[c] diligently repaired another section, from the Angle to the door of the house of the high priest Eliashib.^{(L) 21} Beside him Meremoth^(M) son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs to another section, from the door of Eliashib’s^(N) house to the end of his house. ²² And next to him the priests from the surrounding area made repairs.

²³ After them Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs opposite their house. Beside them Azariah son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house. ²⁴ After him Binnui^(O) son of Henadad made repairs to another section, from the house of Azariah to the Angle and the corner. ²⁵ Palal son of Uzai made repairs opposite the Angle and tower that juts out from the king’s upper palace,^[d](P) by the courtyard of the guard.^(Q) Beside him Pedaiah son of Parosh ²⁶ and the temple servants^(R) living on Ophel^(S) made repairs opposite the Water Gate^(T) toward the east and the tower that juts out. ²⁷ Next to him the Tekoites^(U) made repairs to another section from a point opposite the great tower that juts out, as far as the wall of Ophel.^(V)

Horse Gate, Inspection Gate, and Sheep Gate

²⁸ Each of the priests made repairs above the Horse Gate,^(W) each opposite his own house. ²⁹ After them Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. And beside him Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, guard of the East Gate, made repairs. ³⁰ Next to him Hananiah son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph made repairs to another section.

After them Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs opposite his room. ³¹ Next to him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths,^(X) made repairs to the house of the temple servants^(Y) and the merchants, opposite the Inspection^[e] Gate, and as far as the upstairs room on the corner. ³² The goldsmiths^(Z) and merchants made repairs between the upstairs room on the corner and the Sheep Gate.^(AA)

Progress in Spite of Opposition

4 When Sanballat^(AB) heard that we were rebuilding the wall,^(AC) he became furious. He mocked the Jews^{(AD) 2} before his colleagues and the powerful men^[f] of Samaria^(AE) and said, “What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it? Can they bring these burnt stones^(AF) back to life from the mounds of rubble?” ^{(AG) 3} Then Tobiah the Ammonite,^(AH) who was beside him, said, “Indeed, even if a fox^(AI) climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall!”

⁴ Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. ⁵ Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from your sight, because they have angered^[g] the builders.^(AJ)

⁶ So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working.^(AK)

⁷ When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs,^(AL) Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed,^(AM) they became furious.^{(AN) 8} They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. ⁹ So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night.

¹⁰ In Judah, it was said:^[h]

¹¹ And our enemies said, “They won’t realize it^[i] until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.” ¹² When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again,^[j] “Everywhere you turn, they attack^[k] us.” ¹³ So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. ¹⁴ After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people,^(AO) “Don’t be afraid of them.^(AP) Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”^(AQ)

Sword and Trowel

¹⁵ When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. ¹⁶ From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor.^(AR) The officers supported all the people of Judah, ¹⁷ who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried the loads worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. ¹⁸ Each of the builders had his sword strapped around his waist while he was building, and the one who sounded the ram’s horn was beside me. ¹⁹ Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people,^(AS) “The work is enormous and spread out, and we are separated far from one another along the wall.^{(AT) 20} Wherever you hear the sound of the ram’s horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!” ^{(AU) 21} So we continued the work, while half of the men were holding spears from daybreak until the stars came out. ²² At that time, I also said to the people, “Let everyone and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.” ²³ And I, my brothers, my servants, and the men of the guard with me never took off our clothes. Each carried his weapon, even when washing.^[l]

Social Injustice

5 There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. ² Some were saying, “We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.” ³ Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.”^{(AV) 4} Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax^(AW) on our fields and vineyards.^{(AX) 5} We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery.^(AY) Some of our daughters are already enslaved,^(AZ) but we are powerless^[m] because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

⁶ I became extremely angry^(BA) when I heard their outcry and these complaints. ⁷ After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, “Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.”^(BB) So I called a large assembly against them ⁸ and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.”^(BC) They remained silent and could not say a word.^{(BD) 9} Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God^(BE) and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies?^{(BF) 10} Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let’s stop charging this interest.^{[n] 11} Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage^[o] of the money, grain, new wine, and fresh oil^(BG) that you have been assessing them.”

¹² They responded, “We will return these things and require nothing more from them.^(BH) We will do as you say.”

So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath^(BI) to do this. ¹³ I also shook the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn’t keep this promise. May he be shaken out^(BJ) and have nothing!”

The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. Then the people did as they had promised.^(BK)

About the Unmarried and Widows

²⁵ Now about virgins:^[a] I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy^(A) is faithful.^{(B) 26} Because of the present distress, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. ²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸ However, if you do get married,^(C) you have not sinned, and if a virgin^[b] marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life,^[c] and I am trying to spare you.

²⁹ This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time is limited,^(D) so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none, ³⁰ those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice^(E) as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they didn’t own anything, ³¹ and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away.^(F)

³² I want you to be without concerns. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord—how he may please^(G) the Lord. ³³ But the married man is concerned about the things of the world—how he may please his wife— ³⁴ and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord,^(H) so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. ³⁵ I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.

³⁶ If any man thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage, and he feels he should marry—he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married. ³⁷ But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will^(I)) and has decided in his heart to keep her as his fiancée, will do well. ³⁸ So, then, he who marries his fiancée does well, but he who does not marry will do better.^[d]

³⁹ A wife is bound^[e] as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants—only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

Psalm 32

The Joy of Forgiveness

Of David. A Maskil.

1 The words of Nehemiah^(A) son of Hacaliah:

News from Jerusalem

During the month of Chislev^(B) in the twentieth year,^(C) when I was in the fortress city of Susa,^{(D) 2} Hanani,^(E) one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah, and I questioned them about Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant^(F) that had survived the exile.^{(G) 3} They said to me, “The remnant in the province,^(H) who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned.”^(I)

Nehemiah’s Prayer

⁴ When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying^(J) before the God of the heavens.^{(K) 5} I said,^(L)

Lord, the God of the heavens, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him^(M) and keep his commands,^{(N) 6} let your eyes be open and your ears be attentive^(O) to hear your servant’s prayer that I now pray to you day and night^(P) for your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins^[a] we have committed against you. Both I and my father’s family have sinned.^{(Q) 7} We have acted corruptly toward you and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances you gave your servant Moses.^{(R) 8} Please remember what you commanded your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples.^{(S) 9} But if you return to me and carefully observe my commands, even though your exiles were banished to the farthest horizon,^[b] I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have my name dwell.”^{(T) 10} They are your servants and your people. You redeemed them by your great power and strong hand.^{(U) 11} Please, Lord, let your ear be attentive^(V) to the prayer of your servant and to that of your servants who delight to revere your name. Give your servant success today,^(W) and grant him compassion in the presence of this man.^[c](X)

At the time, I was the king’s cupbearer.^(Y)

Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem

2 During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,^(Z) when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, ² so the king said to me, “Why do you look so sad,^(AA) when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.”^(AB)

I was overwhelmed with fear ³ and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I^[d] not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” ^(AC)

⁴ Then the king asked me, “What is your request?”

So I prayed to the God of the heavens^{(AD) 5} and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried,^[e](AE) so that I may rebuild it.”^(AF)

⁶ The king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So I gave him a definite time,^(AG) and it pleased the king to send me.

⁷ I also said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let me have letters written to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates River,^(AH) so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah.^{(AI) 8} And let me have a letter written to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to rebuild the gates of the temple’s fortress,^(AJ) the city wall, and the home where I will live.”^[f](AK) The king granted my requests, for the gracious hand of my God was on me.^(AL)

⁹ I went to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters.^(AM) The king had also sent officers of the infantry and cavalry with me. ¹⁰ When Sanballat the Horonite^(AN) and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to pursue the prosperity of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased.^(AO)

Preparing to Rebuild the Walls

¹¹ After I arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days,^{(AP) 12} I got up at night and took a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took^[g] was the one I was riding. ¹³ I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Serpent’s^[h] Well and the Dung Gate,^(AQ) and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.^{(AR) 14} I went on to the Fountain Gate^(AS) and the King’s Pool,^(AT) but farther down it became too narrow for my animal to go through. ¹⁵ So I went up at night by way of the valley and inspected the wall. Then heading back, I entered through the Valley Gate^(AU) and returned. ¹⁶ The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of those who would be doing the work. ¹⁷ So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned.^(AV) Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall,^(AW) so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” ¹⁸ I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me,^(AX) and what the king had said to me.

They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and their hands were strengthened^[i] to do this good work.

¹⁹ When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official,^(AY) and Geshem the Arab^(AZ) heard about this, they mocked and despised us, and said, “What is this you’re doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

²⁰ I gave them this reply, “The God of the heavens is the one who will grant us success. We, his servants, will start building, but you have no share, right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”^(BA)

Rebuilding the Walls

3 The high priest Eliashib^(BB) and his fellow priests began rebuilding the Sheep Gate.^(BC) They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building the wall to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel,^(BD) they dedicated it. ² The men of Jericho^(BE) built next to Eliashib,^(BF) and next to them Zaccur son of Imri built.

Fish Gate

³ The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate.^(BG) They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars.^{(BH) 4} Next to them Meremoth^(BI) son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Beside them Meshullam^(BJ) son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok son of Baana made repairs. ⁵ Beside them the Tekoites^(BK) made repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help^[j] their supervisors.

Old Gate, Broad Wall, and Tower of the Ovens

⁶ Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old^[k] Gate.^(BL) They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. ⁷ Next to them the repairs were done by Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, and the men of Gibeon^(BM) and Mizpah, who were under the authority^[l](BN) of the governor^(BO) of the region west of the Euphrates River.^{(BP) 8} After him Uzziel son of Harhaiah, the goldsmith,^(BQ) made repairs, and next to him Hananiah son of the perfumer made repairs. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.^(BR)

⁹ Next to them Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. ¹⁰ After them Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house.^(BS) Next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs. ¹¹ Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab made repairs to another section, as well as to the Tower of the Ovens.^{(BT) 12} Beside him Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs—he and his daughters.

Valley Gate, Dung Gate, and Fountain Gate

¹³ Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars, and repaired five hundred yards^[m] of the wall to the Dung Gate.^{(BU) 14} Malchijah son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem,^(BV) repaired the Dung Gate.^(BW) He rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars.

Principles of Marriage

7 Now in response to the matters you wrote^[a] about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”^{[b] 2} But because sexual immorality is so common,^[c](A) each man should have sexual relations with his own wife,^(B) and each woman should have sexual relations with her own husband. ³ A husband should fulfill his marital duty^(C) to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband. ⁴ A wife does not have the right over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does. ⁵ Do not deprive^(D) one another—except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to^[d] prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ⁶ I say this as a concession, not as a command. ⁷ I wish that all people were as I am. But each has his own gift^(E) from God, one person has this gift, another has that.

A Word to the Unmarried

⁸ I say to the unmarried^[e] and to widows:^(F) It is good for them if they remain as I am. ⁹ But if they do not have self-control,^(G) they should marry, since it is better to marry^(H) than to burn with desire.

About Married People

¹⁰ To the married I give this command^(I)—not I, but the Lord—a wife is not to leave^[f] her husband. ¹¹ But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband—and a husband is not to divorce his wife.^{(J) 12} But I (not the Lord) say to the rest: If any brother^(K) has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. ¹³ Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce her husband. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is made holy^(L) by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy by the husband.^[g] Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy. ¹⁵ But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you^[h] to live in peace. ¹⁶ Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.^[i]

Various Situations of Life

¹⁷ Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called^(M) him.^[j] This is what I command in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter. Keeping God’s commands is what matters. ²⁰ Let each of you remain in the situation^[k] in which he was called. ²¹ Were you called while a slave? Don’t let it concern you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.^{[l] 22} For he who is called by the Lord as a slave^(N) is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave. ²³ You were bought^(O) at a price; do not become slaves of people. ²⁴ Brothers and sisters, each person is to remain with God in the situation in which he was called.

Sending Away Foreign Wives

10 While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown^(A) before the house of God, an extremely large assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly.^{(B) 2} Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel,^(C) an Elamite, responded to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the surrounding peoples,^(D) but there is still hope for Israel in spite of this. ³ Therefore, let’s make a covenant before our God^(E) to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God.^(F) Let it be done according to the law. ⁴ Get up, for this matter is your responsibility,^(G) and we support you. Be strong and take action!” ^(H)

⁵ Then Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said; so they took the oath.^{(I) 6} Ezra then went from the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, where he spent the night.^[a] He did not eat food or drink water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.^(J)

⁷ They circulated a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem. ⁸ Whoever did not come within three days would forfeit all his possessions,^[b] according to the decision of the leaders and elders, and would be excluded^(K) from the assembly of the exiles.

⁹ So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. On the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God,^(L) trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. ¹⁰ Then the priest Ezra stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt.^{(M) 11} Therefore, make a confession to the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the surrounding peoples and your foreign wives.”

¹² Then all the assembly responded loudly, “Yes, we will do as you say! ¹³ But there are many people, and it is the rainy season. We don’t have the stamina to stay out in the open. This isn’t something that can be done in a day or two, for we have rebelled terribly in this matter. ¹⁴ Let our leaders represent the entire assembly. Then let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of each town, in order to avert the fierce anger of our God^(N) concerning^[c] this matter.” ¹⁵ Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, with Meshullam^(O) and Shabbethai the Levite supporting them.

¹⁶ The exiles did what had been proposed. The priest Ezra selected men^[d] who were family heads, all identified by name, to represent^[e] their ancestral families.^[f] They convened on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter, ¹⁷ and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.

Those Married to Foreign Wives

¹⁸ The following were found to have married foreign women from the descendants of the priests:

²³ The Levites:^(T)

²⁴ The singers:^(U)

The gatekeepers:^(V)

²⁵ The Israelites:^(W)

⁴⁴ All of these^(AH) had married foreign women, and some of the wives had given birth to children.^(AI)

Lawsuits among Believers

6 If any of you has a dispute against another, how dare you take it to court^(A) before the unrighteous,^[a] and not before the saints? ² Or don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the trivial cases? ³ Don’t you know that we will judge angels—how much more matters of this life? ⁴ So if you have such matters, do you appoint as your judges those who have no standing^(B) in the church? ⁵ I say this to your shame!^(C) Can it be that there is not one wise person among you who is able to arbitrate between fellow believers?^{(D) 6} Instead, brother goes to court against brother, and that before unbelievers!^(E)

⁷ As it is, to have legal disputes against one another is already a defeat for you.^(F) Why not rather be wronged?^(G) Why not rather be cheated?^{(H) 8} Instead, you yourselves do wrong and cheat—and you do this to brothers and sisters! ⁹ Don’t you know that the unrighteous^(I) will not inherit God’s kingdom?^(J) Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters,^(K) adulterers,^(L) or males who have sex with males,^{[b](M) 10} no thieves,^(N) greedy^(O) people, drunkards, verbally abusive people,^(P) or swindlers^(Q) will inherit God’s kingdom. ¹¹ And some of you used to be like this.^(R) But you were washed, you were sanctified,^(S) you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Glorifying God in Body and Spirit

¹² “Everything is permissible^(T) for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything. ¹³ “Food^(U) is for the stomach and the stomach for food,” and God will do away with both of them. However, the body is not for sexual immorality^(V) but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. ¹⁴ God raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.^{(W) 15} Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body?^(X) So should I take a part of Christ’s body and make it part of a prostitute? Absolutely not! ¹⁶ Don’t you know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For Scripture says, The two will become one flesh.^{[c](Y) 17} But anyone joined^(Z) to the Lord is one spirit^(AA) with him.

¹⁸ Flee^(AB) sexual immorality! Every other sin^[d] a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral^(AC) sins against his own body. ¹⁹ Don’t you know that your body is a temple^(AD) of the Holy Spirit^(AE) who is in you,^(AF) whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought^(AG) at a price. So glorify God with your body.^[e]

Preparing to Return

²¹ I proclaimed a fast^(A) by the Ahava River,^[a] so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us, our dependents, and all our possessions. ²² I did this because I was ashamed to ask the king for infantry and cavalry to protect us from enemies during the journey, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek him, but his fierce anger is against all who abandon him.”^{(B) 23} So we fasted and pleaded with our God about this, and he was receptive to our prayer.

²⁴ I selected twelve of the leading priests, along with Sherebiah,^(C) Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers. ²⁵ I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles—the contribution for the house of our God that the king, his counselors, his leaders, and all the Israelites who were present had offered. ²⁶ I weighed out to them 24 tons^[b] of silver, silver articles weighing 7,500 pounds,^[c] 7,500 pounds of gold, ²⁷ twenty gold bowls worth a thousand gold coins,^[d] and two articles of fine gleaming bronze, as valuable as gold.^{(D) 28} Then I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, and the articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering^(E) to the Lord God of your ancestors. ²⁹ Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the Lord’s house before the leading priests, Levites, and heads of the Israelite families in Jerusalem.” ³⁰ So the priests and Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the articles that had been weighed out, to bring them to the house of our God in Jerusalem.^(F)

Arrival in Jerusalem

³¹ We set out from the Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. We were strengthened by our God,^[e](G) and he kept us from the grasp of the enemy and from ambush along the way.^{(H) 32} So we arrived at Jerusalem and rested there for three days.^{(I) 33} On the fourth day the silver, the gold, and the articles were weighed out in the house of our God into the care of the priest Meremoth son of Uriah. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him. The Levites Jozabad^(J) son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui were also with them. ³⁴ Everything was verified by number and weight, and the total weight was recorded at that time.

³⁵ The exiles who had returned from the captivity^(K) offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, and seventy-seven lambs, along with twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering for the Lord.^{(L) 36} They also delivered the king’s edicts to the royal satraps and governors of the region west of the Euphrates,^(M) so that they would support the people and the house of God.^(N)

Israel’s Intermarriage

9 After these things had been done, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves^(O) from the surrounding peoples whose detestable practices^(P) are like those of the Canaanites, Hethites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.^{(Q) 2} Indeed, the Israelite men^[f] have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed^(R) has become mixed with the surrounding peoples.^(S) The leaders^[g] and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!” ^{(T) 3} When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.^(U)

Ezra’s Confession

⁴ Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel^(V) gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles,^(W) while I sat devastated until the evening offering.^{(X) 5} At the evening offering, I got up from my time of humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God.^{(Y) 6} And I said:^(Z)

My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward you, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens.^{(AA) 7} Our guilt has been terrible from the days of our ancestors until the present. Because of our iniquities we have been handed over, along with our kings and priests, to the surrounding kings, and to the sword, captivity, plundering, and open shame,^(AB) as it is today. ⁸ But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the Lord our God to preserve a remnant^(AC) for us and give us a stake^(AD) in his holy place. Even in our slavery, God has given us a little relief and light to our eyes.^{(AE) 9} Though we are slaves,^(AF) our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. He has extended grace to us in the presence of the Persian kings,^(AG) giving us relief, so that we can rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins,^(AH) to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

¹⁰ Now, our God, what can we say in light of^[h] this? For we have abandoned the commands ¹¹ you gave through your servants the prophets, saying, “The land you are entering to possess is an impure land. The surrounding peoples have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness by their impurity and detestable practices.^{(AI) 12} So do not give your daughters to their sons in marriage or take their daughters for your sons.^(AJ) Never pursue their welfare or prosperity,^(AK) so that you will be strong, eat the good things of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.” ¹³ After all that has happened to us because of our evil deeds and terrible guilt—though you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have allowed us to survive^[i](AL)— ¹⁴ should we break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit these detestable practices?^(AM) Wouldn’t you become so angry with us that you would destroy us, leaving neither remnant nor survivor?^{(AN) 15} Lord God of Israel, you are righteous, for we survive as a remnant^(AO) today. Here we are before you with our guilt, though no one can stand in your presence because of this.^(AP)

Immoral Church Members

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality^(A) among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated^[a] among the Gentiles^(B)—a man is sleeping with his father’s wife.^{(C) 2} And you are arrogant! Shouldn’t you be filled with grief^(D) and remove from your congregation the one who did this? ³ Even though I am absent in the body, I am present in spirit.^(E) As one who is present with you in this way, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who has been doing such a thing. ⁴ When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, ⁵ hand that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,^(F) so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.^(G)

⁶ Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven^[b](H) leavens the whole batch of dough?^{(I) 7} Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new unleavened batch, as indeed you are. For Christ our Passover lamb^(J) has been sacrificed.^{[c] 8} Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old leaven or with the leaven of malice and evil,^(K) but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Church Discipline

⁹ I wrote to you in a letter not to associate^(L) with sexually immoral people.^{(M) 10} I did not mean the immoral people of this world or the greedy^(N) and swindlers^(O) or idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world.^{(P) 11} But actually, I wrote^[d] you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister^(Q) and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard^(R) or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. ¹² For what business is it of mine to judge^(S) outsiders? Don’t you judge those who are inside? ¹³ God judges outsiders. Remove the evil person from among you.^[e](T)