1Cyrus Sends the Exiles Home
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
1In the first year that Cyrus was king of Persia, so that the word the LORD had spoken through Jeremiah would come true, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia. He sent out an announcement through his whole kingdom, and put it in writing too, saying:
2Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
2"This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has given me the job of building him a house at Jerusalem, in Judah.
3Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
3Whoever among you belongs to his people, may his God be with him. Let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel. He is God, and his house is in Jerusalem.
4And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
4And wherever any of them is still living as a stranger, let the men of that place help him with silver, gold, goods, and animals, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem."
5Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.
5Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, the priests, and the Levites got up, along with everyone whose spirit God had stirred, to go and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
6And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.
6All their neighbors gave them a hand with silver dishes, gold, goods, animals, and valuable things, on top of everything that was given freely.
7Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;
7King Cyrus also brought out the dishes and tools that belonged to the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried off from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his own gods.
8Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
8Cyrus king of Persia had them brought out by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them over to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
9And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,
9This is how many there were: thirty gold dishes, a thousand silver dishes, twenty-nine knives,
10Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.
10thirty gold bowls, four hundred and ten silver bowls of a second kind, and a thousand other items.
11All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.
11All together, the gold and silver items came to five thousand four hundred. Sheshbazzar brought all of them along when the exiles were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
2The Roll of Those Who Returned
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;
1These are the people of the province who came up out of exile. They had been carried off to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and now they came back to Jerusalem and Judah, each one to his own town.
2Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
2They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of the people of Israel:
3The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.
3the descendants of Parosh, 2,172;
4The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
4the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;
5The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.
5the descendants of Arah, 775;
6The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.
6the descendants of Pahath-moab, through the lines of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812;
7The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
7the descendants of Elam, 1,254;
8The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.
8the descendants of Zattu, 945;
9The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
9the descendants of Zaccai, 760;
10The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.
10the descendants of Bani, 642;
11The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.
11the descendants of Bebai, 623;
12The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.
12the descendants of Azgad, 1,222;
13The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.
13the descendants of Adonikam, 666;
14The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.
14the descendants of Bigvai, 2,056;
15The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.
15the descendants of Adin, 454;
16The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
16the descendants of Ater, through Hezekiah, 98;
17The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.
17the descendants of Bezai, 323;
18The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve.
18the descendants of Jorah, 112;
19The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.
19the descendants of Hashum, 223;
20The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.
20the descendants of Gibbar, 95;
21The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three.
21the people of Bethlehem, 123;
22The men of Netophah, fifty and six.
22the men of Netophah, 56;
23The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.
23the men of Anathoth, 128;
24The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.
24the people of Azmaveth, 42;
25The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.
25the people of Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743;
26The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.
26the people of Ramah and Gaba, 621;
27The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.
27the men of Michmas, 122;
28The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.
28the men of Bethel and Ai, 223;
29The children of Nebo, fifty and two.
29the people of Nebo, 52;
30The children of Magbish, an hundred fifty and six.
30the people of Magbish, 156;
31The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
31the descendants of the other Elam, 1,254;
32The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
32the descendants of Harim, 320;
33The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five.
33the people of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725;
34The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
34the people of Jericho, 345;
35The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.
35the people of Senaah, 3,630.
36The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
36The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah, of the family of Jeshua, 973;
37The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
37the descendants of Immer, 1,052;
38The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
38the descendants of Pashur, 1,247;
39The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
39the descendants of Harim, 1,017.
40The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.
40The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel, through the line of Hodaviah, 74.
41The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.
41The singers: the descendants of Asaph, 128.
42The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine.
42The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai, 139 in all.
43The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
43The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
44The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
44Keros, Siaha, Padon,
45The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
45Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,
46The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,
46Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,
47The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
47Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,
48The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
48Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,
49The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
49Uzza, Paseah, Besai,
50The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim,
50Asnah, Mehunim, Nephusim,
51The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
51Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
52The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
52Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
53The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,
53Barkos, Sisera, Thamah,
54The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
54Neziah, and Hatipha.
55The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
55The descendants of Solomon's servants: the descendants of Sotai, Sophereth, Peruda,
56The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
56Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel,
57The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.
57Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth of Zebaim, and Ami.
58All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two.
58The temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants came to 392 all together.
59And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father’s house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel:
59These are the ones who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they could not prove which family they came from or whether their ancestors were from Israel:
60The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.
60the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, 652.
61And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:
61And from the priests' families: the descendants of Habaiah, Koz, and Barzillai, who had married one of the daughters of Barzillai from Gilead and had taken that family's name.
62These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.
62These men looked for their names in the family records, but they could not be found, so they were treated as unclean and kept out of the priesthood.
63And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.
63The governor told them not to eat any of the most holy food until a priest could stand up with the Urim and Thummim.
64The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,
64The whole group together came to 42,360 people,
65Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
65not counting their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337. They also had 200 male and female singers.
66Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;
66They had 736 horses and 245 mules,
67Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
67435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.
68And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:
68When some of the family heads arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, they gave freely toward rebuilding the house of God on its old site.
69They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments.
69Each gave what he could to the fund for the work: 61,000 gold coins, 5,000 pounds of silver, and 100 robes for the priests.
70So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
70So the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants settled in their towns, and all Israel lived in their own towns.
3The Altar and the Temple Foundation
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
1When the seventh month came and the people of Israel were living in their towns, the people gathered in Jerusalem as one.
2Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
2Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, together with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his relatives, got up and built the altar of the God of Israel so they could offer burnt offerings on it, just as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.
3And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
3They set the altar on its foundation, even though they were afraid of the peoples living around them, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, the morning and evening burnt offerings.
4They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;
4They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles as it is written, offering the right number of burnt offerings each day, as the rule for each day required.
5And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.
5After that they offered the regular burnt offering, the offerings for the new moons and for all the LORD's holy set feasts, and the offerings of everyone who freely brought a freewill gift to the LORD.
6From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.
6They began offering burnt offerings to the LORD on the first day of the seventh month, but the foundation of the LORD's temple had not yet been laid.
7They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
7They paid money to the stonecutters and carpenters, and gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre so they would bring cedar logs from Lebanon by sea to Joppa, as Cyrus king of Persia had allowed them.
8Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.
8In the second month of the second year after they came to the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, the rest of their fellow priests and Levites, and all who had come from exile to Jerusalem began the work. They appointed the Levites twenty years old and up to oversee the work on the house of the LORD.
9Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
9Then Jeshua with his sons and relatives, and Kadmiel and his sons, the descendants of Judah, stood together to oversee the workers in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad and their sons and their fellow Levites.
10And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.
10When the builders laid the foundation of the LORD's temple, the priests took their places in their robes with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD in the way David king of Israel had directed.
11And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
11They sang back and forth, praising and thanking the LORD: "He is good; his mercy toward Israel lasts forever." And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.
12But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
12But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads, who had seen the first temple, cried out loud when they watched this foundation being laid, while many others shouted for joy.
13So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
13So nobody could tell the sound of the joyful shouting apart from the sound of the people crying, because the people were shouting so loudly that the noise could be heard far away.
4Opposition Stops the Building
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;
1When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,
2Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
2they came to Zerubbabel and the family heads and said to them, "Let us build with you, because we worship your God just as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."
3But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the family heads of Israel answered them, "You have no part with us in building a house for our God. We ourselves will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us."
4Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
4Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made trouble for them as they built.
5And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
5They paid officials to work against them and wreck their plans, all through the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and on into the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
6When Ahasuerus became king, at the start of his reign, they wrote him a letter accusing the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
7And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
7And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their group wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in the Aramaic script and translated into the Aramaic language.
8Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
8Rehum the governor and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes that went like this.
9Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
9It was from Rehum the governor, Shimshai the secretary, and the rest of their group: the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
10And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
10and the rest of the nations that the great and honored Asnapper had moved here and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere on this side of the river, and so on.
11This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.
11This is a copy of the letter they sent to King Artaxerxes: "From your servants, the men on this side of the river, and so on.
12Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
12Let the king know that the Jews who came up from you to us have arrived in Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They have raised up its walls and repaired its foundations.
13Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
13Let the king know now that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, these people will not pay taxes, tribute, or tolls, and in the end the royal income will suffer.
14Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;
14Now, since we are paid from the king's palace and it would not be right for us to watch the king be dishonored, we have sent word to let the king know,
15That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
15so that a search can be made in the record books of your ancestors. In those records you will find and learn that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that people have stirred up revolt inside it from long ago. That is why this city was destroyed.
16We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
16We are letting the king know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are finished, you will end up with nothing left on this side of the river."
17Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
17The king sent back this answer: "To Rehum the governor, Shimshai the secretary, and the rest of their group living in Samaria and elsewhere beyond the river: Greetings, and so on.
18The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.
18The letter you sent us has been read clearly in front of me.
19And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
19I gave an order, and a search was made, and it was found that this city has risen up against kings from long ago, and that rebellion and revolt have been stirred up in it.
20There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.
20Powerful kings have also ruled over Jerusalem and governed the whole region beyond the river, and taxes, tribute, and tolls were paid to them.
21Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.
21Now give an order to make these men stop, so that this city is not rebuilt until I give another command.
22Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
22Be careful not to neglect this. Why should the harm grow and damage the interests of the kings?"
23Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
23As soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read to Rehum, Shimshai the secretary, and their group, they hurried to the Jews in Jerusalem and forced them to stop by strength and power.
24Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
24So the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped, and it stayed stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
5Tatnai's Inquiry and the Letter to Darius
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
1Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo spoke to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.
2Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.
2Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak got up and started building the house of God in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, helping them.
3At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
3At that same time Tatnai, the governor of the region on this side of the river, and Shethar-boznai and their group came to them and asked, "Who gave you permission to build this house and finish this wall?"
4Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
4Then we told them the names of the men who were putting up the building.
5But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.
5But their God was watching over the Jewish elders, so the officials could not make them stop until a report reached Darius and a letter came back with his answer about the matter.
6The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
6This is a copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, Shethar-boznai, and their group, the Apharsachites on this side of the river, sent to King Darius.
7They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
7They sent him a report, and this is what it said: "To King Darius, all peace.
8Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
8Let the king know that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, timber is being set into the walls, and the work is moving fast and going well in their hands.
9Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
9So we asked those elders, 'Who gave you permission to build this house and finish these walls?'
10We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
10We also asked their names so we could let you know and write down the names of their leaders.
11And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.
11This is the answer they gave us: 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.
12But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
12But because our ancestors made the God of heaven angry, he handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people off to Babylon.
13But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
13But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued an order that this house of God should be rebuilt.
14And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
14He also took the gold and silver items from the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had removed from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon. King Cyrus took them out of the temple in Babylon and handed them over to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.
15And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
15He told him, "Take these items, go, and put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its old site."
16Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
16So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem. From then until now it has been under construction, and it is still not finished.'
17Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
17So now, if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the king's treasury there in Babylon to see whether King Cyrus really did issue an order to build this house of God in Jerusalem, and let the king send us his decision on this matter."
6The Temple Finished and Dedicated
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
1Then King Darius gave an order, and a search was made in the archives where the treasures were stored in Babylon.
2And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:
2A scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace in the province of the Medes, and this is what was written on it:
3In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
3"In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued an order about the house of God in Jerusalem: Let the house be rebuilt as the place where sacrifices are offered, and let its foundations be laid firmly. It is to be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide,
4With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house:
4with three layers of large stones and one layer of new timber, and the costs are to be paid from the royal treasury.
5And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.
5Also, the gold and silver items from the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, are to be returned and taken back to the temple in Jerusalem, each to its place, and set in the house of God."
6Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:
6"So now, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your group, the Apharsachites beyond the river, keep away from there.
7Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.
7Leave the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its old site.
8Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.
8And I am giving an order about what you are to do for these Jewish elders as they build this house of God: the full cost is to be paid to these men right away from the royal funds, out of the taxes from beyond the river, so that the work is not held up.
9And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:
9Whatever they need, young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as the priests in Jerusalem request, is to be given to them every day without fail,
10That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
10so they can offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
11Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
11I also give this order: if anyone changes this decree, a beam is to be pulled from his house and set upright, and he is to be hung on it, and his house is to be turned into a rubbish heap because of it.
12And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
12May the God who has made his name live there bring down any king or people who lifts a hand to change this or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have given this order. Let it be carried out quickly."
13Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.
13Then Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, Shethar-boznai, and their group did exactly what King Darius had sent word to do, and did it quickly.
14And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
14So the Jewish elders kept building and made good progress, encouraged by the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They built and finished it as the God of Israel had commanded and as Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia, had ordered.
15And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
15This house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
16And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,
16The people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.
17And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
17For the dedication of this house of God they offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, and four hundred lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, one for each of the tribes of Israel.
18And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
18They set the priests in their groups and the Levites in their shifts for the service of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.
19And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.
19The returned exiles kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
20For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
20The priests and Levites had purified themselves together, and all of them were clean. They killed the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves.
21And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,
21So the people of Israel who had come back from exile ate it, along with everyone who had separated from the unclean ways of the nations of the land to join them in seeking the LORD, the God of Israel.
22And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
22They kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, because the LORD had filled them with joy and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, so that he strengthened their hands in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.
7Ezra Comes with the King's Letter
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
1After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, there was Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
2the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
3the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
4the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
5the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest.
6This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
6This Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given, and the king granted him everything he asked, because the hand of the LORD his God was on him.
7And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
7Some of the people of Israel, along with priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants, went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
8Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the king's seventh year.
9For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
9He had set out from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he reached Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, because the good hand of his God was on him.
10For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
10For Ezra had set his heart on studying the law of the LORD, on living by it, and on teaching its rules and decisions in Israel.
11Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
11This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest and scribe, a scribe learned in the words of the LORD's commandments and his rules for Israel:
12Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
12"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven: complete peace. And now,
13I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
13I issue a decree that any of the people of Israel in my kingdom, including their priests and Levites, who freely choose to go up to Jerusalem may go with you.
14Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
14For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to look into how things stand in Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God that is in your hand,
15And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
15and to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
16And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:
16together with all the silver and gold you can find throughout the province of Babylon, and the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, given gladly for the house of their God in Jerusalem.
17That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
17With this money you are to buy without delay bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.
18And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
18Whatever seems best to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, do it according to the will of your God.
19The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
19The vessels given to you for the service of the house of your God, hand over in full before the God of Jerusalem.
20And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house.
20And whatever else is needed for the house of your God that you have to provide, provide it from the king's treasury.
21And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
21I, King Artaxerxes myself, issue a decree to all the treasurers in the region beyond the River: whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, asks of you, let it be done promptly,
22Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
22up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred measures of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of oil, and salt without any set limit.
23Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
23Whatever the God of heaven commands, let it be done carefully for the house of the God of heaven. For why should his anger fall on the kingdom of the king and his sons?
24Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
24We also inform you that it is not lawful to lay any tax, tribute, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or other workers of this house of God.
25And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.
25And you, Ezra, using the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people beyond the River, all who know the laws of your God; and teach anyone who does not know them.
26And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
26Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be carried out on him promptly, whether it is death, banishment, the seizing of his property, or imprisonment."
27Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:
27Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the king's heart, to make the house of the LORD in Jerusalem beautiful,
28And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
28and who has shown me kindness before the king, his counselors, and all the king's powerful officials. I took courage, because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
8The Journey from Ahava to Jerusalem
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.
1These are the heads of families, with their family records, who went up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:
2Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.
2Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush,
3Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.
3of the sons of Shechaniah. Of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him a hundred and fifty men were recorded in the family register.
4Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.
4Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred men.
5Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.
5Of the sons of Shechaniah, the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred men.
6Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.
6Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty men.
7And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.
7Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy men.
8And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.
8Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him eighty men.
9Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.
9Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen men.
10And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males.
10Of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred and sixty men.
11And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.
11Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight men.
12And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.
12Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him a hundred and ten men.
13And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.
13Of the sons of Adonikam, the last ones, whose names are Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty men.
14Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.
14Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud, and with them seventy men.
15And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
15I gathered them at the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there in tents for three days. When I looked over the people and the priests, I found none of the sons of Levi there.
16Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
16So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of understanding.
17And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
17I sent them with instructions to Iddo, the leader at the place called Casiphia, and I told them what to say to Iddo and his brothers, the temple servants at Casiphia, so that they would bring us ministers for the house of our God.
18And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
18Because the good hand of our God was on us, they brought us a man of understanding from the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men;
19And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
19and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, twenty men;
20Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.
20also two hundred and twenty of the temple servants, whom David and the officials had appointed to assist the Levites. All of them were listed by name.
21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
21Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our belongings.
22For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
22For I had been ashamed to ask the king for a troop of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies along the way, because we had told the king, "The hand of our God is on everyone who seeks him, for their good, but his power and his anger are against all who abandon him."
23So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
23So we fasted and pleaded with our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
24Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
24Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them,
25And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
25and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God that the king, his counselors, his officials, and all the Israelites present had given.
26I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;
26I weighed into their hands six hundred and fifty talents of silver, silver vessels weighing a hundred talents, and a hundred talents of gold,
27Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
27along with twenty gold bowls worth a thousand darics, and two vessels of fine polished bronze, as precious as gold.
28And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.
28I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy too; the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.
29Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.
29Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the rooms of the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, before the leading priests, the Levites, and the heads of the families of Israel."
30So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.
30So the priests and the Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the vessels that had been weighed out, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.
31Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
31We set out from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and from anyone lying in ambush along the way.
32And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
32We arrived in Jerusalem and rested there for three days.
33Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;
33On the fourth day the silver, the gold, and the vessels were weighed out in the house of our God into the hands of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest. Eleazar the son of Phinehas was with him, and with them were the Levites Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui.
34By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.
34Everything was counted and weighed, and the total weight was written down at that time.
35Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.
35Then the exiles who had returned from captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering. All of this was a burnt offering to the LORD.
36And they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.
36They delivered the king's orders to the king's officers and to the governors of the province beyond the River, and these officials gave their support to the people and to the house of God.
9Ezra's Prayer over the Foreign Marriages
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
1After all this had been done, the leaders came to me and said, "The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not kept themselves separate from the peoples of the lands. They have followed the detestable practices of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
2For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
2They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy people have mixed themselves with the peoples of those lands. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness."
3And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
3When I heard this, I tore my robe and my cloak, pulled hair from my head and my beard, and sat down stunned.
4Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
4Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the returned exiles, and I sat there stunned until the evening sacrifice.
5And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,
5At the evening sacrifice I rose from my grief, and with my robe and cloak still torn, I fell to my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God,
6And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
6and I said, "O my God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God. Our sins have piled up higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached up to the heavens.
7Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
7From the days of our fathers until today we have been deeply guilty, and because of our sins we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of other lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to open shame, as we are today.
8And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
8But now, for a brief moment, the LORD our God has shown us grace, leaving us a remnant that escaped and giving us a firm foothold in his holy place, so that our God might brighten our eyes and give us a little relief in our slavery.
9For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
9We were slaves, yet our God did not abandon us in our slavery. He showed us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia, giving us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and giving us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.
10And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
10And now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have abandoned your commandments,
11Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.
11which you gave through your servants the prophets, saying, 'The land you are entering to possess is a land made unclean by the filthy ways of the peoples of the lands, by their detestable practices, which have filled it with impurity from one end to the other.
12Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
12So do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an inheritance forever.'
13And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
13After everything that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt, even though you, our God, have punished us less than our sins deserve and have given us a remnant like this,
14Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
14shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these detestable things? Would you not be angry with us until you had destroyed us completely, leaving no remnant and no survivor?
15O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.
15O LORD God of Israel, you are righteous, for we are left today as a remnant that escaped. Here we are before you in our guilt, and because of it no one can stand in your presence."
10The Foreign Wives Sent Away
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.
1While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down in front of the house of God, a very large crowd of Israelites gathered around him, men, women, and children, for the people were weeping bitterly.
2And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
2Then Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land. Yet even now there is hope for Israel in this matter.
3Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
3So let us make a covenant with our God to send away all these wives and their children, following the advice of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the law.
4Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.
4Get up, for this matter is your responsibility. We will stand with you. Be strong and act."
5Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.
5So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear that they would do as had been said. And they swore to it.
6Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.
6Then Ezra withdrew from in front of the house of God and went into the room of Johanan the son of Eliashib. While he was there he ate no bread and drank no water, for he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the returned exiles.
7And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;
7A proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles, that they should gather in Jerusalem,
8And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
8and that anyone who did not come within three days, by decision of the leaders and elders, would have all his property forfeited and would himself be cut off from the community of the returned exiles.
9Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
9So within three days all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem. It was the twentieth day of the ninth month, and all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain.
10And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
10Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women and added to Israel's guilt.
11Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.
11Now confess to the LORD God of your fathers and do what pleases him. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives."
12Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.
12The whole assembly answered with a loud voice, "You are right. We must do as you say.
13But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.
13But there are many people here, and it is the rainy season; we cannot keep standing out in the open. And this is not the work of a day or two, because so many of us have sinned in this matter.
14Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.
14Let our leaders act for the whole assembly. Let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at set times, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God over this matter is turned away from us."
15Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
15Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were put in charge of this matter, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
16And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
16So the returned exiles did as proposed. Ezra the priest chose men who were heads of families, one for each family, all of them named specifically, and on the first day of the tenth month they sat down to look into the matter.
17And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.
17By the first day of the first month they had finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.
18And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
18Among the descendants of the priests, these were found to have married foreign women: of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.
19They gave their pledge to send away their wives, and being guilty, they offered a ram from the flock for their guilt.
20And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
20Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.
21Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
22Of the sons of Pashur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
23Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.
24Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
25And of the rest of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Jeziah, Malchiah, Miamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah.
26And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.
26Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Eliah.
27And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
27Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
28Of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth.
29Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Ramoth.
30And of the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
30Of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
31Of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
32Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
33Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
33Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
34Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,
35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
35Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
36Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,
37Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasau,
38And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
38Bani, Binnui, Shimei,
39And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
39Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
41Azareel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
42Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.
43Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, Joel, and Benaiah.
44All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.
44All of these had married foreign women, and some of them had wives who had borne them children.