ful of thy wonders that thou didst among thy commandments, but sinned against thy them; but hardened their necks, and in their judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live rebellion appointed a captain to return to their in them,) and withdrew the shoulder, and bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, hardened their neck, and would not hear: gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of 30 Yet many years didst thou forbear them, great kindness, and forsookest them not. and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit in 18 Yea, when they had made them a molten thy prophets; yet would they not give ear: calf, and said, This is thy god that brought therefore gavest thou them into the hand of thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great the people of the lands. provocations; 31 Nevertheless, for thy great mercies' 19 Yet thou, in thy manifold mercies, for- sake, thou didst not utterly consume them, sookest them not in the wilderness: the pil-nor forsake them: for thou art a gracious and lar of the cloud departed not from them by merciful God. day, to lead them in the way, neither the 32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest and the way wherein they should go. covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble 20 Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to in- seem little before thee that hath come upon struct them, and withheldest not thy manna us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our from their mouth, and gavest them water priests, and on our prophets, and on our fa for their thirst. thers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day. 33 Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly: 22 Moreover, thou gavest them kingdoms 34 Neither have our kings, our princes, and nations, and didst divide them into cor-our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, ners so they possessed the land of Sihon, nor hearkened unto thy commandments, and and the land of the king of Heshbon, and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify the land of Og king of Bashan. against them. 35 For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works. 21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing: their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not. 23 Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it. 24 So the children went in and possessed 36 Behold, we are servants this day; and the land, and thou subduedst before them the for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers, inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and to eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof; gavest them into their hands, with their kings, behold, we are servants in it: and the people of the land, that they might 37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the do with them as they would. kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure; and we are in great distress. 25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit-trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness. 26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets, which testified against them to turn them to thee; and they wrought great provocations. 27 Therefore thou deliveredst them into, the hand of their enemies, who vexed them :| and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and, according to thy manifold mercies, thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies. 28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them, according to thy mercies; 29 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet! they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto 38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it ; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it. CHAP. X. sealed were Nehemiah NowTirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel: 10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodi jah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 14 The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani, 15 Banni, Azgad, Bebai, (tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the 39 For the children of Israel and the chil- the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusa 28 And rest of the people, the priests, lots, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Ne-lem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in thinims, and all they that had separated them-other cities. selves from the people of the lands unto the And the people blessed all the men that law of God, their wives, their sons, and their willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jedaughters, every one having knowledge, and rusalem. having understanding; 31 Now these are the chief of the pro2 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, vince that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the ciand entered into a curse, and into an oath, ties of Judah dwelt every one in his possession to walk in God's law, which was given by in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and Moses, the servant of God, and to observe and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the childo all the commandments of the LORD our dren of Solomon's servants Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; 4 And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the 30 And that we would not give our daugh-children of Judah, and of the children of Benters unto the people of the land, nor take their jamin: of the children of Judah; Athaiah the daughters for our sons: son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son 31 And if the people of the land bring of Amariab, the son of Shephatiah, the son of ware, or any victuals, on the sabbath-day to Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez; sell, that we would not buy it of them on the 5 And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son sabbath, or on the holy day; and that we of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of would leave the seventh year, and the exac- Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechation of every debt. riah, the son of Shiloni. 32 Also we made ordinances for us,to charge All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jeruourselves yearly with the third part of a she-salem were four hundred threescore and eight kel for the service of the house of our God; valiant men. 33 For the shew-bread, and for the con- 7 And these are the sons of Benjamin; Sallu tinual meat-offering, and for the continual the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son burnt-offering, of the sabbaths, of the new-of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maamoons, for the set feasts, and for the holy seiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah. things, and for the sin-offerings, to make an 8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hun atonement for Israel, and for all the work of dred twenty and eight. the house of our God. 9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their 34 And we cast the lots among the priests, overseer; and Judah the son of Senuah was the Levites, and the people, for the wood-of-second over the city. fering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers,at times appoint-arib, Jachin. ed, year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law: 10 Of the priests; Jedaiah the son of Joi II Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of 12 And their brethren that did the work of 35 And to bring the first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD: 36 Also the first-born of our sons, and of our the house were eight hundred twenty and cattle, (as it is written in the law,) and the two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son firstlings of our herds, and of our flocks, to of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zebring to the house of our God, unto the chariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malpriests that minister in the house of our God: chiah, 37 And that we should bring the first-fruits 13 And his brethren, chief of the fathers, of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit two hundred forty and two; and Amashai of all manner of trees, of wine, and of oil, the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto 14 And their brethren, mighty men of the Levites, that the same Levites might have valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of 38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall the great men. be with the Levites, when the Levites take! 15 Also of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hasbabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God. 17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer; and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four. 19 Moreover, the porters: Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two. 5 Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests, and of their brethren, in the days of Jeshua. 8 Moreover, the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni,their brethren, were over against them in the watches. 10 ¶ And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib,and Eliashib begat Joiada, 11 And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua. 12 And in the days of Joiakim, were priests, 201 And the residue of Israel, of the priests the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; and the Levites, were in all the cities of Ju-of Jeremiah, Hananiah; dah, every one in his inheritance. 13 Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, 21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims. 22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jeru-Joseph; salem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Ofthe sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God. 23 For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day. 24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people. 25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjath-arba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof, 26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Beth-phelet, 15 Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; 18 Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel, 22 1 The Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers; also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the Chro27 And at Hazar-shual, and at Beer-she-nicles, even until the days of Johanan the ba, and in the villages thereof, 28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof, 29 And at En-rimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hin NOW these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua; Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah, son of Eliashib. 24 And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward. 25 Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters, keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates. 26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe. 27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cym bals, psalteries, and with harps. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi ; 29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had builded them villages round old there were chief of the singers, and songs about Jerusalem. of praise and thanksgiving unto God. 30 And the priests and the Levites purified 47 And all Israel, in the days of Zerubbathemselves, and purified the people, and the bel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the gates, and the wall. portions of the singers and the porters every 31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah day his portion; and they sanctified holy upon the wall, and appointed two great com- things unto the Levites; and the Levites panies of them that gave thanks, whereof one sanctified them unto the children of Aaron. went on the right hand upon the wall toCHAP. XIII. ward the dung-gate; 32 And after them went Hoshaiab, and half of the princes of Judah, 38 And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, 34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah; ON that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; 2 Because they met not the children of Israel 35 And certain of the priests' sons with with bread and with water, but hired Balaam trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jo-against them, that he should curse them: hownathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of beit our God turned the curse into a blessMattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of ing. Zaccur, the son of Asaph; 3 Now it came to pass, when they had 36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Aza-heard the law, that they separated from Israel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and rael all the mixed multitude. Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them. 37 And at the fountain-gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water-gate eastward. 4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah : 5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meatofferings, the frankincense, and the vesse's, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, (which was commanded to be 38 And the other company of them that gave given to the Levites, and the singers, and the thanks went over against them, and I after porters,) and the offerings of the priests. them, and the half of the people upon the 6 But in all this time was not I at Jeruwall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces salem: for in the two and thirtieth year of even unto the broad wall; Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king. 39 And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meal, even unto the sheep-gate: and they stood still in the prison-gate. 40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the alf of the rulers with me: 7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8 And it grieved me sore; therefore I cast forth all the household-stuff of Tobiah, out of 41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, the chamber. Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, 9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed and Hananiah, with trumpets; the chambers; and thither brought I again 42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and the vessels of the house of God, with the Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and meat-offering and the frankincense, Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer: and the 10 And I perceived that the portions of singers sang loud with Jezrahiah their the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Overseer. 43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced; so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off, 44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the first-fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, out of the fields of the cities, the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. 11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn, and the new wine, and the oil, unto the treasuries. 13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe; and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful; and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. 45 And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning 46 For in the days of David and Asaph of this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the sabbath-day. Remember me, O my the offices thereof. God, concerning this also, and spare me ac15 In those days saw I in Judah some cording to the greatness of thy mercy. treading wine-presses on the sabbath, and 23 In those days also saw I Jews that bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of bur-and of Moab : dens, which they brought into Jerusalem on 24 And their children spake half in the the sabbath-day; and I testified against them speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in in the day wherein they sold victuals. the Jews' language, but according to the 16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, language of each people. which brought fish, and all manner of ware, And I contended with them, and cursed and sold on the sabbath unto the children of them, and smote certain of them, and pluckJudah, and in Jerusalem. ed off their hair, and made them swear by 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Ju-God, saying, Ye shall not give your daugh dah, and said unto them, What evil thing is ters unto their sons, nor take their daughthis that ye do, and profane the sabbath-day?ters unto your sons, or for yourselves. 18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by our God bring all this evil upon us, and up-these things? yet among many nations was on this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon there no king like him, who was beloved of Israel, by profaning the sabbath. his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless, even him did outlandish women cause to sin. 19 And it came to pass, that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath; and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should 23 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son no burden be brought in on the sabbath-day. of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law 20 So the merchants, and sellers of all kind to Sanbailat the Horonite: therefore I chased of ware, lodged without Jerusalem once or him from me. twice. 27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? 21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites, that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify 29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. 30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; 31 And for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. 1 The Book of ESTHER. CHAP. I. 7 And they gave them drink in vessels of OW it came to pass, in the days of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from Ahasuerus, reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over cording to the state of the king. an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:) 8 And the drinking was according to the 2 That in those days, when the king Aha-law; none did compel: for so the king had suerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, appointed to all the officers of his house, that which was in Shushan the palace, they should do according to every man's pleasure. 3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; 9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the power of Persia and Media, the nobles the women in the royal house which belongand princes of the provinces,being before him: ed to king Ahasuerus. 4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdon, and the honour of his excellent majesty, many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. 10 1On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he com manded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Big. tha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the 5 And when these days were expired, the seven chamberlains that served in the presking made a feast unto all the people that ence of Ahasuerus the king, were present in Shushan the palace, both 11 To bring Vashti the queen before the unto great and small, seven days, in the king with the crown royal, to shew the peocourt of the garden of the king's palace; ple and the princes her beauty; for she was 6 Where were white, green, and blue hang-fair to look on. ings, fastened with cords of fine linen and 12 But the queen Vashti refused to come purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: at the king's commandment by his chamberthe beds were of gold and silver, upon alains: therefore was the king very wroth, pavement of red, and blue, and white, and and his anger burned in him. black marble. 13 ¶ Then the king said to the wise |