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EZRA.

as king of Persia, that he made a pro- God of heaven given me; and he hath char
which is in Judah: who is there among you
nation throughout all his kingdom, and ged me to build him an house in Jerusalem,
it also in writing, saying,
3 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All of all his people? the LORD his God be with
kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD him, and let him go up.

¶ EZRA.

CHAP. I.

unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto TOW, in the first year of Cyrus king of his city; Persia, (that the word of the LORD by

2 Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, e mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled.) Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, e LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. Persia, that he made a proclamation The number of the men of the people of Isroughout all his kingdom, and put it also rael: n writing, saying,

3 The children of Parosh, two thousand

2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The an hundred seventy and two. 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.

4 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.

5 The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.

6 The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.

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

8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.

9 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.

3 Who 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.

4 And 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, besides the free-willoffering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.

51 Then 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.

10 The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.

11 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.

12 The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.

13 The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.

14 The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.

15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.

16 The children of Ater of Hezekiah,

6 And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.

71 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the
vessels of the house of the LORD, which Ne-ninety and eight.
buchadnezzar had brought forth out of Je-
rusalem, and had put them in the house of twenty and three.
his gods;

17 The children of Bezai, three hundred

18 The children of Jorah, an hundred and

19 The children of Hashum, two hundred

8 Even those did Cyrus king of Persia twelve.
bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the
treasurer, and numbered them unto Shesh-twenty and three.
bazzar the prince of Judah.

9 And this is the number of them: thirty
chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of sil-dred twenty and three.
ver, nine and twenty knives,

10 Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a
second sort four hundred and ten, and other
vessels a thousand.

two.

25 The children of Kirjath-arim, Chephi11 All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the rah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty captivity that were brought up from Baby-and three. lon unto Jerusalem.

26 The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.

27 The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.

28 The men of Beth-el and Ai, two hun dred twenty and three.

29 The children of Nebo, fifty and two.

CHAP. II.

NOW these are the children of the pro-
vince 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

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20 The children of Gibbar, ninety and five. 21 The children of Beth-lehem, an hun

22 The men of Netophah, fifty and six. 23 The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.

24 The children of Azmaveth, forty and

30 The children of Magbish, an hundred from Tel-melah, Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addaṇ, fifty and six. and Immer; but they could not shew their 31 The children of the other Elam, a thou-father's house, and their seed, whether they sand two hundred fifty and four. were of Israel:

32 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

33 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five.

34 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.

35 The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.

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

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

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

39 The children of Harim, a thousand and

44 The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,

60 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.

61 And 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 :)

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

63 And 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.

seventeen.

401 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, threescore, seventy and four.

41 The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.

42 The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the singing-women. children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine. 431 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

45 The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,

46 The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,

64 ¶ The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and

65 Besides 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

66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;

67 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

68 ¶ And 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:

69 They gave after their ability, unto the treasure of the work, threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests'

47 The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah, 48 The children of Rezin, the children of garments. Nekoda, children Gazzam,

70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their

49 The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,

50 The children of Asnah, the children of cities, and all Israel in their cities. Mehunim, the children of Nephusim,

CHAP. III.

61 The children of Bakbuk, the children AND the children of Israel were in the the seventh month was come, of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,

cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

52 The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,

53 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,

54 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.

55 The children of Solomon's servants : burnt-offerings thereon, as it is written in the children of Sotai, the children of Sophe-the law of Moses, the man of God. reth, the children of Peruda,

2 Then 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

3 And they set the altar upon his bases; (for

56 The children of Jaalab, the children of fear was upon them because of the people of Darkon, the children of Giddel, those countries ;) and they offered burnt-of

57 The children of Shephatiah, the chil-ferings thereon unto the LORD, even burntdren of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of offerings morning and evening. Zebaim, the children of Ami.

4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles,

58 All the Nethinims, and the children of as it is written, and offered the daily burntSolomon's servants, were three hundred nine- offerings by number, according to the custy and two. tom, as the duty of every day required; 59 And these were they which went up

5 And afterward offered the continual

EZRA.

nt-offering, both of the new moons, and build an house unto our God; but we our-
all the set feasts of the LORD that were selves together will build unto the LORD
Persia bath commanded us.
secrated, and of every one that willingly God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of
ered a free-will-offering unto the LORD.
5 From the first day of the seventh month

4 Then the people of the land weakened
gan they to offer burnt-offerings unto the the hands of the people of Judah, and trou-
5 And hired counsellors against them, to
ORD: but the foundation of the temple of bled them in building;
e LORD was not yet laid.
71 They gave money also unto the ma- frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus
ns, and to the carpenters; and meat, and king of Persia, even until the reign of
ink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to Darius king of Persia.

6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the em of Tyre, to bring cedar-trees from Leanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him rant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia. an accusation against the inhabitants of Ju7¶ And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote 8 Now, in the second year of their dah and Jerusalem. coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, In the second month, began Zerubbabel the Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of Son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jo-their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of zadak, and the remnant of their brethren the Persia; and the writing of the letter was priests and the Levites, and all they that written in the Syrian tongue, and interpretwere come out of the captivity unto Jerusa-ed in the Syrian tongue. lem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.

8 Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: the scribe, wrote a letter against Jerusalem

9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsath. chites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the chites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susan

10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and

10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cym-that are on this side the river, and at such a bals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance time. of David king of Israel.

9 Then 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 Le vites.

11 This is the copy of the letter that

11 And they sang together by course, in they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; the king; Thy servants the men on this side because he is good, for his mercy endureth the river, and at such a time.

12 Be it known unto the king, that the for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they prais-Jews, which came up from thee to us, are and the bad city, and have set up the walls ed the LORD, because the foundation of the come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious house of the LORD was laid. thereof, and joined the foundations.

13 Be 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, revenue of the kings. and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the

12 But 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:

13 So 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.

CHAP. IV.

14 Now, 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,

15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt

Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

know, that this city is a rebellious city, and they have moved sedition within the same hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that of old time; for which cause was this city destroyed.

2 Then 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 Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

17 Then sent the king an answer unto 3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to scribe, and to the rest of their companiors

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16 We certify the king, that if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, this side the river. by this means thou shalt have no portion on

that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest be- build this house, and to make up these walls? yond the river, Peace, and at such a time. 18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

10 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

19 And I commanded, and search hath 11 And thus they returned us answer, say. been made, and it is found, that this city of ing. We are the servants of the God of heaold time hath made insurrection against ven and earth, and build the house that was kings, and that rebellion and sedition have builded these many years ago, which a great been made therein. king of Israel builded and set up.

20 There have been mighty kings also 12 But after that our fathers had provoked over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of and custom, was paid unto them. Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this 21 Give ye now commandment to cause house, and carried the people away into these men to cease, and that this city be not Babylon. builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.

13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a de

22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do cree to build this house of God. this: why should damage grow to the hurt 14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the kings? of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar 23 Now, when the copy of king Arta-took out of the temple that was in Jerusa xerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and lem, and brought them into the temple of Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the of the temple of Babylon, and they were Jews, and made them to cease by force and delivered unto one, whose name was Shesh. power. bazzar, whom he had made governor;

24 Then ceased the work of the house of 15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased un-go, carry them into the temple that is in Jeto the second year of the reign of Darius rusalem, and let the house of God be builded king of Persia. in his place.

Haggai the

16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophe-which is in Jerusalem: and since that time sied unto the Jews that were in Judah and even until now hath it been in building, and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, yet it is not finished. even unto them.

17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the 2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of king, let there be search made in the king's Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, and began to build the house of God which whether it be so, that a decree was made of is at Jerusalem: and with them were the Cyrus the king to build this house of God at prophets of God helping them. Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter. CHAP VI. THEN Darius the king made a decree,and

31 At 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?

search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 And 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: 5 But the eye of their God was upon the 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause same Cyrus the king made a decree concern. them to cease, till the matter came to Dari-ing the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the us: and then they returned answer by let-house be builded, the place where they ofter concerning this matter. fered sacrifices, and let the foundations

4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof governor on this side the river, and Shethar-threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof boznai, and his companions the Apharsach- threescore cubits;

ites, which were on this side the river, sent 4 With three rows of great stones, and a unto Darius the king: row of new timber: and let the expences be

7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was given out of the king's house. written thus: Unto Darius the king, all peace. 5 And also let the golden and silver vessels

CHAP. V

8 Be it known unto the king, that we went of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar into the province of Judea, to the house of the took forth out of the temple which is at Jegreat God, which is builded with great stones, rusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be reand timber is laid in the walls, and this work stored, and brought again unto the temple goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place,

9 Then asked we those elders, and said and place them in the house of God. unto them thus, Who commanded you to 6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyo

the river, Shethar-boznai, and your compa- 21 And the children of Israel which were nions the Apharsachites, which are beyond come again out of captivity, and all such as the river, be ye far from thence: had separated themselves unto them from

7 Let the work of this house of God alone; the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to let the governor of the Jews, and the elders of seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, the Jews, build this house of God in his place. 22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread 8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall seven days with joy: for the LORD had made do to the elders of these Jews, for the build-them joyful, and turned the heart of the king ing of this house of God; that of the king's of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, hands in the work of the house of God, the forthwith expences be given unto these men, God of Israel.

that they be not hindered.

CHAP. VII.

these things, in the reign of

And that which they have need of, both Now afrxes king of Persia, Ezra the son

young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the

burnt-offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of salt, wine, and oil, according to the appoint- Hilkiah,

ment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, 2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, let it be given them day by day without fail; the son of Ahitub,

10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet 3 The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the son of Meraioth, the life of the king, and of his sons.

4 The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi,

11 Also I have made a decree, that whoso-the son of Bukki,

ever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled

5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, down from his house, and, being set up, let the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief him be hanged thereon; and let his house be priest: made a dunghill for this.

6This Ezra went up from Babylon; and 12 And the God that hath caused his name he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, to dwell there, destroy all kings and people which the LORD God of Israel had given : that shall put to their hand to alter and to and the king granted him all his request, acdestroy this house of God which is at Jerusa-cording to the hand of the LORD his God uplem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be on him.

done with speed.

7 And there went up some of the children 13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, the river, Shethar-boznai, and their compa-and the singers, and the porters, and the Dions, according to that which Darius the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh king had sent, so they did speedily. year of Artaxerxes the king.

14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and 8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth they prospered through the prophesying of month, which was in the seventh year of the Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son king.

of Iddo and they builded, and finished it, 9 For upon the first day of the first month according to the commandment of the God began he to go up from Babylon, and on the of Israel, and according to the command-first day of the fifth month came he to Jerument of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes salem, according to the good hand of his king of Persia. God upon him.

15 And 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.

16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this bouse of God with joy,

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

11 Now 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.

17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hun- 12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, Unto Ezra dred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin-the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, accord-heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. 13 I make a decree, that all they of the ing to the number of the tribes of Israel.

13 And they set the priests in their divi- people of Israel, and of his priests and Lesions, and the Levites in their courses, for the vites, in my realm, which are minded of the service of God which is at Jerusalem; as it own free will to go up to Jerusalem, go with is written in the book of Moses.

19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.

thee.

14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to 20 For the priests and the Levites were the law of thy God which is in thine hand; purified together, all of them were pure, and 15 And to carry the silver and gold, which killed the passover for all the children of the the king and his counsellors have freely ofcaptivity, and for their brethren the priests, fered unto the God of Israel, whose habita tion is in Jerusalem;

and for themselves.

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