There is no such thing as luck” or “accident”… We must resist limiting God’s sovereignty in the face of suffering. The comfort of God…is not His empathy with us as someone who feels the tragedy of evil but is helpless in it. Nor does the comfort of God reside in His actions as a “fourth-quarter quarterback,” who is brought in after things have fallen apart to save the day just before the whistle blows. There is no comfort in suffering if God is not sovereign over it. To pare down God’s sovereignty is to render suffering a triumph of evil and sin against the limited will and power of God.
Scott Hafemann

Ezra

Ezra

{1:1} Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the wordof Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovahstirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made aproclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing,saying, {1:2} Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of theearth hath Jehovah, the God of heaven, given me; and he hath charged meto build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. {1:3} Whosoeverthere is among you of all his people, his God be with him, and let himgo up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of Jehovah,the God of Israel (he is God), which is in Jerusalem. {1:4} Andwhosoever is left, in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of hisplace help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and withbeasts, besides the freewill-offering for the house of God which is inJerusalem. {1:5} Then rose up the heads of fathers’ [houses] of Judahand Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spiritGod had stirred to go up to build the house of Jehovah which is inJerusalem. {1:6} And all they that were round about them strengthenedtheir hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and withbeasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willinglyoffered. {1:7} Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of thehouse of Jehovah, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out ofJerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods; {1:8} even those didCyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath thetreasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.{1:9} And this is the number of them: thirty platters of gold, athousand platters of silver, nine and twenty knives, {1:10} thirtybowls of gold, silver bowls of a second sort four hundred and ten, andother vessels a thousand. {1:11} All the vessels of gold and of silverwere five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bringup, when they of the captivity were brought up from Babylon untoJerusalem.

{2:1} Now these are the children of the province, that went up outof the captivity of those that had been carried away, whomNebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, andthat returned unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city; {2:2}who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah,Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the menof the people of Israel: {2:3} The children of Parosh, two thousand ahundred seventy and two. {2:4} The children of Shephatiah, threehundred seventy and two. {2:5} The children of Arah, seven hundredseventy and five. {2:6} The children of Pahath-moab, of the children ofJeshua [and] Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve. {2:7} Thechildren of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. {2:8} Thechildren of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five. {2:9} The children ofZaccai, seven hundred and threescore. {2:10} The children of Bani, sixhundred forty and two. {2:11} The children of Bebai, six hundred twentyand three. {2:12} The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twentyand two. {2:13} The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.{2:14} The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six. {2:15} Thechildren of Adin, four hundred fifty and four. {2:16} The children ofAter, of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. {2:17} The children of Bezai,three hundred twenty and three. {2:18} The children of Jorah, a hundredand twelve. {2:19} The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty andthree. {2:20} The children of Gibbar, ninety and five. {2:21} Thechildren of Beth-lehem, a hundred twenty and three. {2:22} The men ofNetophah, fifty and six. {2:23} The men of Anathoth, a hundred twentyand eight. {2:24} The children of Azmaveth, forty and two. {2:25} Thechildren of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred andforty and three. {2:26} The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundredtwenty and one. {2:27} The men of Michmas, a hundred twenty and two.{2:28} The men of Beth-el and Ai, two hundred twenty and three. {2:29}The children of Nebo, fifty and two. {2:30} The children of Magbish, ahundred fifty and six. {2:31} The children of the other Elam, athousand two hundred fifty and four. {2:32} The children of Harim,three hundred and twenty. {2:33} The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono,seven hundred twenty and five. {2:34} The children of Jericho, threehundred forty and five. {2:35} The children of Senaah, three thousandand six hundred and thirty. {2:36} The priests: the children ofJedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. {2:37}The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. {2:38} The children ofPashhur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. {2:39} The children ofHarim, a thousand and seventeen. {2:40} The Levites: the children ofJeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.{2:41} The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight.{2:42} The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, thechildren of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, thechildren of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all a hundred thirty andnine. {2:43} The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children ofHasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, {2:44} the children of Keros, thechildren of Siaha, the children of Padon, {2:45} the children ofLebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub, {2:46} thechildren of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children of Hanan,{2:47} the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children ofReaiah, {2:48} the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, thechildren of Gazzam, {2:49} the children of Uzza, the children ofPaseah, the children of Besai, {2:50} the children of Asnah, thechildren of Meunim, the children of Nephisim, {2:51} the children ofBakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, {2:52} thechildren of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,{2:53} the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children ofTemah, {2:54} the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. {2:55}The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the childrenof Hassophereth, the children of Peruda, {2:56} the children of Jaalah,the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, {2:57} the children ofShephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children ofPochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Ami. {2:58} All the Nethinim, andthe children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two.{2:59} And these were they that went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha,Cherub, Addan, [and] Immer; but they could not show their fathers’houses, and their seed, whether they were of Israel: {2:60} thechildren of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda,six hundred fifty and two. {2:61} And of the children of the priests:the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children ofBarzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite,and was called after their name. {2:62} These sought their register[among] those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found:therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. {2:63}And the governor said unto them, that they should not eat of the mostholy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.{2:64} The whole assembly together was forty and two thousand threehundred and threescore, {2:65} besides their men-servants and theirmaid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirtyand seven: and they had two hundred singing men and singing women.{2:66} Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, twohundred forty and five; {2:67} their camels, four hundred thirty andfive; [their] asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty. {2:68} Andsome of the heads of fathers’ [houses], when they came to the house ofJehovah which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of Godto set it up in its place: {2:69} they gave after their ability intothe treasury of the work threescore and one thousand darics of gold,and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments.{2:70} So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and thesingers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, dwelt in their cities, andall Israel in their cities.

{3:1} And when the seventh month was come, and the children ofIsrael were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together asone man to Jerusalem. {3:2} Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak,and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, andhis brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offerburnt-offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the manof God. {3:3} And they set the altar upon its base; for fear was uponthem because of the peoples of the countries: and they offeredburnt-offerings thereon unto Jehovah, even burnt-offerings morning andevening. {3:4} And they kept the feast of tabernacles, as it iswritten, and [offered] the daily burnt-offerings by number, accordingto the ordinance, as the duty of every day required; {3:5} andafterward the continual burnt-offering, and [the offerings] of the newmoons, and of all the set feasts of Jehovah that were consecrated, andof every one that willingly offered a freewill-offering unto Jehovah.{3:6} From the first day of the seventh month began they to offerburnt-offerings unto Jehovah: but the foundation of the temple ofJehovah was not yet laid. {3:7} They gave money also unto the masons,and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, unto them ofSidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to thesea, unto Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king ofPersia. {3:8} Now in the second year of their coming unto the house ofGod at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son ofShealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of theirbrethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come outof the captivity unto Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twentyyears old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house ofJehovah. {3:9} Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren,Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to have theoversight of the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, withtheir sons and their brethren the Levites. {3:10} And when the builderslaid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, they set the priests intheir apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph withcymbals, to praise Jehovah, after the order of David king of Israel.{3:11} And they sang one to another in praising and giving thanks untoJehovah, [saying], For he is good, for his lovingkindness [endureth]for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout,when they praised Jehovah, because the foundation of the house ofJehovah was laid. {3:12} But many of the priests and Levites and headsof fathers’ [houses], the old men that had seen the first house, whenthe foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with aloud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: {3:13} so that the peoplecould not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of theweeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, andthe noise was heard afar off.

{4:1} Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that thechildren of the captivity were building a temple unto Jehovah, the Godof Israel; {4:2} then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads offathers’ [houses], and said unto them, Let us build with you; for weseek your God, as ye do; and we sacrifice unto him since the days ofEsar-haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up hither. {4:3} ButZerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ [houses]of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us in building ahouse unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto Jehovah,the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.{4:4} Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people ofJudah, and troubled them in building, {4:5} and hired counsellorsagainst them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king ofPersia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. {4:6} And in thereign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they anaccusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. {4:7} And inthe days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the restof his companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing ofthe letter was written in the Syrian [character], and set forth in theSyrian [tongue]. {4:8} Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribewrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:{4:9} then [wrote] Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, andthe rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites,the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, theShushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites, {4:10} and the rest of thenations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over, and set in thecity of Samaria, and in the rest [of the country] beyond the River, andso forth. {4:11} This is the copy of the letter that they sent untoArtaxerxes the king: Thy servants the men beyond the River, and soforth. {4:12} Be it known unto the king, that the Jews that came upfrom thee are come to us unto Jerusalem; they are building therebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repairedthe foundations. {4:13} Be it known now unto the king, that, if thiscity be builded, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute,custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful unto the kings.{4:14} Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not meetfor us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore have we sent and certifiedthe king; {4:15} that search may be made in the book of the records ofthy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and knowthat this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings andprovinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of oldtime; for which cause was this city laid waste. {4:16} We certify theking that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, by thismeans thou shalt have no portion beyond the River. {4:17} [Then] sentthe king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai thescribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, andin the rest [of the country] beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.{4:18} The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read beforeme. {4:19} And I decreed, and search hath been made, and it is foundthat this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, andthat rebellion and sedition have been made therein. {4:20} There havebeen mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all [thecountry] beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid untothem. {4:21} Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and thatthis city be not builded, until a decree shall be made by me. {4:22}And take heed that ye be not slack herein: why should damage grow tothe hurt of the kings? {4:23} Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and theircompanions, they went in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and madethem to cease by force and power. {4:24} Then ceased the work of thehouse of God which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second yearof the reign of Darius king of Persia.

{5:1} Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son ofIddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem; in thename of the God of Israel [prophesied they] unto them. {5:2} Then roseup Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, andbegan to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with themwere the prophets of God, helping them. {5:3} At the same time came tothem Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, andtheir companions, and said thus unto them, Who gave you a decree tobuild this house, and to finish this wall? {5:4} Then we told themafter this manner, what the names of the men were that were making thisbuilding. {5:5} But the eye of their God was upon the elders of theJews, and they did not make them cease, till the matter should come toDarius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.{5:6} The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond theRiver, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, whowere beyond the River, sent unto Darius the king; {5:7} they sent aletter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, allpeace. {5:8} Be it known unto the king, that we went into the provinceof Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with greatstones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goeth on withdiligence and prospereth in their hands. {5:9} Then asked we thoseelders, and said unto them thus, Who gave you a decree to build thishouse, and to finish this wall? {5:10} We asked them their names also,to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were atthe head of them. {5:11} And thus they returned us answer, saying, Weare the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building thehouse that was builded these many years ago, which a great king ofIsrael builded and finished. {5:12} But after that our fathers hadprovoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand ofNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house,and carried the people away into Babylon. {5:13} But in the first yearof Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build thishouse of God. {5:14} And the gold and silver vessels also of the houseof God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was inJerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus theking take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered untoone whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; {5:15} andhe said unto him, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple thatis in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in its place.{5:16} Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of thehouse of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until nowhath it been in building, and yet it is not completed. {5:17} Nowtherefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in theking’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 atJerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning thismatter.

{6:1} Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in thehouse of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.{6:2} And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in theprovince of Media, a roll, and therein was thus written for a record:{6:3} In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made adecree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house bebuilded, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let the foundationsthereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and thebreadth thereof threescore cubits; {6:4} with three courses of greatstones, and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given outof the king’s house. {6:5} And also let the gold and silver vessels ofthe house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the templewhich is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, andbrought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to itsplace; and thou shalt put them in the house of God. {6:6} Nowtherefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, andyour companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, be ye farfrom thence: {6:7} let the work of this house of God alone; let thegovernor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of Godin its place. {6:8} Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to theseelders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of theking’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be givenwith all diligence unto these men, that they be not hindered. {6:9} Andthat which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs,for burnt-offerings to the God of heaven; [also] wheat, salt, wine, andoil, according to the word of the priests that are at Jerusalem, let itbe given them day by day without fail; {6:10} that they may offersacrifices of sweet savor unto the God of heaven, and pray for the lifeof the king, and of his sons. {6:11} Also I have made a decree, thatwhosoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from hishouse, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his housebe made a dunghill for this: {6:12} and the God that hath caused hisname to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples that shall putforth their hand to alter [the same], to destroy this house of Godwhich is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done withall diligence. {6:13} Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River,Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, because that Darius the king hadsent, did accordingly with all diligence. {6:14} And the elders of theJews builded and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai theprophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded and finishedit, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according tothe decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. {6:15}And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, whichwas in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. {6:16} And thechildren of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of thechildren of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of Godwith joy. {6:17} And they offered at the dedication of this house ofGod a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for asin-offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, according to the numberof the tribes of Israel. {6:18} And they set the priests in theirdivisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God,which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses. {6:19}And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth[day] of the first month. {6:20} For the priests and the Levites hadpurified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killedthe passover for all the children of the captivity, and for theirbrethren the priests, and for themselves. {6:21} And the children ofIsrael that were come again out of the captivity, and all such as hadseparated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the nations ofthe land, to seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, did eat, {6:22} and keptthe feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Jehovah had madethem joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them,to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God ofIsrael.

{7:1} Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king ofPersia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son ofHilkiah, {7:2} the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,{7:3} the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,{7:4} the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, {7:5} theson of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son ofAaron the chief priest; {7:6} this Ezra went up from Babylon: and hewas a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Jehovah, the God ofIsrael, had given; and the king granted him all his request, accordingto the hand of Jehovah his God upon him. {7:7} And there went up someof the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and thesingers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in theseventh year of Artaxerxes the king. {7:8} And he came to Jerusalem inthe fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. {7:9} Forupon 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. {7:10} For Ezra had sethis heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach inIsrael statutes and ordinances. {7:11} Now this is the copy of theletter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe,even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Jehovah, and of hisstatutes to Israel: {7:12} Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra thepriest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and soforth. {7:13} I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel,and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded oftheir own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee. {7:14} Forasmuchas thou art sent of the king and his seven counsellors, to inquireconcerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God whichis in thy hand, {7:15} and to carry the silver and gold, which the kingand his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whosehabitation is in Jerusalem, {7:16} and all the silver and gold thatthou shalt find in all the province of Babylon, with thefreewill-offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willinglyfor the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; {7:17} therefore thoushalt with all diligence buy with this money bullocks, rams, lambs,with their meal-offerings and their drink-offerings, and shalt offerthem upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.{7:18} And whatsoever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren to dowith the rest of the silver and the gold, that do ye after the will ofyour God. {7:19} And the vessels that are given thee for the service ofthe house of thy God, deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem. {7:20}And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, whichthou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’streasure-house. {7:21} And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make adecree to all the treasurers that are beyond the River, that whatsoeverEzra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shallrequire of you, it be done with all diligence, {7:22} unto a hundredtalents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundredbaths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt withoutprescribing how much. {7:23} Whatsoever is commanded by the God ofheaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; forwhy should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?{7:24} Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests andLevites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house ofGod, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, uponthem. {7:25} And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God that is in thyhand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people thatare beyond the River, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teachye him that knoweth them not. {7:26} And whosoever will not do the lawof thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon himwith all diligence, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or toconfiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. {7:27} Blessed be Jehovah,the God of our fathers, who hath put such a thing as this in the king’sheart, to beautify the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem; {7:28}and hath extended lovingkindness unto me before the king, and hiscounsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I wasstrengthened according to the hand of Jehovah my God upon me, and Igathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

{8:1} Now these are the heads of their fathers’ [houses], and thisis the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in thereign of Artaxerxes the king: {8:2} Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom.Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush. {8:3} Ofthe sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with himwere reckoned by genealogy of the males a hundred and fifty. {8:4} Ofthe sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah; and with himtwo hundred males. {8:5} Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel;and with him three hundred males. {8:6} And of the sons of Adin, Ebedthe son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males. {8:7} And of the sons ofElam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males. {8:8}And of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and withhim fourscore males. {8:9} Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son ofJehiel; and with him two hundred and eighteen males. {8:10} And of thesons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him a hundred andthreescore males. {8:11} And of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son ofBebai; and with him twenty and eight males. {8:12} And of the sons ofAzgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan; and with him a hundred and tenmales. {8:13} And of the sons of Adonikam, [that were] the last; andthese are their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with themthreescore males. {8:14} And of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud;and with them seventy males. {8:15} And I gathered them together to theriver that runneth to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and Iviewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons ofLevi. {8:16} Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and forElnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and forZechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and forElnathan, who were teachers. {8:17} And I sent them forth unto Iddo thechief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should say untoIddo, [and] his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that theyshould bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. {8:18} Andaccording to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man ofdiscretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel;and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; {8:19} andHashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethrenand their sons, twenty; {8:20} and of the Nethinim, whom David and theprinces had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred andtwenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name. {8:21} Then Iproclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humbleourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and forour little ones, and for all our substance. {8:22} For I was ashamed toask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against theenemy in the way, because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The handof our God is upon all them that seek him, for good; but his power andhis wrath is against all them that forsake him. {8:23} So we fasted andbesought our God for this: and he was entreated of us. {8:24} Then Iset apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebiah,Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them, {8:25} and weighed untothem the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering forthe house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and hisprinces, and all Israel there present, had offered: {8:26} I weighedinto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silvervessels a hundred talents; of gold a hundred talents; {8:27} and twentybowls of gold, of a thousand darics; and two vessels of fine brightbrass, precious as gold. {8:28} And I said unto them, Ye are holy untoJehovah, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are afreewill-offering unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers. {8:29} Watchye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chiefs of the priestsand the Levites, and the princes of the fathers’ [houses] of Israel, atJerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Jehovah. {8:30} So thepriests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and the gold,and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.{8:31} Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth [day] ofthe first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was uponus, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the lier-in-waitby the way. {8:32} And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there threedays. {8:33} And on the fourth day the silver and the gold and thevessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoththe son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son ofPhinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah theson of Binnui, the Levite; {8:34} the whole by number and by weight:and all the weight was written at that time. {8:35} The children of thecaptivity, that were come out of exile, offered burnt-offerings untothe God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams,seventy and seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin-offering: all thiswas a burnt-offering unto Jehovah. {8:36} And they delivered the king’scommissions unto the king’s satraps, and to the governors beyond theRiver: and they furthered the people and the house of God.

{9:1} Now when these things were done, the princes drew near untome, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, havenot separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, [doing]according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites,the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, theEgyptians, and the Amorites. {9:2} For they have taken of theirdaughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed havemingled themselves with the peoples of the lands: yea, the hand of theprinces and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. {9:3} And when Iheard this thing, I rent my garment and my robe, and plucked off thehair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded. {9:4} Thenwere assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the Godof Israel, because of the trespass of them of the captivity; and I satconfounded until the evening oblation. {9:5} And at the eveningoblation I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and myrobe rent; and I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands untoJehovah my God; {9:6} and I said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush tolift up my face to thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased overour head, and our guiltiness is grown up unto the heavens. {9:7} Sincethe days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty unto this day;and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, beendelivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, tocaptivity, and to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.{9:8} And now for a little moment grace hath been showed from Jehovahour God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in hisholy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a littlereviving in our bondage. {9:9} For we are bondmen; yet our God hath notforsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended lovingkindness unto us inthe sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up thehouse of our God, and to repair the ruins thereof, and to give us awall in Judah and in Jerusalem. {9:10} And now, O our God, what shallwe say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments, {9:11} whichthou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land,unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land through theuncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations,which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness:{9:12} now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neithertake their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or theirprosperity for ever; that ye may be strong, and eat the good of theland, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever. {9:13}And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for ourgreat guilt, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than ouriniquities deserve, and hast given us such a remnant, {9:14} shall weagain break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the peoplesthat do these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us tillthou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any toescape? {9:15} O Jehovah, the God of Israel, thou art righteous; for weare left a remnant that is escaped, as it is this day: behold, we arebefore thee in our guiltiness; for none can stand before thee becauseof this.

{10:1} Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping andcasting himself down before the house of God, there was gatheredtogether unto him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and womenand children; for the people wept very sore. {10:2} And Shecaniah theson of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, Wehave trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of thepeoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Israel concerning thisthing. {10:3} Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to putaway all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to thecounsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of ourGod; and let it be done according to the law. {10:4} Arise; for thematter belongeth unto thee, and we are with thee: be of good courage,and do it. {10:5} Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the priests,the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according tothis word. So they sware. {10:6} Then Ezra rose up from before thehouse of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son ofEliashib: and [when] he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drinkwater; for he mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity.{10:7} And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem untoall the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselvestogether unto Jerusalem; {10:8} and that whosoever came not withinthree days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, allhis substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from theassembly of the captivity. {10:9} Then all the men of Judah andBenjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within the threedays; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth [day] of the month: andall the people sat in the broad place before the house of God,trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. {10:10} AndEzra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have trespassed, andhave married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel. {10:11}Now therefore make confession unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers,and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of theland, and from the foreign women. {10:12} Then all the assemblyanswered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said concerning us,so must we do. {10:13} But the people are many, and it is a time ofmuch rain, and we are not able to stand without: neither is this a workof one day or two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.{10:14} Let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and letall them that are in our cities that have married foreign women come atappointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judgesthereof, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, untilthis matter be despatched. {10:15} Only Jonathan the son of Asahel andJahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this [matter]: andMeshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. {10:16} And thechildren of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, [with] certainheads of fathers’ [houses], after their fathers’ houses, and all ofthem by their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first dayof the tenth month to examine the matter. {10:17} And they made an endwith all the men that had married foreign women by the first day of thefirst month. {10:18} And among the sons of the priests there were foundthat had married foreign women: [namely], of the sons of Jeshua, theson of Jozadak, and his brethren, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, andGedaliah. {10:19} And they gave their hand that they would put awaytheir wives; and being guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock fortheir guilt. {10:20} And of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.{10:21} And of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah,and Jehiel, and Uzziah. {10:22} And of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai,Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. {10:23} And of theLevites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (the same is Kelita),Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. {10:24} And of the singers: Eliashib.And of the porters: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri. {10:25} And of Israel:Of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, and Izziah, and Malchijah, and Mijamin,and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah. {10:26} And of the sons ofElam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, andElijah. {10:27} And of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib,Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza. {10:28} And of the sonsof Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai. {10:29} And of the sonsof Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, Jeremoth.{10:30} And of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah,Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh. {10:31} And[of] the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah,Shimeon, {10:32} Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah. {10:33} Of the sons ofHashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh,Shimei. {10:34} Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel, {10:35}Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, {10:36} Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, {10:37}Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu, {10:38} and Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,{10:39} and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah, {10:40} Machnadebai,Shashai, Sharai, {10:41} Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah, {10:42}Shallum, Amariah, Joseph. {10:43} Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel,Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, and Joel, Benaiah. {10:44} All thesehad taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they hadchildren.

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