Artaxerxes decree.

companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.

i8 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

19 And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found, that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion aud sedition have been made therein.

xo There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled overall countries beyond the river: and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.

*i Give ye now -commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment ihall be given from me.

12 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why mould damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

13 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimlhai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.

3+ Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius Jung of Persia,,

C H A P., V. Zerubbabel and Je/hua set forward the building.

THEN the prophets,_ Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Juaah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.

2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son os Shealtiel, and Jetliua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which u at Jerusalem: and with them luere the prophets of God helping them.

3 At the fame time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?

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

5 But the eye of their God was upon the ciders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.

6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this fide the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachitcs, which were on this side

the river, sent unto Darius the king:

7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.

9 Then atked we those elders, r.vd laid unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?;

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

11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God ot heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up. ,...,' *

iz But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchad-. aezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus, made a decree to build this houseof God.

14. And the velsels also of gold aaJ silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the. temple that •was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did. Cyrus the king take out of the temple ot Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Shelhbazzar, whom he had made governor;

if And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into- the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his plaqe.

16 Then came thefamt Shclhbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which ;'/ in Jerusalem: aud since that time even until now hath it been in building, andj-c/ it is not finished.

17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it beso, that a decree was made of Cyrus, the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerting this matter.

C H A P. VI, 1 Darius advancesh the building, \\fkt temple is finished. \6 The feast os the dedication it kept, 19 and the M°vrrDarius decrse.

The templesinisticj.

THEN Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.

3 And there was found at Achmetha, ia the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein ivas a record thus written:

3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, tit fame Cyrus the king made a decree csncentiitg the houseof God at Jerusalem, Let the hotife be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid) the height thereof threescore cubits, aud the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber i and let the expences be given out of the king's house:

5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored and brought again unto the temple which is at Jeruialera, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.

6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond theriver,Shethar-boznai, and your corn portions theApharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:

7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.

8 Moreover I make a decree what ye (hall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God; that os the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expences be s^verr" unto these men, that they be not hindered.

9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:

to That they may offer sacrifices of fwett savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

11 Al so I have made a decree, that whosoever mail alfer this word, let timber be palled down from his house, and being set up, kt him be hanged thereon; and let Ifis house be made a dunghil for this.

i* And the. God that bath caused his name to dwell there destroy fi\ kings and people, that wall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God

whichuatJerusalem. I Darius havemade a decree; let it be done with speed.

nflThenTatnai.goveriioronthisside the river.Shethar- boznai, and theircompanions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.

14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they proiperedthroughtheprophesyingof Haggai the prophet and Zechaiiah the sou of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God os Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

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 tj And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, andtherest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,

17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, foui hundred lambs; and for a fin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service osGod, which is at Jerusalem ; asitis written in the book of Moses.

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

20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lo R o God of Israel, did eat,

22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the Lor D had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen theiif hands in the work ot the house of God, the God 4t Israel.

CHAP. VII.

1 Escragoeth up to Jerusalem. 11 The com

miffiun of Artaxerxes. lyGoetis praised.

NOW after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

2 The son of Shallnra, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

3 The son of Ajnariah, the son of E e a Azariah, Ex;-a gne'.h up lo Jerusalem. E Z

Azariah, the son of Meraioth, i

4 The son of Zerahiah, the son os Uzzi, the son .of Bukki,

5 The son of Abifhua, the son of PJiinehas, the son of F.leazar, the son of Aaron the chief pried:

6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he ivns a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.

7 And there went up fame of the children of Israel, and of tiie prielts, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

8 And lie came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which ixat in the seventh year of the king.

9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first diiy of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

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 judgements.

11 «^ Now thil it 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.

Is Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

13 I make a decree, that all they os the people of Israel, and of his prielts and Levites in my realm, which are minded of their ova freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

14. Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and of his seven counsellers, to enquire concerning Judah and T:rusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine h-ind j

15 And to carry the silver and

fold which the king and his counsellers ave freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose»hab;tation is in Jerusalem,

16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God whiah it in Jerusalem:

17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings, and their drink offerings, and off^r them upon the altar

R A Artaxerxes'' commission t» Ezra.

of the house of your God which it in Jerusalem.

18 Aud whatsoever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.

19 The vesi'els also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.

20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.

21. And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the trealiirers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven (hall require of you, it be done speedily,

22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much,

23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why ihould there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it (hall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom upon them.

25 And thou, Ezra, aster the wisdom of thy God that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God j and teach ye them that know them not.

26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the Icing, let judgement be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

27 fl Blessed be the Lor D God of our fathers, which hath put/iwA a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the houseof the Lor D whichrrin Jerusalem:

28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king and his counsellers, and before ajl the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lo» D my God ivas upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

CHAP. VIII. 1 Ezra's companions from Babylon. 15 Hi fendeth to lddofor ministers of the ternplii 21 He keehtth a fast.

THESE Who returned with Ezra:

he keepeth a fast.

THESE are now the chiesof their fa thcrs, and this is tlie genealogy os them that went up with me from Babylon, in the rtign of Artaxerxes the king. 2 Of the sons of Phinelias; Gerstiom: of the sons of Ithanvir j Eaniel: of the sons of DavH , Wttufli.

I Of t>.c Ions of Siicchanhh, of the sons of Pharoih; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the .males an hundred and fifty.

it Of the sons of I'ahuth-inoab; Eiihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.

5 Of the ions of Shechaniah; the son of Jahazie), and with him three hundred males.

6 Of thf ionsalsoof Adin; Ebed theson of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.

7 And of the sons of Elam; Jcihaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.

S And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.

9 Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.

Io And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males.

II And of the sons of Bebai; 'Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.

ii And of the sons of Azgad j Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.

ij And of the hit sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.

14-Of the sons alsoof Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.

15 J And I gathered them together to the river tha.t runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priclts, and sound there none of the sons of Levi.

16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Me. litulhm, chief menj also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.

17 And I feat them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should fay unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto u: ministers for the house of our God.;

if And by the good hand of our God

upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen*

19 And Ilafhabiah, and witii him Jefhaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;

10 Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes \\\<S. appointed for the service os the Lcvites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.

21 «J Then I proclaimed a salt there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our Uod, to leek of him a right way for us, hnd for our little ones, and for a:l our substance.

21 For I was alhained to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to lielp us against the enemy in tiie way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The lw:id of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but bis power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.

13 So we failed and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.

i4Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Halhabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,

25 And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vestels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellers, and his lords, and all Israel there present had offered:

26 I even weighed unto their l\and six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;

27 Also twenty basons of gold of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.

28 And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the Lord; the vessels are holy also) and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the Lord God of your fathers.

29 Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chiesof the priests and the Levites, and chiesof the fathers, of lu-ael, at Jerulalein, in the chambers of the house of the Lor n.

30 So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the

fold, and the vessels, to bring them to eruialem unto the house of our God.

31 Then we depai ted from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way. *

**< 1 ja And

31 And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.

33 Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels waighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest -, and with him <was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them tuas Jozabad the son of Jelliua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;

34. By number andby weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.

35 Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goMssor a sin offering: all this -was a burnt offering unto the Lo a p.

36 And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

CHAP. IX. f Ezra mournethsor the affinity of the people tvithstrangers. 5 Heprayeth to God.

people 01 niaci, «nu I"*- !»"■»• «•"" >■">Levites have not separated themselves from the people of thelands, <£»«£ accordingtotheirabominations,?i>«»oftheCanaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

1 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy feed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and fat down altonied.

tf Then were assembled unto me eveiy one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat altonied until the evening sacrifice.

5 fj[ And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from-my heaviness; and having rent my garment aivl my mantle, I fell ■upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my Goil.'

6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed , and blush to lift op my face to thee,

Bjy God: for our iniquities are increas

ed over cur head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day j and for our iniquities have" we, our kings, sl»<^ourprieUs, beendelivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as :'/ is this day.

S And now for a little space grace hath been/foau^srom the Lor D our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in bis holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

9 For we tuefe bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

10 And now, O our God, what slull we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,

11 Which thou bast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the silthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.

1 z Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.

13 And after all that is come upon us for pur evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given ussuc h deliverance as this;

14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?

15OL0RD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.

CHAP. X. t Sheehaniah eucouragetk Ezra to resorts the firange marriages. 6 Ezra assuming, ajsembUth the people. 9 The people et the exhortation of Ezra repent, and promise amendment. 18 The names of them 'which had married strange wives'NOW