Bible Reading
August 7 - 9
The World English Bible
Aug.
7
Ezra
9, 10
Ezr
9:1 Now when these things were done, the princes drew near to me,
saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have
not 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,
the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
Ezr
9:2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for
their sons, so that the holy seed have mixed themselves with the
peoples of the lands: yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has
been chief in this trespass.
Ezr
9:3 When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and
plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down
confounded.
Ezr
9:4 Then were assembled to me everyone who trembled at the words of
the God of Israel, because of the trespass of them of the captivity;
and I sat confounded until the evening offering.
Ezr
9:5 At the evening offering I arose up from my humiliation, even
with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread
out my hands to Yahweh my God;
Ezr
9:6 and I said, my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to
you, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our
guiltiness is grown up to the heavens.
Ezr
9:7 Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty to
this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests,
been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword,
to captivity, and to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this
day.
Ezr
9:8 Now for a little moment grace has been shown from Yahweh our
God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his
holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little
reviving in our bondage.
Ezr
9:9 For we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our
bondage, but has extended loving kindness to 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 its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in
Jerusalem.
Ezr
9:10 Now, our God, what shall we say after this? for we have
forsaken your commandments,
Ezr
9:11 which you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying,
The land, to which you go to possess it, is an unclean land through
the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their
abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their
filthiness:
Ezr
9:12 now therefore don't give your daughters to their sons, neither
take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their
prosperity forever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the
land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.
Ezr
9:13 After all that is come on us for our evil deeds, and for our
great guilt, seeing that you our God have punished us less than our
iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant,
Ezr
9:14 shall we again break your commandments, and join in affinity
with the peoples that do these abominations? wouldn't you be angry
with us until you had consumed us, so that there should be no
remnant, nor any to escape?
Ezr
9:15 Yahweh, the God of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a
remnant that is escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before you
in our guiltiness; for none can stand before you because of this.
Ezr
10:1 Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting
himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together to
him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and
children; for the people wept very sore.
Ezr
10:2 Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered
Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign
women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Israel
concerning this thing.
Ezr
10:3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away
all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel
of my lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God;
and let it be done according to the law.
Ezr
10:4 Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you: be
of good courage, and do it.
Ezr
10:5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the priests, the
Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to
this word. So they swore.
Ezr
10:6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into
the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and when
he came there, he ate no bread, nor drank water; for he mourned
because of the trespass of them of the captivity.
Ezr
10:7 They made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all
the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves
together to Jerusalem;
Ezr
10:8 and that whoever didn't come within three days, according to
the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should
be forfeited, and himself separated from the assembly of the
captivity.
Ezr
10:9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves
together to Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month,
on the twentieth day
of the month: and all the people sat in the broad place before the
house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great
rain.
Ezr
10:10 Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, You have
trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of
Israel.
Ezr
10:11 Now therefore make confession to Yahweh, the God of your
fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the
peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.
Ezr
10:12 Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, As you have
said concerning us, so must we do.
Ezr
10:13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we
are not able to stand outside: neither is this a work of one day or
two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.
Ezr
10:14 Let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let
all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come
at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and its
judges, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until
this matter be dispatched.
Ezr
10:15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah
stood up against this matter:
and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
Ezr
10:16 The children of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, with
certain heads of fathers' houses,
after their fathers' houses, and all of them by their names, were set
apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to
examine the matter.
Ezr
10:17 They made an end with all the men who had married foreign
women by the first day of the first month.
Ezr
10:18 Among the sons of the priests there were found who had married
foreign women: namely,
of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers,
Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
Ezr
10:19 They gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and
being guilty, they offered
a ram of the flock for their guilt.
Ezr
10:20 Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
Ezr
10:21 Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and
Jehiel, and Uzziah.
Ezr
10:22 Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel,
Jozabad, and Elasah.
Ezr
10:23 Of the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (the same is
Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
Ezr
10:24 Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the porters: Shallum, and Telem,
and Uri.
Ezr
10:25 Of Israel: Of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, and Izziah, and
Malchijah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
Ezr
10:26 Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and
Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah.
Ezr
10:27 Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and
Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
Ezr
10:28 Of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai.
Ezr
10:29 Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub,
and Sheal, Jeremoth.
Ezr
10:30 Of the sons of Pahathmoab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah,
Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
Ezr
10:31 of
the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
Ezr
10:32 Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah.
Ezr
10:33 Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet,
Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei.
Ezr
10:34 Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
Ezr
10:35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,
Ezr
10:36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
Ezr
10:37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu,
Ezr
10:38 and Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
Ezr
10:39 and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
Ezr
10:40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
Ezr
10:41 Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
Ezr
10:42 Shallum, Amariah, Joseph.
Ezr
10:43 Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo,
and Joel, Benaiah.
Ezr
10:44 All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives
by whom they had children.
Aug.
8
Nehemiah
1-3
Neh
1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in
the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the
palace,
Neh
1:2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of
Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were
left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
Neh
1:3 They said to me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there
in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of
Jerusalem also is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.
Neh
1:4 It happened, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept,
and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of
heaven,
Neh
1:5 and said, I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and
awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who
love him and keep his commandments:
Neh
1:6 Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may
listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this
time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants while I
confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned
against you. Yes, I and my father's house have sinned:
Neh
1:7 we have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the
commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you
commanded your servant Moses.
Neh
1:8 Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant
Moses, saying, If you trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the
peoples:
Neh
1:9 but if you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them,
though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet
will I gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that
I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.
Neh
1:10 Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have
redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand.
Neh
1:11 Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of
your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear
your name; and please prosper your servant this day, and grant him
mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cup bearer to the king.
Neh
2:1 It happened in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of
Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the
wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been before
sad in his presence.
Neh
2:2 The king said to me, Why is your face sad, seeing you are not
sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore
afraid.
Neh
2:3 I said to the king, Let the king live forever: why should not my
face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies
waste, and its gates are consumed with fire?
Neh
2:4 Then the king said to me, For what do you make request? So I
prayed to the God of heaven.
Neh
2:5 I said to the king, If it please the king, and if your servant
have found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to
the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may build it.
Neh
2:6 The king said to me (the queen also sitting by him), For how
long shall your journey be? and when will you return? So it pleased
the king to send me; and I set him a time.
Neh
2:7 Moreover I said to the king, If it please the king, let letters
be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me
pass through until I come to Judah;
Neh
2:8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he
may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the castle which
appertains to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the
house that I shall enter into. The king granted me, according to the
good hand of my God on me.
Neh
2:9 Then I came to the governors beyond the River, and gave them the
king's letters. Now the king had sent with me captains of the army
and horsemen.
Neh
2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the
Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had
come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Neh
2:11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
Neh
2:12 I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told
I any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem; neither
was there any animal with me, except the animal that I rode on.
Neh
2:13 I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the
jackal's well, and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of
Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates were consumed with
fire.
Neh
2:14 Then I went on to the spring gate and to the king's pool: but
there was no place for the animal that was under me to pass.
Neh
2:15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall;
and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned.
Neh
2:16 The rulers didn't know where I went, or what I did; neither had
I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles,
nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work.
Neh
2:17 Then said I to them, You see the evil case that we are in, how
Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire: come, and
let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
Neh
2:18 I told them of the hand of my God which was good on me, as also
of the king's words that he had spoken to me. They said, Let us rise
up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
Neh
2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the
Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they ridiculed us, and
despised us, and said, What is this thing that you do? will you rebel
against the king?
Neh
2:20 Then answered I them, and said to them, The God of heaven, he
will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but
you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
Neh
3:1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the
priests, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set
up its doors; even to the tower of Hammeah they sanctified it, to the
tower of Hananel.
Neh
3:2 Next to him built the men of Jericho. Next to them built Zaccur
the son of Imri.
Neh
3:3 The fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build; they laid its
beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
Neh
3:4 Next to them repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of
Hakkoz. Next to them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son
of Meshezabel. Next to them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.
Neh
3:5 Next to them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles didn't put
their necks to the work of their lord.
Neh
3:6 The old gate repaired Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the
son of Besodeiah; they laid its beams, and set up its doors, and its
bolts, and its bars.
Neh
3:7 Next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the
Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, that
appertained to the throne of the
governor beyond the River.
Neh
3:8 Next to him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths.
Next to him repaired Hananiah one of the perfumers, and they
fortified Jerusalem even to the broad wall.
Neh
3:9 Next to them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half
the district of Jerusalem.
Neh
3:10 Next to them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, over against
his house. Next to him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabneiah.
Neh
3:11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hasshub the son of Pahathmoab,
repaired another portion, and the tower of the furnaces.
Neh
3:12 Next to him repaired Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of
half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
Neh
3:13 The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah;
they built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and one
thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate.
Neh
3:14 The dung gate repaired Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler
of the district of Beth Haccherem; he built it, and set up its doors,
its bolts, and its bars.
Neh
3:15 The spring gate repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler
of the district of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up
its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and the wall of the pool of
Shelah by the king's garden, even to the stairs that go down from the
city of David.
Neh
3:16 After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half
the district of Beth Zur, to the place over against the tombs of
David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty
men.
Neh
3:17 After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next to
him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, for
his district.
Neh
3:18 After him repaired their brothers, Bavvai the son of Henadad,
the ruler of half the district of Keilah.
Neh
3:19 Next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of
Mizpah, another portion, over against the ascent to the armory at the
turning of the wall.
Neh
3:20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another
portion, from the turning of the wall
to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
Neh
3:21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz
another portion, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the
end of the house of Eliashib.
Neh
3:22 After him repaired the priests, the men of the Plain.
Neh
3:23 After them repaired Benjamin and Hasshub over against their
house. After them repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of
Ananiah beside his own house.
Neh
3:24 After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another portion,
from the house of Azariah to the turning of
the wall, and to the corner.
Neh
3:25 Palal the son of Uzai repaired
over against the turning of the wall,
and the tower that stands out from the upper house of the king, which
is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh
repaired.
Neh
3:26 (Now the Nethinim lived in Ophel, to the place over against the
water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.)
Neh
3:27 After him the Tekoites repaired another portion, over against
the great tower that stands out, and to the wall of Ophel.
Neh
3:28 Above the horse gate repaired the priests, everyone over
against his own house.
Neh
3:29 After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his own
house. After him repaired Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper
of the east gate.
Neh
3:30 After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the
sixth son of Zalaph, another portion. After him repaired Meshullam
the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.
Neh
3:31 After him repaired Malchijah one of the goldsmiths to the house
of the Nethinim, and of the merchants, over against the gate of
Hammiphkad, and to the ascent of the corner.
Neh
3:32 Between the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate repaired
the goldsmiths and the merchants.
Aug.
9
Nehemiah
4-6
Neh
4:1 But it happened that when Sanballat heard that we were building
the wall, he was angry, and took great indignation, and mocked the
Jews.
Neh
4:2 He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said,
What are these feeble Jews doing? will they fortify themselves? will
they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the
stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burned?
Neh
4:3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which
they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone
wall.
Neh
4:4 Hear, our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach
on their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of
captivity;
Neh
4:5 and don't cover their iniquity, and don't let their sin be
blotted out from before you; for they have provoked you
to anger before the builders.
Neh
4:6 So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to
half the height
of it: for the people had a mind to work.
Neh
4:7 But it happened that when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the
Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls
of Jerusalem went forward, and
that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very angry;
Neh
4:8 and they conspired all of them together to come and fight
against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein.
Neh
4:9 But we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them
day and night, because of them.
Neh
4:10 Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed,
and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
Neh
4:11 Our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, until
we come into the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to
cease.
Neh
4:12 It happened that when the Jews who lived by them came, they
said to us ten times from all places, You must return to us.
Neh
4:13 Therefore set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the
wall, in the open places, I set there
the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and
their bows.
Neh
4:14 I looked, and rose up, and said to the nobles, and to the
rulers, and to the rest of the people, Don't be afraid of them:
remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your
brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
Neh
4:15 It happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us,
and God had brought their counsel to nothing, that we returned all of
us to the wall, everyone to his work.
Neh
4:16 It happened from that time forth, that half of my servants
worked in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields,
and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all
the house of Judah.
Neh
4:17 They all built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded
themselves; everyone with one of his hands worked in the work, and
with the other held his weapon;
Neh
4:18 and the builders, everyone had his sword girded by his side,
and so built. He who sounded the trumpet was by me.
Neh
4:19 I said to the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the
people, The work is great and large, and we are separated on the
wall, one far from another:
Neh
4:20 in whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally
there to us; our God will fight for us.
Neh
4:21 So we worked in the work: and half of them held the spears from
the rising of the morning until the stars appeared.
Neh
4:22 Likewise at the same time said I to the people, Let everyone
with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may
be a guard to us, and may labor in the day.
Neh
4:23 So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of
the guard who followed me, none of us put off our clothes, everyone
went with
his weapon to
the water.
Neh
5:1 Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives
against their brothers the Jews.
Neh
5:2 For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are
many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live.
Neh
5:3 Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields,
and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get grain, because of the
dearth.
Neh
5:4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's
tribute on
our fields and our vineyards.
Neh
5:5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children
as their children: and behold, we bring into bondage our sons and our
daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into
bondage already:
neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields
and our vineyards.
Neh
5:6 I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
Neh
5:7 Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and
the rulers, and said to them, You exact usury, everyone of his
brother. I held a great assembly against them.
Neh
5:8 I said to them, We after our ability have redeemed our brothers
the Jews, that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your
brothers, and should they be sold to us? Then held they their peace,
and found never a word.
Neh
5:9 Also I said, The thing that you do is not good: ought you not to
walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations
our enemies?
Neh
5:10 I likewise, my brothers and my servants, do lend them money and
grain. Please let us leave off this usury.
Neh
5:11 Please restore to them, even this day, their fields, their
vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth
part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that
you exact of them.
Neh
5:12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing
of them; so will we do, even as you say. Then I called the priests,
and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this
promise.
Neh
5:13 Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man
from his house, and from his labor, that doesn't perform this
promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. All the assembly
said, Amen, and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this
promise.
Neh
5:14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their
governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the
two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that
is, twelve years, I and my brothers have
not eaten the bread of the governor.
Neh
5:15 But the former governors who were before me were supported by
the people, and took bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels
of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people: but I
didn't do so, because of the fear of God.
Neh
5:16 Yes, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought
we any land: and all my servants were gathered there to the work.
Neh
5:17 Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers,
one hundred fifty men, besides those who came to us from among the
nations that were around us.
Neh
5:18 Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six
choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days
store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I didn't demand the
bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy on this people.
Neh
5:19 Remember to me, my God, for good, all that I have done for this
people.
Neh
6:1 Now it happened, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah,
and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had
built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though
even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates;)
Neh
6:2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet
together in one of
the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
Neh
6:3 I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so
that I can't come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it,
and come down to you?
Neh
6:4 They sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them
after the same manner.
Neh
6:5 Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in like manner the fifth
time with an open letter in his hand,
Neh
6:6 in which was written, It is reported among the nations, and
Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause
you are building the wall: and you would be their king, according to
these words.
Neh
6:7 You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem,
saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the
king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take
counsel together.
Neh
6:8 Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as you
say, but you imagine them out of your own heart.
Neh
6:9 For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands
shall be weakened from the work, that it not be done. But now, God,
strengthen my hands.
Neh
6:10 I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of
Mehetabel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the
house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the
temple: for they will come to kill you; yes, in the night will they
come to kill you.
Neh
6:11 I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there that,
being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will
not go in.
Neh
6:12 I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; but he
pronounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had
hired him.
Neh
6:13 For this cause was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do
so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that
they might reproach me.
Neh
6:14 Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their
works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets,
that would have put me in fear.
Neh
6:15 So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day
of the month
Elul, in fifty-two days.
Neh
6:16 It happened, when all our enemies heard of
it, that all the nations that were about
us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they
perceived that this work was worked of our God.
Neh
6:17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to
Tobiah, and the letters
of Tobiah came to them.
Neh
6:18 For there were many in Judah sworn to him, because he was the
son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had
taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife.
Neh
6:19 Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my
words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
Aug.
7, 8
Acts
22
Act
22:1 "Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now
make to you."
Act
22:2 When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language,
they were even more quiet. He said,
Act
22:3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought
up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the
strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even
as you all are this day.
Act
22:4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into
prisons both men and women.
Act
22:5 As also the high priest and all the council of the elders
testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and
traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem
in bonds to be punished.
Act
22:6 It happened that, as I made my journey, and came close to
Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from the sky a great light
around me.
Act
22:7 I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
Act
22:8 I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus of
Nazareth, whom you persecute.'
Act
22:9 "Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were
afraid, but they didn't understand the voice of him who spoke to me.
Act
22:10 I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' The Lord said to me, 'Arise,
and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which
are appointed for you to do.'
Act
22:11 When I couldn't see for the glory of that light, being led by
the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
Act
22:12 One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported
of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,
Act
22:13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul,
receive your sight!' In that very hour I looked up at him.
Act
22:14 He said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his
will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his
mouth.
Act
22:15 For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have
seen and heard.
Act
22:16 Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your
sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
Act
22:17 "It happened that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and
while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,
Act
22:18 and saw him saying to me, 'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem
quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from
you.'
Act
22:19 I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat
in every synagogue those who believed in you.
Act
22:20 When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was
standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of
those who killed him.'
Act
22:21 "He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you out far from
here to the Gentiles.' "
Act
22:22 They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up
their voice, and said, "Rid the earth of this fellow, for he
isn't fit to live!"
Act
22:23 As they cried out, and threw off their cloaks, and threw dust
into the air,
Act
22:24 the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the
barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might
know for what crime they shouted against him like that.
Act
22:25 When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the
centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man
who is a Roman, and not found guilty?"
Act
22:26 When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer
and told him, "Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a
Roman!"
Act
22:27 The commanding officer came and asked him, "Tell me, are
you a Roman?" He said, "Yes."
Act
22:28 The commanding officer answered, "I bought my citizenship
for a great price." Paul said, "But I was born a Roman."
Act
22:29 Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from
him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that
he was a Roman, because he had bound him.
Act
22:30 But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he
was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded
the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought
Paul down and set him before them.
Aug.
9, 10
Acts
23
Act
23:1 Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, "Brothers,
I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day."
Act
23:2 The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to
strike him on the mouth.
Act
23:3 Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you
whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and
command me to be struck contrary to the law?"
Act
23:4 Those who stood by said, "Do you malign God's high
priest?"
Act
23:5 Paul said, "I didn't know, brothers, that he was high
priest. For it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of
your people.' "
Act
23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and
the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and
brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope
and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!"
Act
23:7 When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees
and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
Act
23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel,
nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.
Act
23:9 A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees
part stood up, and contended, saying, "We find no evil in this
man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let's not fight
against God!"
Act
23:10 When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing
that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to
go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the
barracks.
Act
23:11 The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, "Cheer
up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you
must testify also at Rome."
Act
23:12 When it was day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound
themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor
drink until they had killed Paul.
Act
23:13 There were more than forty people who had made this
conspiracy.
Act
23:14 They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, "We
have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we
have killed Paul.
Act
23:15 Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding
officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you
were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him
before he comes near."
Act
23:16 But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he
came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.
Act
23:17 Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, "Bring
this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to
tell him."
Act
23:18 So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and
said, "Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring
this young man to you, who has something to tell you."
Act
23:19 The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside,
asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?"
Act
23:20 He said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul
down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat
more accurately concerning him.
Act
23:21 Therefore don't yield to them, for more than forty men lie in
wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat
nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking
for the promise from you."
Act
23:22 So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him,
"Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me."
Act
23:23 He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, "Prepare
two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen,
and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the
night."
Act
23:24 He asked them to provide animals, that they might set Paul on
one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.
Act
23:25 He wrote a letter like this:
Act
23:26 "Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix:
Greetings.
Act
23:27 "This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be
killed by them, when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having
learned that he was a Roman.
Act
23:28 Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him
down to their council.
Act
23:29 I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but
not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.
Act
23:30 When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent
him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their
accusations against him before you. Farewell."
Act
23:31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and
brought him by night to Antipatris.
Act
23:32 But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and
returned to the barracks.
Act
23:33 When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the
governor, they also presented Paul to him.
Act
23:34 When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was
from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,
Act
23:35 "I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive."
He commanded that he be kept in Herod's palace.
