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Nehemiah 1-3
Holman Christian Standard Bible

1 The words of Nehemiah(A) son of Hacaliah:

News from Jerusalem

During the month of Chislev[a](B) in the twentieth year,[b](C) when I was in the fortress city of Susa,(D) 2 Hanani,(E) one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah, and I questioned them about Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant(F) that had survived the exile.(G) 3 They said to me, “The remnant in the province,(H) who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.”(I)

Nehemiah’s Prayer

4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying(J) before the God of heaven.(K) 5 I said,(L)

Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him(M) and keep His commands,(N) 6 let Your eyes be open and Your ears be attentive(O) to hear Your servant’s prayer that I now pray to You day and night(P) for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins[c] we have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.(Q) 7 We have acted corruptly toward You and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances You gave Your servant Moses.(R) 8 Please remember what You commanded Your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples.(S) 9 But if you return to Me and carefully observe My commands, even though your exiles were banished to the ends of the earth,[d] I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have My name dwell.”(T) 10 They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and strong hand.(U) 11 Please, Lord, let Your ear be attentive(V) to the prayer of Your servant and to that of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success today,(W) and have compassion on him in the presence of this man.[e](X)

At the time, I was the king’s cupbearer.(Y)

Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem

2 During the month of Nisan[f] in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,(Z) when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, 2 so the king said to me, “Why are you[g] sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but depression.”[h](AA)

I was overwhelmed with fear 3 and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I[i] not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”(AB)

4 Then the king asked me, “What is your request?”

So I prayed to the God of heaven(AC) 5 and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried,[j](AD) so that I may rebuild it.”(AE)

6 The king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So I gave him a definite time,(AF) and it pleased the king to send me.

7 I also said to the king: “If it pleases the king, let me have letters written to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates River,(AG) so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah.(AH) 8 And let me have a letter written to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to rebuild the gates of the temple’s fortress,(AI) the city wall, and the home where I will live.”[k](AJ) The king granted my requests, for I was graciously strengthened by my God.[l](AK)

9 I went to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters.(AL) The king had also sent officers of the infantry and cavalry with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite(AM) and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased.(AN)

Preparing to Rebuild the Walls

11 After I arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days,(AO) 12 I got up at night and took a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took[m] was the one I was riding. 13 I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Serpent’s[n] Well and the Dung Gate,(AP) and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.(AQ) 14 I went on to the Fountain Gate(AR) and the King’s Pool,(AS) but farther down it became too narrow for my animal to go through. 15 So I went up at night by way of the valley and inspected the wall. Then heading back, I entered through the Valley Gate(AT) and returned. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of those who would be doing the work. 17 So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned down.(AU) Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall,(AV) so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” 18 I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me,(AW) and what the king had said to me.

They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and they were encouraged[o] to do this good work.

19 When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official,(AX) and Geshem the Arab(AY) heard about this, they mocked and despised us, and said, “What is this you’re doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

20 I gave them this reply, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start building, but you have no share, right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”(AZ)

Rebuilding the Walls

3 Eliashib the high priest(BA) and his fellow priests began rebuilding the Sheep Gate.(BB) They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building the wall to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel,(BC) they dedicated it. 2 The men of Jericho(BD) built next to Eliashib,(BE) and next to them Zaccur son of Imri built.

Fish Gate

3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate.(BF) They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars.(BG) 4 Next to them Meremoth(BH) son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Beside them Meshullam(BI) son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok son of Baana made repairs. 5 Beside them the Tekoites(BJ) made repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help[p] their supervisors.

Old Gate, Broad Wall, and Tower of the Ovens

6 Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old[q] Gate.(BK) They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. 7 Next to them the repairs were done by Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, and the men of Gibeon(BL) and Mizpah, who were under the authority[r](BM) of the governor(BN) of the region west of the Euphrates River.(BO) 8 After him Uzziel son of Harhaiah, the goldsmith,(BP) made repairs, and next to him Hananiah son of the perfumer made repairs. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.(BQ)

9 Next to them Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler over half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. 10 After them Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house.(BR) Next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs. 11 Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab made repairs to another section, as well as to the Tower of the Ovens.(BS) 12 Beside him Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler over half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs—he and his daughters.

Valley Gate, Dung Gate, and Fountain Gate

13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars, and repaired 500 yards[s] of the wall to the Dung Gate.(BT) 14 Malchijah son of Rechab, ruler over the district of Beth-haccherem,(BU) repaired the Dung Gate.(BV) He rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars.

15 Shallun[t] son of Col-hozeh, ruler over the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate.(BW) He rebuilt it and roofed it. Then he installed its doors, bolts, and bars. He also made repairs to the wall of the Pool of Shelah(BX) near the king’s garden,(BY) as far as the stairs that descend from the city of David.(BZ)

16 After him Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler over half the district of Beth-zur,(CA) made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David,(CB) as far as the artificial pool(CC) and the House of the Warriors.(CD) 17 Next to him the Levites(CE) made repairs under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him Hashabiah, ruler over half the district of Keilah,(CF) made repairs for his district. 18 After him their fellow Levites made repairs under Binnui[u] son of Henadad, ruler over half the district of Keilah. 19 Next to him Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler over Mizpah, made repairs to another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the Angle.(CG)

The Angle, Water Gate, and Tower on the Ophel

20 After him Baruch son of Zabbai[v] diligently repaired another section, from the Angle to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.(CH) 21 Beside him Meremoth(CI) son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs to another section, from the door of Eliashib’s(CJ) house to the end of his house. 22 And next to him the priests from the surrounding area made repairs.

23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs opposite their house. Beside them Azariah son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house. 24 After him Binnui(CK) son of Henadad made repairs to another section, from the house of Azariah to the Angle and the corner. 25 Palal son of Uzai made repairs opposite the Angle and tower that juts out from the upper palace[w] of the king,(CL) by the courtyard of the guard.(CM) Beside him Pedaiah son of Parosh, 26 and the temple servants(CN) living on Ophel[x](CO) made repairs opposite the Water Gate(CP) toward the east and the tower that juts out. 27 Next to him the Tekoites(CQ) made repairs to another section from a point opposite the great tower that juts out, as far as the wall of Ophel.(CR)

Horse Gate, Inspection Gate, and Sheep Gate

28 Each of the priests made repairs above the Horse Gate,(CS) each opposite his own house. 29 After them Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. And beside him Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, guard of the East Gate, made repairs. 30 Next to him Hananiah son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph made repairs to another section.

After them Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs opposite his room. 31 Next to him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths,(CT) made repairs to the house of the temple servants(CU) and the merchants, opposite the Inspection[y] Gate, and as far as the upper room of the corner. 32 The goldsmiths(CV) and merchants made repairs between the upper room of the corner and the Sheep Gate.(CW)

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 1:1 = November–December
  2. Nehemiah 1:1 Artaxerxes reigned 465-425 b.c.
  3. Nehemiah 1:6 Lit sins of the Israelites
  4. Nehemiah 1:9 Lit skies
  5. Nehemiah 1:11 = the king
  6. Nehemiah 2:1 = March–April; called Abib in the pre-exilic period; Ex 13:4; Dt 16:1
  7. Nehemiah 2:2 Lit Why is your face
  8. Nehemiah 2:2 Lit sadness of heart
  9. Nehemiah 2:3 Lit my face
  10. Nehemiah 2:5 Lit city, the house of the graves of my fathers,
  11. Nehemiah 2:8 Lit enter
  12. Nehemiah 2:8 Lit for the gracious hand of my God was on me
  13. Nehemiah 2:12 Lit animal with me
  14. Nehemiah 2:13 Or Dragon’s
  15. Nehemiah 2:18 Lit they put their hands
  16. Nehemiah 3:5 Lit not bring their neck to the work of
  17. Nehemiah 3:6 Or Jeshanah
  18. Nehemiah 3:7 Or Mizpah, the seat
  19. Nehemiah 3:13 Lit 1,000 cubits
  20. Nehemiah 3:15 Some Hb mss, Syr read Shallum
  21. Nehemiah 3:18 Some Hb mss, Syr, LXX; Neh 3:24; other Hb mss, Vg read Bavvai
  22. Nehemiah 3:20 Alt Hb tradition, Vg read Zaccai; Ezr 2:9
  23. Nehemiah 3:25 Or and the upper tower that juts out from the palace
  24. Nehemiah 3:26 = a hill in Jerusalem
  25. Nehemiah 3:31 Or Muster
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Nehemiah 1-3
New International Version

Nehemiah’s Prayer

1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

In the month of Kislev(A) in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,(B) 2 Hanani,(C) one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant(D) that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.(E)”

4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.(F) For some days I mourned and fasted(G) and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God,(H) who keeps his covenant of love(I) with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear(J) the prayer(K) your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess(L) the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly(M) toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

8 “Remember(N) the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter(O) you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather(P) them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’(Q)

10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.(R) 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive(S) to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor(T) in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer(U) to the king.

Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem

2 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,(V) when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever!(W) Why should my face not look sad when the city(X) where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?(Y)”

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

6 Then the king(Z), with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates,(AA) so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel(AB) by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me,(AC) the king granted my requests.(AD) 9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry(AE) with me.

10 When Sanballat(AF) the Horonite and Tobiah(AG) the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.(AH)

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days(AI) 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.

13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate(AJ) toward the Jackal[a] Well and the Dung Gate,(AK) examining the walls(AL) of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate(AM) and the King’s Pool,(AN) but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire.(AO) Come, let us rebuild the wall(AP) of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.(AQ)” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me(AR) and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

19 But when Sanballat(AS) the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem(AT) the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us.(AU) “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding,(AV) but as for you, you have no share(AW) in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”

Builders of the Wall

3 Eliashib(AX) the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt(AY) the Sheep Gate.(AZ) They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel.(BA) 2 The men of Jericho(BB) built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.

3 The Fish Gate(BC) was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. 4 Meremoth(BD) son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs. 5 The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa,(BE) but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.[b]

6 The Jeshanah[c] Gate(BF) was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. 7 Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon(BG) and Mizpah—Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. 8 Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.(BH) 9 Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. 10 Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. 11 Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens.(BI) 12 Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.

13 The Valley Gate(BJ) was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah.(BK) They rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. They also repaired a thousand cubits[d] of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.(BL)

14 The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem.(BM) He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place.

15 The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam,[e](BN) by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David. 16 Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur,(BO) made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs[f](BP) of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes.

17 Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah,(BQ) carried out repairs for his district. 18 Next to him, the repairs were made by their fellow Levites under Binnui[g] son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah. 19 Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, from a point facing the ascent to the armory as far as the angle of the wall. 20 Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 Next to him, Meremoth(BR) son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the entrance of Eliashib’s house to the end of it.

22 The repairs next to him were made by the priests from the surrounding region. 23 Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house. 24 Next to him, Binnui(BS) son of Henadad repaired another section, from Azariah’s house to the angle and the corner, 25 and Palal son of Uzai worked opposite the angle and the tower projecting from the upper palace near the court of the guard.(BT) Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh(BU) 26 and the temple servants(BV) living on the hill of Ophel(BW) made repairs up to a point opposite the Water Gate(BX) toward the east and the projecting tower. 27 Next to them, the men of Tekoa(BY) repaired another section, from the great projecting tower(BZ) to the wall of Ophel.

28 Above the Horse Gate,(CA) the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. 29 Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shekaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs. 30 Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berekiah made repairs opposite his living quarters. 31 Next to him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far as the room above the corner; 32 and between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate(CB) the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 2:13 Or Serpent or Fig
  2. Nehemiah 3:5 Or their Lord or the governor
  3. Nehemiah 3:6 Or Old
  4. Nehemiah 3:13 That is, about 1,500 feet or about 450 meters
  5. Nehemiah 3:15 Hebrew Shelah, a variant of Shiloah, that is, Siloam
  6. Nehemiah 3:16 Hebrew; Septuagint, some Vulgate manuscripts and Syriac tomb
  7. Nehemiah 3:18 Two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also Septuagint and verse 24); most Hebrew manuscripts Bavvai
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