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Nehemiah the governor,^(q) Ezra the priest and scribe,^(r) and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, "This day^(s) is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep."^(t) For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.

Then he said to them, "Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared,^(u) since today^(v) is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your stronghold."^(w)

And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still,^(x) since today^(y) is holy. Do not grieve."

Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration,^(z) because they had understood the words that were explained to them.

On the second day, the family leaders of all the people, along with the priests and Levites,^(aa) assembled before Ezra the scribe^(ab) to study the words of the law.

They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in booths during the festival of the seventh month.^(ac)

So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, just as it is written."^(ad)

The people went out, brought back branches, and made booths for themselves on each of their rooftops,^(ae) and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate,^(af) and the square by the Gate of Ephraim.^(ag)

The whole community that had returned from exile^(ah) made booths and lived in them. They had not celebrated like this from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day.^(ai) And there was tremendous joy.^(aj)

Ezra^[c] read out of the book of the law of God^(ak) every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was an assembly, according to the ordinance.^(al)

On the twenty-fourth day of this month^(a) the Israelites assembled; they were fasting, wearing sackcloth, and had put dust on their heads.^(b)

Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners,^(c) and they stood^(d) and confessed their sins and the guilt of their fathers.^(e)

While they stood in their places,^(f) they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day and spent another fourth of the day^(g) in confession^(h) and worship of the Lord their God.

Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the raised platform built for the Levites⁽ⁱ⁾ and cried out loudly to the Lord their God.

Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah^(j)—said, "Stand up. Praise Yahweh your God from everlasting to everlasting."^(k) Praise Your glorious name,^(l) and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.

You^[a] alone are Yahweh.^(m) You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them,⁽ⁿ⁾ and the heavenly host worships You.^(o)

You are Yahweh, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans,^(p) and changed his name to Abraham.^(q)

You found his heart faithful in Your sight,^(r) and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites— to give it to his descendants.^(s) You have kept Your promise, for You are righteous.

You saw the oppression of our ancestors in Egypt^(t) and heard their cry at the Red Sea.

You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land,^(u) for You knew how arrogantly they treated our ancestors. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day.

You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground.^(v) You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into churning waters.^(w)

You led them with a pillar of cloud by day, and with a pillar of fire by night, to illuminate the way they should go.^(x)

You came down on Mount Sinai,^(y) and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them impartial ordinances, reliable instructions, and good statutes and commands.

You revealed Your holy Sabbath to them, and gave them commands, statutes, and instruction through Your servant Moses.^(z)

You provided bread from heaven^(aa) for their hunger; You brought them water from the rock^(ab) for their thirst. You told them to go in and possess the land You had sworn^[b] to give them.^(ac)

But our ancestors acted arrogantly; they became stiff-necked and did not listen to Your commands.

They refused to listen and did not remember Your wonders You performed among them.^(ad) They became stiff-necked and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt.^[c](ae) But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in faithful love,^(af) and You did not abandon them.

Even after they had cast an image of a calf for themselves and said, "This is your God who brought you out of Egypt,"^(ag) and they had committed terrible blasphemies,

You did not abandon them in the wilderness because of Your great compassion. During the day the pillar of cloud never turned away from them, guiding them on their journey. And during the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go.^(ah)

You sent Your good Spirit^(ai) to instruct them. You did not withhold Your manna^(aj) from their mouths, and You gave them water for their thirst.^(ak)

You provided for them in the wilderness 40 years^(al) and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell.^(am)

You gave them kingdoms and peoples and assigned them to be a boundary. They took possession of the land of Sihon^[d] king of Heshbon and of the land of Og king of Bashan.^(an)

You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven^(ao) and brought them to the land You told their ancestors to go in and take possession of it.

So their descendants went in and possessed the land: You subdued the Canaanites who inhabited the land before them and handed their kings and the surrounding peoples over to them,^(ap) to do as they pleased with them.

They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took possession of well-supplied houses, cisterns cut out of rock, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance.^(aq) They ate, were filled, became prosperous, and delighted in Your great goodness.

But they were disobedient and rebelled against You. They flung Your law behind their backs^(ar) and killed Your prophets^(as) who warned them in order to turn them back to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.

So You handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. In their time of distress, they cried out to You, and You heard from heaven. In Your abundant compassion You gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the power of their enemies.

But as soon as they had relief, they again did what was evil in Your sight. So You abandoned them to the power of their enemies, who dominated them. When they cried out to You again, You heard from heaven and rescued them many times in Your compassion.^(at)

You warned them to turn back to Your law, but they acted arrogantly and would not obey Your commands. They sinned against Your ordinances, which a person will live by if he does them.^(au) They stubbornly resisted,^[e] stiffened their necks, and would not obey.

You were patient with them for many years, and Your Spirit warned them through Your prophets,^(av) but they would not listen. Therefore, You handed them over to the surrounding peoples.^(aw)

However, in Your abundant compassion, You did not destroy them or abandon them,^(ax) for You are a gracious and compassionate God.^(ay)

So now, our God—the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant^(az)— do not view lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us, our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all Your people, from the days of the Assyrian kings^(ba) until today.

You are righteous concerning all that has come on us, because You have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly.^(bb)

Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey Your law or listen to Your commands and warnings You gave them.

When they were in their kingdom, with Your abundant goodness that You gave them, and in the spacious and fertile land You set before them,^(bc) they would not serve You or turn from their wicked ways.

Here we are today, slaves in the land You gave our ancestors so that they could enjoy its fruit and its goodness. Here we are—slaves in it!^(bd)

Its abundant harvest goes to the kings You have set over us, because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please.^(be) We are in great distress.

^[f]In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement^(bf) in writing on a sealed document containing the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.^(bg)

Those whose seals were on the document were: Nehemiah the governor,^(a) son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,

Seraiah,^(b) Azariah, Jeremiah,

Pashhur,^(c) Amariah, Malchijah,

Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.

The Levites^(d) were: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,

and their brothers Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,

Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.

The leaders of the people^(e) were: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,^(f)

Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

Hoshea, Hananiah,^(g) Hasshub,

Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,

Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with their wives, sons, and daughters, everyone who is able to understand^(h) and who has separated themselves from the surrounding peoples⁽ⁱ⁾ to obey the law of God—

join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath^[a](j) to follow the law of God given through God's servant Moses^(k) and to carefully obey all the commands, ordinances, and statutes of Yahweh our Lord.

We will not give our daughters in marriage to the surrounding peoples and will not take their daughters as wives for our sons.^(l)

When the surrounding peoples bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or a holy day.^(m) We will also leave the land uncultivated in the seventh year⁽ⁿ⁾ and will cancel every debt.^(o)

We will impose the following commands on ourselves: To give an eighth of an ounce of silver^[b] yearly for the service of the house of our God:^(p)

the bread displayed before the Lord ,^[c](q) the daily grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbath and New Moon offerings,^(r) the appointed festivals, the holy things, the sin offerings to atone for Israel,^(s) and for all the work of the house of our God.

We have cast lots^(t) among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our ancestral houses at the appointed times each year. They are to bring the wood to our God's house to burn on the altar of the Lord our God,^(u) as it is written in the law.

We will bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to the Lord 's house year by year.^(v)

We will also bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as prescribed by the law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God,^(w) to the priests who serve in our God's house.

We will bring a loaf from our first batch of dough^(x) to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God. We will also bring the firstfruits of our grain offerings, of every fruit tree, and of the new wine and oil.^(y) A tenth of our land's produce belongs to the Levites, for the Levites are to collect the one-tenth offering in all our agricultural towns.^(z)

A priest of Aaronic descent must accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth,^(aa) and the Levites must take a tenth of this offering to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God.^(ab)

For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept^(ac) and where the priests who minister are, along with the gatekeepers and singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.^(ad)

Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem,^(a) and the rest of the people cast lots^(b) for one out of ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city,^(c) while the other nine-tenths remained in their towns.^(d)

The people praised all the men who volunteered^(e) to live in Jerusalem.

These are the heads of the province who stayed in Jerusalem^(f) (but in the villages of Judah each lived on his own property in their towns^(g)—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon's servants^(h)—

while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem): Judah's⁽ⁱ⁾ descendants: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of Perez's descendants;

and Maaseiah son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, a descendant of the Shilonite.

The total number of Perez's descendants, who settled in Jerusalem, was 468 capable men.

These were Benjamin's descendants: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah,

and after him Gabbai and Sallai: 928.

Joel son of Zichri was the officer over them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was second in command over the city.

The priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jachin, and

Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief official of God's temple,

and their relatives who did the work at the temple: 822. Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah

and his relatives, the leaders of families: 242. Amashsai son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer,

and their relatives, capable men: 128. Zabdiel son of Haggedolim, was their chief.

The Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni;

and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who supervised the work outside the house of God;

Mattaniah son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving in prayer;^(j) Bakbukiah, second among his relatives; and Abda son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun.^(k)

All the Levites in the holy city:^(l) 284.

The gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives, who guarded the gates: 172.

The rest of Israel, the priests, and the Levites were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inherited property.^(m)

The temple servants lived on Ophel;^[a](n) Ziha and Gishpa supervised the temple servants.