According to the Vulgate, the second book of Esdras
Chapter 1
1 The words of Nehemiah, son of Helkiah.
In the month of Casleu, in my twentieth year, while I was in Susa, in the castle,
2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with some men from Judah. I questioned them about the Jews who had been delivered and escaped from captivity, and about Jerusalem.
3 They answered me, »The survivors, those who escaped captivity, are there in the province, are in great misery and disgrace; the walls of Jerusalem are demolished and its gates consumed by fire.«
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days. I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,
5 saying: “Ah! Yahweh, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, you who keep the covenant and mercy towards those who love you and keep your commandments,
6 Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, so that you may hear the prayer of your servant, that that I now address to you night and day, on behalf of your servants, the children of Israel, confessing the sins of the children of Israel, those that we have committed against you; because I and my father's house have sinned.
7 We have acted very badly towards you, we have not observed the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you prescribed to Moses, your servant.
8 Remember the word that you commanded Moses, your servant, to pronounce, saying: If you transgress my precepts, I will scatter you among the peoples;
9 But if you return to me and observe my commandments and put them into practice, even if your exiles would to the ends of the heavens, from there I will gather them and bring them back to the place I have chosen to make my name dwell there.
10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your mighty hand.
11 Ah! Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in fearing your name! Deign today to grant success to your servant, and grant him favor in the sight of this man!«
I was then the king's cupbearer.
Chapter 2
1 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, as wine was In front of him, I took the wine and offered it to the king, and I I tried to not to be sad in his presence.
2 The king said to me, »Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? It can only be sadness of heart.» I was very frightened.
3 And I answered the king, »May the king live forever! How should my face not be sad, when the city where my fathers« tombs are lies devastated and its gates are burned with fire?”
4 And the king said to me, »What do you want to ask for?» I prayed to the God of heaven,
5 And I answered the king, »If it pleases the king, and if your servant is pleasing to you, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors' tombs, so that I may rebuild it.«
6 And the king said to me, the queen being seat near him: "How long will your journey last, and when will you return?" It pleased the king to send me, and I set a time for him.
7 Then I said to the king, »If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors beyond the river, so that they may let me pass through until I reach Judah,
8 and a letter for Asaph, the forest ranger who belongs to the king, so that he may provide me with wood to put beams at the gates of the fortress which is close from the temple, for the city wall, and for the house where I will retire.» And the king gave me these letters, because the favorable hand of my God was upon me.
9 So I went to the governors beyond the river, and I delivered the king's letters to them; now the king had sent with me military commanders and horsemen.
10 When Sanaballat the Horonite and Tobias the Ammonite servant learned of it, it seemed very bad to them that a man should come to procure the good of the children of Israel.
11 I arrived in Jerusalem and, after spending three days there,
12 I got up during the night, with a small group of men. I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. I had no other beast of burden with me except my own mount.
13 I left at night through the Valley Gate, leading me towards the Dragon's spring and the Dung Gate; and I considered the walls of Jerusalem destroyed and its gates consumed by fire.
14 I continued towards the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, and there was no room for the mount to pass under me.
15 I went up by night into the ravine, and I considered the wall; then I returned by the Valley Gate, and I went back in.
16 The magistrates did not know where I had gone or what I intended to do. Up to that moment I had not told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the magistrates, or anyone else. of the people who was supposed to take care of the work.
17 Then I said to them, »You see our misery: Jerusalem lies devastated, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be destroyed.” a subject of’disgrace.«
18 And I told them how the favorable hand of my God had been upon me, and also what words the king had spoken to me. They answered, »Let us rise up and build!» And they courageously set to work on this good work.
19 When Sanaballat the Horonite, Tobias the Ammonite servant, and Gosem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and despised us. They said, »What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?«
20 I answered them and said, »The God of heaven will give us success. We, his servants, will begin to rebuild; as for you, you have no portion, no right, no memorial in Jerusalem.«
Chapter 3
1 Eliasib, the high priest, and his fellow priests began to build the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and set up its doors; they repaired the wall and they consecrated it as far as the tower of Mea And up to the tower of Hananeel.
2 Nearby the men of Jericho were building; and nearby Zechariah, son of Amri, was building.
3 The sons of Asnaa built the Fish Gate; they put in beams and set up its doors, bolts and bars;
4 and next to it, Marimuth, son of Uriah, son of Accus, repaired; and next to it, Mosollam, son of Barachiah, son of Mesezebel, repaired; and next to it, Zadok, son of Baanah, repaired;
5 and next to them the Thecuites were repairing: but their leaders did not lend their support to the work of their Lord.
6 Jehoiada son of Phasea and Mosollam son of Besodias repaired the Old Gate; they put beams in it and installed the doors, bolts and bars.
7 And nearby, Meltias the Gabaonite and Jadon the Meronathite were repairing, And the men of Gibeon and Maspha, near the court of the governor beyond the river;
8 and nearby Eziel, son of Araias, was repairing, chief goldsmiths; and nearby Ananias, of the perfumers' guild, was repairing. They left Jerusalem as far as the broad wall.
9 Next to them was making repairs Raphaias, son of Hur, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem.
10 Nearby, opposite his house, Jedaiah, son of Haromaph, was repairing; and next to him, Hattus, son of Haseboniah, was repairing.
11 Melchias, son of Herem, and Hasub, son of Phahath-Moab, repaired another part of the wall and the Fourneaux tower.
12 Nearby, Sellum, son of Alohes, chief of, was repairing, with his daughters. the other half of the Jerusalem district.
13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoé repaired the Valley Gate; they rebuilt it and set up its doors, bolts, and bars; they did in addition, a thousand cubits of wall up to the Dung Gate.
14 Melchias, son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Bethacharam, repaired the Dung Gate; he built it and set up its doors, bolts, and bars.
15 Sellun, son of Cholhoza, chief of the district of Maspha, repaired the Fountain Gate; he built it, covered it, and set its doors, bolts, and bars; he did in addition the walls of the pool of Siloam, near the King's garden, as far as the steps which go down from the city of David.
16 After him, Nehemiah, son of Azboch, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired as far as the tombs of David, as far as the reservoir that had been built, and as far as the house of the Heroes.
17 After him the Levites made repairs, under the leadership of Rehum, son of Benni; beside him, Hasebias, chief of half the district of Ceilah, was repairing for his district.
18 After him, their brothers made amends, under the leadership of Bavai, son of Enadad, chief of the other half of the district of Ceila.
19 Next to him, Azer, son of Joshua, chief of Maspha, repaired another portion of the wall, opposite the arsenal ramp, at the corner.
20 After him, Baruch, son of Zechariah, zealously repaired another section, from the corner to the door of the house of Eliashib, the high priest.
21 After him, Merimuth, son of Uriah, son of Haccus, repaired another portion, from the gate of Eliashib's house to the end of Eliashib's house.
22 After him, the priests and the men of the plain made repairs. of the Jordan.
23 After them Benjamin and Hasub made repairs opposite their house. After them, Azariah, son of Maaziah, son of Ananiah, made repairs next to his house.
24 After him, Bennui, son of Hénadad, repaired another portion, from the house of Azariah to the corner and to the turn.
25 Phalel, son of Uzi, repaired opposite the corner and the tall tower that projects in front of the king's house, near the courtyard of the prison. After him repaired Phadaïas, son of Pharos.
26 The Nathinaeans remained on Ophel, as far as opposite the Water Gate, to the east, and the projecting tower.
27 After him, the Thecuites repaired another portion, opposite the great projecting tower, up to the wall of Ophel.
28 Above the Horse Gate, the priests were making repairs, each in front of his own house.
29 After him, Zadok son of Emmer made repairs in front of his house; after him, Shemaiah son of Shekeniah, keeper of the eastern gate, made repairs of the temple.
30 After him, Hananiah, son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Seleph, repaired another portion of the wall. After him, Mosollam, son of Barachie, repaired the damage in front of his house.
31 After him, Melchias, of the goldsmiths' guild, repaired as far as the dwelling of the Nathinaeans and the merchants, in front of the gate of Miphcad, and as far as the upper chamber of the turning.
32 And, between the upper chamber of the turning and the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and merchants were repairing.
33 When Sanaballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and very irritated. He mocked the Jews.
34 He spoke before his brothers and in front the troops of Samaria, and said, »What are the helpless Jews undertaking? Will they be left alone?” TO DO Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Will they bring the stones back to life? buried under Heaps of dust and consumed by fire?«
35 And Tobias the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, »Let them just build! If a fox jumps up, it will knock down their stone wall.«
36 Listen, O our God, for we are despised! Turn their insults back on their own heads, and deliver them up like prey to a land of exile.
37 Do not forgive their iniquity and do not let their sin be blotted out from before your face, for they have caused a stumbling block to those who are building.
38 We rebuilt the wall, and the enclosure was restored in its entirety up to half of its height ; because the people took heart to this work.
Chapter 4
1 When Sanaballat, Tobias, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Azotians learned that the repair of the walls was progressing and that the breaches were beginning to close, they were very angry.
2 They all conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and cause trouble there.
3 We prayed to our God and set up a guard against them, day and night, to protect us against them.
4 But Judah said, »The strength of the bearers of burdens fails, and there is much rubble; we cannot rebuild the wall.«
5 And our enemies said, »They will not know Nothing, they will not see Nothing, ...until we reach their midst; we will massacre them and put an end to the work.«
6 Now when the Jews who lived near them came, they warned us ten times about all the places from which our opponents were coming back against us.
7 So I placed the people by families in the lowest places, behind the wall, in open areas, all with their swords, their spears and their bows.
8 Having looked, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, »Do not be afraid of them! Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, for your sons and daughters, for your wives and for your homes!«
9 When our enemies learned that we had been warned, and that God had thwarted their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.
10 But from that day on, half of my people were working on the project, and the’other half of them held spears, shields, bows, and breastplates, and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah.
11 Among those who were building the wall, some, those who carried the burdens And They took charge of it, working with one hand on the task, while the other held a weapon;
12 the others, Those who were building each had their swords strapped around their waist, while’They were building; the one who sounded the trumpet was standing near me.
13 And I said to the nobles, the magistrates, and the rest of the people: »The work is considerable and on a vast extent ; we are scattered along the wall, far from each other.
14 From wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather around us; our God will fight for us.«
15 And we were laboring at the work, half of us holding spears from the rising of the dawn until the appearance of the stars.
16 At that time I also said to the people, »Each of you, with your servant, should spend the night in Jerusalem to serve as our guard during the night and to work during the day.«
17 But neither I, nor my brothers, nor my men, nor the guards who followed me, took off our clothes; each born removed them that for ablution.
Chapter 5
1 And a great complaint arose from the common people and their wives against their brothers the Jews.
2 Some of them said: » We, Our sons and daughters, we are many; let us receive grain, so that we may eat and live.«
3 Some were saying, »We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to receive grain during the famine.«
4 There were some who said, "We have, for pay the king's tribute, borrowed from the money of our fields and vineyards.
5 And now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children are like their children; and behold, we are subjecting our sons and our daughters to slavery, and there are some of our daughters who are Already Servants!… And we can do nothing about it, for our fields and vineyards belong to others.«
6 I was very angry when I heard their complaints and these words.
7 And after reflecting on this, I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, »So you each lend at interest to your brother!» And having gathered a large assembly for their sake,
8 I said to them, »We have redeemed our Jewish brothers as much as we could, who were sold to the nations, and you would sell your own brothers, and they would be sold to us!» They were silent, finding nothing to answer.
9 I added: »This is not a good thing you are doing! Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God, to avoid the reproach of the nations, our enemies?”
10 My brothers and servants also lent them money and grain. Let us forgive this debt.
11 Therefore, give them back today their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, and a hundredth of the money, new wine, and oil that you demanded from them as interest.«
12 They replied, »We will return it, and we will not ask them for anything more.” Nothing ; "We will do what you say." Then I called the priests and made them swear that they would act according to this word.
13 And I shook out my cloak, saying, »May God shake it out thus.” out of his house and possessions every man who has not kept this word, and that thus this man "Be shaken and left empty!" The whole assembly said, "Amen!" and praised Yahweh; and the people acted according to this word.
14 Since the day when the king He appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, know From the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor's bread.
15 The former governors who preceded me oppressed the people and received from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants oppressed the people; but I have not acted in this way, out of fear of God.
16 And indeed, I applied myself to the work of this wall; we did not buy any field, and all my men were there gathered for the work.
17 I had at my table one hundred and fifty men, Jews and magistrates, besides those who came to us from the surrounding nations.
18 This is what was prepared for each day: an ox, six choice sheep, and poultry were prepared at my expense, and every ten days, all the necessary wine in abundance. Despite this, I did not demand the governor's bread, because the work was a heavy burden on these people.
19 Remember in my favor, O my God, all that I have done for this people!
Chapter 6
1 When it became known to Sanaballat, Tobias, Gosem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and that no breach remained in it—until that time, however, I had not put the gates in place—
2 Sanaballat and Gosem sent word to me, saying, »Come, let us meet together in the villages in the valley of Ono.» They intended to harm me.
3 I sent messengers to them to their to say: "I am doing a great job, and I cannot go downstairs. Why?" the work Would it be interrupted because I would leave him to come down to you?«
4 They made me the same proposal four times, and I gave them the same answer.
5 Sanaballat sent me his servant in the same way a fifth time, who held in his hand an open letter.
6 It was written there: »The rumor spreads among the nations, and Gosem says that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and that is why you are rebuilding the wall; and, according to these reports, you want to become their king.
7 And you have even appointed prophets to proclaim this about you in Jerusalem: «There is a king in Judah.” Now, the king will be informed of this matter. Come then, let us consult together.«
8 And I sent word to him, saying, »Nothing like these things you say has ever happened; you are inventing them from your own heart.«
9 For they all wanted to frighten us, se saying: "Their hands weakened" will detach of the work, and it will not be accomplished.«
NOW, Oh my God, gives strength to my hands!
10 I went to Shemaiah son of Dalaiah son of Metabeel. He had shut himself in, and he said, »Let us go together to the house of God, into the inner sanctuary, and shut the doors of the temple; for they are coming to kill you; they will come to kill you during the night.«
11 I replied, »A man like me fleeing…! And how could a man like me enter the temple and live? I will not enter.«
12 And I paid attention, and behold, it was not God who sent him; he had spoken a prophecy over me because Tobias and Sanaballat had bought him.
13 It was bought so that I would be afraid, so that I would act accordingly his opinions and that I sin; and that would have been to them a pretext For make me a bad reputation and cover me with shame.
14 Remember, O my God, Tobias and Sanaballat according to these evil deeds! And also Noadiah the prophet, and the other prophets who sought to frighten me.
15 The wall was completed on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul, in fifty-two days.
16 When all our enemies learned of it, all the nations around us were filled with fear; they experienced great discouragement and recognized that it was by the rescue of Our God, that this work had been accomplished.
17 At that time also, the great men of Judah multiplied their letters to Tobias, and Tobias's letters reached them.
18 For many large in Judah they were bound to him by oath, because he was the son-in-law of Shekeniah, son of Areah, and because his son Johanan had taken for women the daughter of Mosollam, son of Barachie.
19 They even spoke of his good qualities in my presence, and they reported my words to him. Tobias sent letters to frighten me.
Chapter 7
1 When the wall was rebuilt and I had put in place the gates doors, The gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites were put in charge of the surveillance.
2 I appointed Hanani my brother and Ananias, the commander of the citadel, to be in charge of Jerusalem, because he was a faithful man and feared God more than many other.
3 And I said to them, »The gates of Jerusalem should not be opened until the sun gets hot; The evening, while the guards will still be at their posts, the doors will be closed and the bars put up; and, during the night, Guards will be established taken from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each at his post, and each in front of his house.
4 Now the city was spacious and large, but there were only a few inhabitants in it, and all The houses were not rebuilt.
5 My God put it into my heart to gather together the nobles, the officials, and the people, to in to do the census. I found a genealogical register of those who had gone up first, and I saw written there the following :
6 These are the people from the province who returned from exile, — those whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had taken captive, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city, —
7 who returned with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azarias, Raamias, Nahamani, Mordecai, Belsan, Mespharath, Begoai, Nahum, Baana:
Number of the men of the people of Israel:
8 the sons of Pharsus, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two;
9 the sons of Saphatias, three hundred and seventy-two;
10 the sons of Area, six hundred and fifty-two;
11 the sons of Phahath-Moab, sons of Joshua and of Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen;
12 the sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four;
13 the sons of Zethua, eight hundred and forty-five;
14 the sons of Zechariah, seven hundred and sixty;
15 the sons of Bannui, six hundred and forty-eight;
16 the sons of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-eight;
17 the sons of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two;
18 the sons of Adonicham, six hundred and sixty-seven;
19 the sons of Begai, two thousand sixty-seven;
20 the sons of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five;
21 the sons of Ater, son of Hezekiah, ninety-eight;
22 the sons of Hasem, three hundred and twenty-eight;
23 the sons of Besai, three hundred and twenty-four;
24 the sons of Hareph, one hundred and twelve;
25 the sons of Gibeon, ninety-five;
26 people from Bethlehem and of Netopha, one hundred and eighty-eight;
27 the people of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight;
28 the people of Beth-Azmoth, forty-two;
29 the people of Cariatharia, Cephirah and Beroth: seven hundred and forty-three;
30 the people of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one;
31 the people of Machmas, one hundred and twenty-two;
32 the people of Bethel and Hai, one hundred and twenty-three;
33 the people of the other Nebo, fifty-two;
34 the sons of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four;
35 the sons of Harem, three hundred and twenty;
36 the sons of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five;
37 the sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one;
38 the sons of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
39 Priests: the sons of Idaiah, of the house of Joshua, nine hundred and seventy-three;
40 the sons of Emmer, one thousand fifty-two;
41 the sons of Phashur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven;
42 the sons of Arem, one thousand seventeen.
43 Levites: the sons of Joshua and of Cedmiel, sons of Oduyah; seventy-four.
44 Singers: the sons of Asaph: one hundred and forty-eight.
45 Gatekeepers: the sons of Sellum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Telmon, the sons of Accub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Sobai; one hundred and thirty-eight.
46 Nathinehs: the sons of Soha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tebbaoth,
47 the sons of Ceros, the sons of Siaa, the sons of Phadon,
48 the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Selmai,
49 the sons of Hanan, the sons of Geddel, the sons of Gaher,
50 the sons of Raaias, the sons of Rasin, the sons of Necodah,
51 the sons of Gezem, the sons of Aza, the sons of Phasea,
52 the sons of Beseus, the sons of Munim, the sons of Nephusim,
53 the sons of Bacbuc, the sons of Hacupha, the sons of Harhur,
54 the sons of Besloth, the sons of Mahida, the sons of Harsa,
55 the sons of Bercos, the sons of Sisara, the sons of Tema,
56 the sons of Nasia, the sons of Hatipha.
57 The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sothai, the sons of Zophereth, the sons of Pharidah,
58 the sons of Jahala, the sons of Darcon, the sons of Jeddel,
59 the sons of Shaphatias, the sons of Hatil, the sons of Phochereth-Ashebaim, the sons of Amon.
60 Total of the Nathanaeans and the sons of Solomon’s servants: three hundred and ninety-two.
61 These are the ones who departed from Thel-Mela, Thel-Harsa, Cherub, Addon, and Emmer, and who could not make known their ancestral house and their lineage, to show that they were from Israel:
62 the sons of Dalaiah, the sons of Tobias, the sons of Necod, six hundred and forty-two.
63 And among the priests: the sons of Habiah, the sons of Accos, the sons of Berzelai, who had taken as his wife one of the daughters of Berzelai the Gileadite, and was called by their name.
64 They sought their title attesting to their genealogies were sought, but none were found. They were declared impure. and excluded of the priesthood,
65 and the governor forbade them to eat most holy things until the priest rose to consult God by the Urim and the Thummim.
66 The entire assembly numbered forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty people,
67 not counting their male and female servants, who were number of seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; among them were two hundred and forty-five singers.
68 They had seven hundred and thirty-six horses, two hundred and forty-five mules,
69 four hundred and thirty-five camels and six thousand seven hundred and twenty donkeys.
70 Several heads of families made donations for the work. The governor gave to the treasury a thousand gold darics, fifty cups, five hundred and thirty priestly tunics.
71 Several Heads of families gave to the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold and two thousand two hundred minas of silver.
72 What the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priestly tunics.
73 Thus the priests and Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, people of the people, the Nathanaeans and all Israel settled in their cities.
Chapter 8
1 The seventh month having arrived, and the children of Israel being established In their cities, all the people gathered as one in the square in front of the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded Israel.
2 And the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, the men and women and all those who were enough smart for L'’to hear: it was the first day of the seventh month.
3 He read in the book, from morning until midday, in the square in front of the Water Gate, in the presence of men and women and those who were enough intelligent to hear him ; all the people were listening intently to reading book of the law.
4 Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform, erected for the occasion; and beside him stood, on his right, Mattathias, Shemeias, Aniah, Uriah, Helkiah and Maasiah; and on his left, Phaedaiah, Misael, Melchiah, Hasum, Hasbadanah, Zechariah and Mosollam.
5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for it was pupil above all the people; and when he had opened it, all the people stood up.
6 Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God, and all the people answered, lifting up their hands, “Amen! Amen!” And they bowed down and prostrated themselves before Yahweh with their faces to the ground.
7 And Joshua, Bani, Serebiah, Jamin, Accub, Septhai, Odiah, Maaziah, Celitah, Azariah, Jozabed, Hanan, Pilaiah and the Levites instructed the people in the law, and everyone remained in their place.
8 They read distinctly in the book, in the law of God, and they gave the meaning, and people understood what was being read.
9 And Nehemiah the governor, and Ezra the priest And The scribe and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all the people, »This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.» For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.
10 And Nehemiah He said to them, “Go, eat rich food and drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; do not grieve, for joy In Yahweh is your strength.
11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, »Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not grieve.«
12 And all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions, and to celebrate with great joy. For they had understood the words that had been revealed to them.
13 On the second day, the heads of families of all the people, the priests, and the Levites assembled around Ezra the scribe, in order to learn more fully about the words of the law.
14 And they found written in the law which Yahweh had commanded by the authority of Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in tents during the feast of the seventh month,
15 and that they were to proclaim and publish a proclamation in all their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, »Go up into the mountains and bring back olive branches, wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and leafy branches to make tents, as it is written.«
16 Then the people y went, and they reported branches, and they made tents for themselves, each on his roof, in his courtyards, in the courts of the house of God, in the square of the Water Gate and in the square of the Ephraim Gate.
17 The entire assembly of Those who had returned from captivity made tents and lived in them. Since the days of Joshua, son of Nun, until that day the children of Israel had not Nothing The same was done. And there was great rejoicing.
18 They read from the Book of the Law of God every day, from the first day to the last. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the prescribed rite.
Chapter 9
1 On the twenty-fourth day of that same month, the Israelites assembled for a fast, wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads. the head.
2 Those who were from The race of Israel, having separated themselves from all the foreigners, stood up and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.
3 When they had risen in their places, they read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and for a quarter of the day other quarter, they confessed their sins and worshipped Yahweh, their God.
4 Joshua, Bani, Cedmiel, Sabaniah, Bonni, Sarebiah, Bani and Chanani, having gone up on the platform of the Levites, cried out with a loud voice to Yahweh, their God.
5 And the Levites Joshua, Then Cedmiel, Bani, Hasebnias, Serebiah, Odaiah, Sebniah, and Phathahiah said: »Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting! Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!”
6 You alone, Yahweh, are the one who made the heavens, the highest heavens, and all their host, the earth and all that is in it, the sea and all that is in it; you give life to all these things, and the host of heaven worships you.
7 It is you, Yahweh, God, who chose Abram, who brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, and who gave him the name Abraham.
8 You found his heart faithful before you, and you made a covenant with him to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Gergesites; and you have kept your word, for you are righteous.«
9 "You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and you heard their cries by the Red Sea.
10 You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his officials, and against all the people of his land, because you knew that they had acted arrogantly toward our fathers and you made a name for yourself, like we can still see it Today.
11 You divided the sea before them, and they passed through the midst of the sea on dry ground; but you hurled their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into many waters.
12 You guided them by day with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire, to light the way before them.
13 You went down to Mount Sinai, you spoke with them from the top from heaven, and you gave them just ordinances, true laws, excellent precepts and commandments.
14 You made known to them your holy Sabbath, and you prescribed for them by the word of Moses your servant, commandments, precepts, and a law.
15 You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and you brought water from the rock for their thirst. And you told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn to give them.«
16 »But our fathers, however, acted arrogantly and stiffened their necks and did not listen to your commandments.
17 They refused to listen, and they did not remember the wonders you had done for them. They stiffened their necks and, in their stubbornness, appointed a leader to return to their slavery. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and you have not abandoned them.
18 Even when they made themselves a molten calf and said, “This is your god who brought you out of Egypt,” and they gave themselves up against you to great blasphemies,
19 According to your great mercy, you did not abandon them in the wilderness; and the pillar of cloud did not depart from them, guiding them by day in their way, nor the pillar of fire, giving them light by night on the road they were to follow.
20 You gave them your good spirit to make them prudent; you did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you provided them with water for their thirst.
21 For forty years you provided for them in the desert, and they lacked nothing It was nothing ; Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell.«
22 "You gave them kingdoms and peoples, and divided their territories among them; and they possessed the land of Sihon, the land of the king of Hesebon, and the land of Og, king of Bashan.
23 You have multiplied their children like the stars of heaven, and you have brought them into the land of which you told their fathers they y would enter to take possession of it.
24 And their sons came to take possession of the land, and you humbled before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and you delivered them into their hands, as well as the kings and peoples of the land, to do with them as they pleased.
25 They captured fortified cities and fertile lands; they possessed houses filled with all kinds of goods, cisterns dug out, vineyards, olive groves, and abundant fruit trees. They ate, they were satisfied, they grew fat, and they lived in luxury because of your great kindness.«
26 »Nevertheless, they rebelled and revolted against you. They cast your law behind their backs, they killed your prophets who testified against them, to turn them back to you, and they surrendered themselves towards you to great blasphemies.
27 So you abandoned them into the hands of their oppressors, who oppressed them. But in the time of their oppression, they cried out to you, and you THE heard from the top from heaven and, in your great mercy, you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their oppressors.
28 When they had rest, they again did evil in your sight, and you abandoned them to their enemies, who ruled over them. But they cried out to you again, and you THE heard from the top from heaven and, in your great mercy, you delivered them several times.
29 You bore witness against them, to bring them back to your law, but they persisted in pride and did not listen to your commandments; they transgressed your ordinances, although the one who practices them finds life in them; they put forward a rebellious shoulder, they stiffened their necks and did not listen.
30 You were patient with them for many years; you testified against them by your spirit, through your prophets, but they did not listen. So you handed them over to the peoples of the lands.
31 But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them nor abandon them, for you are a compassionate and merciful God.«
32 “And now, O our God, the great, mighty, and awesome God, you who uphold the covenant and mercyDo not consider as insignificant all the sufferings that have befallen us, our kings, our leaders, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, from the time of the kings of Assyria until this day.
33 You have been righteous in all that has happened to us, for you have acted faithfully; but we have done wrong.
34 Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our fathers did not practice your law, nor did they heed your commandments or the testimonies you gave against them.
35 In their kingdom, amid the many blessings you bestowed upon them, in the vast and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you, nor did they turn away from their evil deeds.
36 And now we are slaves! We are slaves on the land you gave to our ancestors to eat its fruits and enjoy his possessions!
37 It multiplies its produce for the kings you have installed over us because of our sins. They dispose of our bodies and our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.«
Chapter 10
1 As a consequence of all this, we entered into a sacred covenant which we put in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests affixed their seal to it.
2 These are the ones who affixed their seal: Nehemiah, the governor, son of Helkiah.
3 — Zedekiah, Saraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
4 Phashur, Amarias, Melchias,
5 Hattus, Sebenias, Melluch,
6 Harem, Merimuth, Obadiah,
7 Daniel, Genthon, Baruch,
8 Mosollam, Abias, Miamin,
9 Maazias, Belgai, Semeiahs, priests.
10 — Levites: Joshua, son of Azaniah, Bennui of the sons of Henadad, Cedmiel,
11 and their brothers, Shebeniah, Odaiah, Celitah, Pilaiah, Hanan,
12 Micha, Rohob, Hasébias,
13 Zachur, Serebias, Sabanias,
14 Odaïas, Bani, Baninu.
15 - Chiefs of the people: Pharos, Phahath-Moab, Elam, Zethu, Bani,
16 Bonni, Azgad, Bébaï,
17 Adonias, Bégoai, Adin,
18 Ater, Hezekiah, Azure,
19 Odaias, Hasum, Besai,
20 Hareph, Anathoth, Nebai,
21 Megphias, Mosollam, Hazir,
22 Mesizabel, Zadoc, Jedua,
23 Pheltias, Hanan, Anaïas,
24 Hosea, Ananias, Hassub,
25 Alohès, Phaléa, Sobec,
26 Rehum, Hasebna, Maasias,
27 Echias, Hanan, Anan,
28 Melluch, Harim, Baana.
29 The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nathanaeans, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the countries to follow the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who were capable of knowledge and understanding,
30 joined themselves to their brothers, their nobles, and promised with an imprecation and an oath to walk in the law of God, which had been given through Moses, the servant of God, to observe and to put into practice all the commandments of Yahweh, our Lord, his ordinances and his laws.
31 We promised, in particular, that we would not give our daughters to the people of the land, and that we would not take their daughters for our sons;
32 that if the people of the land brought any merchandise or goods to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy anything from them on the Sabbath day or on the feast days; that we would leave rest the earth the seventh year, and that we would not require payment of no debt.
33 We imposed upon ourselves the obligation to pay a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of God,
34 for the showbread, for the daily offering, for the daily burnt offering, for the sacrifices of Sabbaths, of the New moons, for the festivals, for the consecrated things, for the sin offerings, to make atonement for Israel, and for everything that is done in the house of our God.
35 We cast lots, priests, Levites, and people, concerning the offering of wood, so that L'’brought to the house of our God, each of our families in turn, at appointed times, year after year, to be burned on the altar of Yahweh, our God, as it is written in the law.
36 We made a commitment to bring each year to the house of Yahweh the firstfruits of our land and the firstfruits of all the fruits of all the trees;
37 to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock, as it is written in the law, and the firstborn of our oxen and of our sheep.
38 Likewise, that we would bring to the priests, in the chambers of the house of our God, the firstfruits of our dough, and our set-apart offerings, as well as the fruit of all the trees, new wine, and oil; and that we would deliver the tithe of our land to the Levites. And the Levites themselves shall collect the tithe in all the cities neighbors of our cultures.
39 The priest, son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites collect the tithe, and the Levites shall bring the tithe of the tithe to the house of our God, into the chambers of the storehouse.
40 For the children of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring into the chambers the offering of grain, new wine, and oil; there are the vessels of the sanctuary, and stand the priests who minister, the gatekeepers, and the singers. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.
Chapter 11
1 The leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots, so that one out of ten should come to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, the nine others parts remaining in the others cities.
2 The people blessed all those who decided of their own accord to reside in Jerusalem.
3 Here are the chiefs family from the province who settled in Jerusalem. In the cities of Judah, each settled in his own property, in his own city: Israel, the priests and Levites, the Nathanaeans and the sons of Solomon's servants:
4 In Jerusalem settled some of the descendants of Judah and some of the descendants of Benjamin. — Of the descendants of Judah: Athaijah, son of Aziam, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shaphatiyah, son of Malaliel, of the descendants of Perez;
5 and Maaziah, son of Baruch, son of Cholozah, son of Haziah, son of Adaiah, son of Jehoiarib, son of Zechariah, son of Sela.
6 Total of the sons of Perez who settled in Jerusalem: four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men.
7 — These are the sons of Benjamin: Shellum, son of Mosollam, son of Joed, son of Phaedaiah, son of Colaiah, son of Maaziah, son of Etheel, son of Jesse,
8 and after him Gebbai-Sellai: nine hundred and twenty-eight.
9 Joel, son of Zechariah, was their leader, and Judah, son of Senua, was the second leader of the city.
10 Priests: Idaea son of Jehoiarib, Jachin,
11 Saraias, son of Hilkiah, son of Mosollam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitob, prince of the house of God,
12 and their brothers who were the work in the house: eight hundred and twenty-two; Adaiah, son of Jeroham, son of Pheleiah, son of Amsi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashur, son of Melkiah,
13 and his brothers, heads of families: two hundred and forty-two; and Amasseh, son of Azreel, son of Ahazi, son of Mosollamoth, son of Emmer,
14 and their brothers, valiant men: one hundred and twenty-eight. Zabdiel, son of Hagdolim, was their leader.
15 Of the Levites: Shemeiah, son of Hasub, son of Azaricam, son of Hasabiah, son of Boni;
16 Sabbathai and Jozabed, who were in charge of the external affairs of the house of God, of the number the leaders of the Levites;
17 Mathanias, son of Micah, son of Zebedee, son of Asaph, the leader who sang the song of praise at the prayer; Bebeciah, the second among his brothers, and Abda, son of Samua, son of Galal, son of Idithun.
18 Total number of Levites in the holy city: two hundred and eighty-four.
19 And the gatekeepers: Accub, Telmon and their brothers, guardians of the gates: one hundred and seventy-two.
20 The rest of Israel, the priests, the Levites, were in all the others cities of Judah, each in its own property.
21 The Nathinaeans settled in the quarter of Ophel; Siha and Gaspha were appointed in charge of the Nathinaeans.
22 The leader of the Levites in Jerusalem was Azzi, son of Bani, son of Hasabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micah, one of the sons of Asaph, the singers in charge of the service of the house of God.
23 For there was a royal decree concerning them, and a fixed wage was agreed to the singers for each day.
24 Phathahias, son of Meshezebel, one of the sons of Zerah, son of Judah, was the king's commissioner for all matters concerning the people.
25 As for the villages and their territories, the sons of Judah settled: in Cariath-arbe and its surrounding towns, in Dibon and its surrounding towns, in Cabseel and its villages,
26 in Jesus, in Moladah, in Beth Phalet,
27 in Hasersual, in Beersheba and in the towns under its jurisdiction,
28 in Siceleg, in Mochona, and in the towns under its jurisdiction,
29 at En-Remmon, at Saraa, at Jerimuth,
30 to Zanoé, to Odollam and their villages, to Lachis and its territory, to Azéca and its dependent towns. They settled from Beersabée to the valley of Ennom.
31 Some of the sons of Benjamin settled from Geba, in Machmas, in Hai, in Bethel, and in the towns surrounding it,
32 to Anathoth, to Nob, to Anania,
33 in Asor, in Ramah, in Gethaim,
34 to Hadid, to Seboim, to Neballat,
35 in Lod and Ono, in the Valley of the Workers.
36 Among the Levites there were divisions belonging to Judah who joined to Benjamin.
Chapter 12
1 These are the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and with Joshua : Saraias, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amarias, Melluch, Hattus,
3 Shecheniahs, Rehum, Merimuth,
4 Addo, Genthon, Abias,
5 Miamin, Maadias, Belga,
6 Semeias, Jehoiarib, Idaias,
7 Sellum, Amoc, Helcias, Idaïas. These were the leaders of the priests and their brethren in the time of Joshua.
8 Levites: Joshua, Bennui, Cedmiel, Sarébias, Judah, Mattanias, who was in charge, with his brothers, of singing praises;
9 Becbécias and Hanni, their brothers, formed the opposing choir in the service.
10 Joshua begat Joakim, Jehoakim begat Eliasib, Eliasib begat Jehoiada,
11 Jehoiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jeddoa.
12 These were the priests, heads of families, in the time of Jehoiakim: for Saraiah, Maraiah; for Jeremiah, Ananias;
13 for Ezra, Mosollam; for Amarias, Johanan;
14 for Milicho, Jonathan; for Sebenias, Joseph;
15 for Haram, Edna; for Maraïoth, Helci;
16 for Addo, Zechariah; for Genthon, Mosollam;
17 for Abias, Zechariah; for Miamin and Moadias, Phelti;
18 for Belga, Sammua; for Semeias, Jonathan;
19 for Jehoiarib, Mattanai; for Jehodayas, Azzi;
20 for Sellai, Selai; for Amok, Heber;
21 for Helcias, Hasebias; for Idaïas, Nathanael.
22 In the days of Eliashib, Jehoiada, Johanan, and Jedoah, the Levites, heads of families, and the priests were registered, during the reign of Darius the Persian.
23 The sons of Levi, heads of families, were written in the book of Chronicles, until the time of Johanan, son of Eliashib.
24 Leaders of the Levites: Hasebiah, Serebiah and Joshua, sons of Cedmiel, charged, with their brothers opposite them, to celebrate and praise God, according to the order of David, man of God, one group alternating with the other group.
25 Mathaniah, Becbecias, Obadiah, Mosollam, Telmon and Accub, the gatekeepers, kept watch at the thresholds of the gates.
26 They lived in the time of Joakim, son of Joshua, son of Josedek, and in the time of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest And the scribe.
27 At the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem, the Levites were summoned from all the places where they lived, to come to Jerusalem, in order to celebrate the dedication with joy, with praise and song, to the sound cymbals, zithers and harps.
28 The sons of the singers gathered from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,
29 from Beth-Galgal and the territory of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built villages around Jerusalem.
30 The priests and Levites, after purifying themselves, purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
31 I brought up the princes of Judah onto the wall, and I formed two large processional choirs. The first choir began to march towards the right side, on the wall, towards the Dung Gate.
32 Behind them marched Osaiah and half the princes of Judah,
33 Azariah, Ezra, Mosollam,
34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemeias and Jeremiah;
35 of the sons of priests with trumpets: Zechariah, son of Jonathan, son of Shemeiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micah, son of Zeshur, son of Asaph,
36 and his brothers, Shemeiah, Azareel, Malalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nathanael, Judah and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David, the man of God. Ezra the scribe was in front of them.
37 At the Fountain Gate, they went up opposite them the steps of the City of David, by way of the wall, above the house of David, to the Water Gate, toward the east.
38 The second choir set off from the opposite direction; I was behind them, with the’other Half the people, on the wall. From above the Furnace Tower, we went up to the wide wall;
39 Then, from above the Ephraim Gate, the Old Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of Meah, to the Sheep Gate; and they stopped at the gate of the Prison.
40 The two choirs stopped in the house of God, as did I and half of the magistrates. who were with me,
41 and the priests Eliacim, Maazim, Minamin, Micah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Ananias, with trumpets,
42 and Maasiah, Shemeiah, Eleazar, Azzi, Johanan, Melchiah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers made themselves heard, with Jezreiah, their chief.
43 That day they offered great sacrifices and celebrated, for God had given them great joy. Women And the children rejoiced too, and the cries of The joy of Jerusalem was heard in the distance.
44 At that time, men were appointed to be in charge of the chambers which served of stores for the offerings collected, the first fruits and the tithes, and they were charged to collect there, from the territory of the cities, the portions assigned by the law to the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced duty The priests and Levites were at their posts.,
45 observing the service of their God, and the service of purifications; and likewise, the singers and the gatekeepers, according to David's ordinance And of Solomon, his son.
46 For formerly, in the days of David and Asaph, the chief musician, there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
47 All Israel, in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, gave daily portions to the singers and gatekeepers; the holy offerings were given to the Levites, and the Levites gave their portion to the sons of Aaron.
Chapter 13
1 At that time, the book of Moses was read to the people, and it was found written there that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,
2 because they had not come to meet the children of Israel with bread and water, and because they had paid Balaam against them to curse them; but our God had turned the curse into a blessing.
3 When this law was heard, all the foreigners were separated from Israel.
4 Before this, Eliasib the priest, who was in charge of the rooms of the house of our God and who was Tobias' ally,
5 had arranged for the latter a large room where previously were placed the offerings, the incense, the utensils, the tithe of wheat, new wine and oil, the tax of the Levites, the singers and the gatekeepers, and what was levied for the priests.
6 When all this took place, I was not in Jerusalem; for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, I had returned to the king. After some time, I obtained from the king permission
7 to return to Jerusalem, and I perceived the evil that Eliasib had done, in favor of Tobias, by arranging a room for him in the courts of the house of God.
8 I felt great sorrow, and I threw out of the room all the furniture of Tobias's house.
9 Then I ordered that the rooms be purified, and I put back in them the utensils of the house of God, the offerings and the incense.
10 I also learned that the Levites' portions had not been delivered, and that the Levites and singers in charge of the service had fled, each to his own land.
11 I addressed a rebuke to the magistrates, and I said, »Why is the house of God abandoned?» And I gathered the Levites and the singers, and I put them back in their place.
12 Then all Judah brought into the stores the tithe of grain, new wine, and oil.
13 I entrusted the management of the storehouses to Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Phaedaiah one of the Levites, and I appointed Hanan son of Zechariah, son of Mattaniah, to assist them, because they were known to be faithful. It was their responsibility to distribute the goods to their brothers.
14 Remember me, O my God, for this, and do not blot out from your memory the acts of piety that I have done for the house of God and for his service!
15 At that time I saw men in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath, bringing in sheaves of grain, loading wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads onto donkeys, and who THE brought them to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; and I gave them a warning when they sold their goods.
16 Likewise the Tyrians remaining at Jerusalem, brought fish and all kinds of merchandise, and THE they sold, on the Sabbath day, to the sons of Judah and in Jerusalem.
17 I addressed a rebuke to the nobles of Judah and said to them, »What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?
18 Isn't that how your fathers acted, and Isn't that why Has our God brought all these misfortunes upon us and upon this city? And you, you increase Again his anger against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!… «
19 Then, as soon as it got dark at the entrances to Jerusalem, before the Sabbath, I ordered the gates to be closed, and I ordered that they not be opened until after the Sabbath. Moreover, I placed at the gates some of my people so that’No burden was to come in on the Sabbath day.
20 Then the merchants and sellers of all types of provisions were once or twice left outside Jerusalem overnight.
21 I warned them, and said to them, »Why are you spending the night in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you.» From that time on, they no longer came on the Sabbath.
22 And I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and to come and guard the gates to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Remember me again, O my God, because of this, and spare me according to your great mercy!
23 At that time I also saw Jews who had established at their home women from Azotus, Ammonites, Moabites.
24 Half of their sons spoke Azotian but could not speak Judean; and likewise for the language of such and such other people.
25 I rebuked them and cursed them; I struck many of them, pulled out their hair, and adjured them in the name of God, saying "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take any of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.".
26 Was it not in this that Solomon, king of Israel, sinned? There was no king like him among the multitude of nations; he was beloved to his God, and God had made him king over all Israel. women Foreign women also led him into sin.
27 Was it necessary, then, to learn about you that you are committing this great crime and sinning against our God by establishing at your place Foreign women?«
28 One of the sons of Jehoiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanaballat the Horonite; I drove him out of my presence.
29 Remember them, O my God, concerning this profanation of the priesthood and of the sacred obligations of the priests and Levites!
30 I cleansed them of everything what was foreigner, and I reinstated the regulations concerning the priests and Levites, each in his ministry,
31 and what concerned the offering of wood at specific times, as well as the first fruits.
Remember that in my favor, O my God, for My GOOD !
