1 Esdras

What is 1 Esdras?

It is an apocryphal writing, i.e., not part of the canon of the Catholic or Protestant Bible, but found in some manuscripts of the Septuagint, such as the codex Vaticanus (4th c.) and the codex Alexandrinus (5th c.). But the name itself is a source of confusion, because several books have the same name, and the way to refer to them has not been standardized. Let us consider the following table where the way of designating the different books is compared.

King James / NRSV Septuagint (Ed. Rahlfs)Vulgate
EzraEsdras B (Esdras 1-10)1 Esdras
NehemiahEsdras B (Esdras 11-23)1 Esdras
1 EsdrasEsdras A2 Esdras
2 Esdras4 Esdras

Thus, in our Bibles, the canonical book of Ezra has no number and corresponds to the first part of Ezra B of the Septuagint, and to 1 Esdras of the Latin vulgate. The book of Nehemiah corresponds to the second part of Ezra B in the Septuagint and to 2 Esdras in the Latin vulgate. What is called 1 Esdras in the NRSV, the apocryphal writing that is the object of our analysis here, is called Ezra A in the Septuagint, and 2 Esdras in the Latin vulgate. Finally, what is called 2 Esdras in the NRSV, and which is also called "Apocalypse of Esdras", does not appear in the Septuagint, but only the Latin vulgate under the title of: 4 Esdras.

1 Esdras contains in substance the ten chapters of the Hebrew or Masoretic text of our canonical Ezra, plus one chapter (chapter 8) of Nehemiah; but three chapters of 1 Esdras are its own and concern the tale of the three young bodyguards.

Composition

The present text of 1 Esdras begins abruptly: "Josiah kept the passover to his Lord in Jerusalem"; there is no context, no date, no introduction, as if our text were a continuation of a narrative. Likewise, the ending is abrupt: "And they came together"; we are left as if in suspense, waiting for the activities related to gathering (unless we accept the approach of Arie van der Kooij, On the Ending of the Book of 1 Esdras in VII Congress Of The International Organization For Septuagint And Cognate Studies, 31(1989)37-49, which rearranges the punctuation and logic of the sentence, so that here we have the mention that all the people eat, drink, and resolve, "for they had been inspired by the words they had been taught and were gathered together." The question has therefore been raised whether our text was not a fragment of a larger work, bringing together the book of Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah. It is possible that at one time Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah formed a single work to the point that some biblical scholars have wondered if they were not written by the same author. Certain differences in style make this hypothesis difficult. In any case, a number of points can be made:

  • The original language of 1 Esdras is Greek, and it is a translation of the Hebrew text formed from Chr 35 and 36, Ezra 1 – 9, Ne 8 (with perhaps some misreadings of the Hebrew text, e.g. matztzot (unleavened bread) read instead of mitzvah "commandment" (2 Chr 35:10), or boqer (dawn) in place of baqar "flock" (2 Chr 35:12)
  • It is a different translation than the one we have of the Septuagint of the books of Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah
  • It is unlikely that there were two independent translations of the whole of Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah
  • It is likely that the Greek text of 1 Esdras is older than the Septuagint Greek translation of the books of Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah: otherwise, the author of 1 Esdras could have simply reused the Septuagint material instead of using his own translation.
  • Also, 1 Esdras, does not intend to offer simply a Greek translation of these three biblical books, but represents an original work which selectively takes up known texts of the Hebrew bible and also a tale undoubtedly known in pagan circles (the three young bodyguards)

To get an idea, let us consider a possible structure of 1 Esdras

  1. The work of Josiah (1: 1 – 1, 55)

    Josias' achievements (1, 1-22)

    • In Jerusalem, Josiah restores the celebration of Easter
    • He reorganized the service of the priests, the Levites
    • He takes up the offering of the burnt offerings

    After Josiah (1: 23-55)

    • Series of misfortunes for the people because of their sins (1: 23 – 1: 55)
      • Josiah dies in battle, not having listened to Jeremiah (1: 23-31)
      • Suite of kings who do evil and are under the aegis of Egypt (1: 32-37)
      • Then Nebuchadnezzar makes various interventions while the kings, the leaders of the peoples and even the priests multiply the impiety, until they are massacred or deported to Babylon and the temple destroyed (1: 38-53)
      • But Jeremiah predicts the arrival of the Persians and the end of the captivity (1: 54-55)

  2. The work of Zerubbabel (2: 1 – 7: 15)

    The context (2: 1-26)

    • The edict of Cyrus (2: 1-4):
      • Cyrus has the mandate to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem
      • He asks all exiles to return home
      • He also demanded the return of all the goods that had been looted from the temple in Jerusalem

    • Its implementation (2: 5-11):
      • The leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, their priests and Levites, and their people responded to the call.

    • But the opposition (2: 12-26):
      • Much later, under Artaxerxes, a group of Samaritans wrote him a letter denouncing the reconstruction of the city of Jerusalem, the restoration of its walls and the laying of the foundations of the temple
      • Artarxerxes demands that the reconstruction of the city be stopped immediately

    Zerubbabel's entrance on the scene: the tale of the three young bodyguards (3: 1 – 4: 63)

    • Introduction:
      • King Darius offers a great feast which is followed by a contest on the wisest maxim in which three wise men participate

    • The first bodyguard: the maxim that wine is the strongest
    • The second bodyguard: the maxim that the king is the strongest
    • The third bodyguard, the Jew Zerubbabel: the maxim that women are the strongest, but that the truth triumphs over all
    • Declaring Zerubbabel victorious, King Darius offers him what he desires: to rebuild Jerusalem and its burned temple, and to bring back all the treasures that had been stolen

    Zerubbabel's achievements (5: 1 – 7: 15)

    • The return to Jerusalem (5: 1-49)
      • Zerubbabel goes to Babylon to tell his brothers the news
      • Zerubbabel is one of the 12 guides who leads the returning caravan
      • The priests and the Levites settled in Jerusalem, the others in the surrounding villages

    • The celebration of the tent festival in October (5: 50-51)

    • The beginnings of the reconstruction of the temple (5: 52-62)
      • Zerubbabel begins work
      • The Levites act as foremen, and the elders who knew the first temple oversee
      • The work is done to the sound of music

    • Obstacles to reconstruction (5: 63-70)
      • Zerubbabel refuses the participation of foreigners
      • Opposition of the enemies of Judah to the reconstruction

    • Resumption of the reconstruction with Zerubbabel (6: 1 – 7: 15)
      • Zerubbabel and Joshua continue their work while informing Darius of the opposition
      • Darius asks the governors of Syria and Phoenicia to let the Jews free to rebuild their temple
      • The work is completed in March 515 BC
      • In early April, the temple is consecrated

  3. The work of Ezra (8: 1 – 9: 55)

    Mission of Ezra (8: 1-64)

    • Ezra, a royal official in Babylon, goes to Jerusalem (8: 1-64)
      • Mandate of the king to verify if the situation in Jerusalem is in accordance with what the Law requires with authority to appoint judges and magistrates, while bringing gifts from the king
      • Departure of Ezra with priests, Levites, singers and porters
      • The treasures as well as the gold and silver are given to a priest of the temple
      • Offering of burnt offerings in the temple of Jerusalem in thanksgiving

    Achievements of Ezra (8: 65 – 9: 55)

    • Intervention of Ezra in the face of mixed marriages (8: 65 - 9:36)
      • Ezra is shocked to learn that some Jews have married foreign women
      • He raises a prayer to God to express his shame
      • In December, he rallied the people to demand the removal of foreign women
      • It was proposed to establish a commission of inquiry to identify the culprits, and at the end, in April, the foreign women and children were sent back

    • Ezra makes the Pentateuch known (9: 37-55)
      • Later, Ezra stood on a wooden platform and read the Law from dawn until noon, while the Levites explained what was being read
      • Then it was a feast, for it was the day of the Lord

When we look at this structure, we cannot help but notice that the scene begins in the temple with the restoration of worship under the leadership of Josiah, and ends in the temple with the reading of the Law. And between this beginning and this end, it will be a matter of rebuilding the temple, restoring its treasury, the offering of burnt offerings and the various religious celebrations, as well as the purity of the people by expelling the foreign women. It is clear that the author is a religious man who proposes to recover the completeness of Judaism, and for him Josiah, Zerubbabel and Ezra are three heroes. Although he has taken the known material from the Hebrew text, his division expresses a fairly obvious purpose.

Who is this man? The very fact that the Hebrew text is translated into Greek points to a Judeo-Hellenic milieu, and that milieu could be Alexandria. Moreover, the three young bodyguards tale of Darius at a feast is reminiscent of the stories of 3 Maccabees and the Letter of Astarte, which are set in Alexandria and feature a king whose participation in a feast is a central activity. Once again, we are in the Hellenistic period and a pious Jew would feel the need to remind his brothers of the authentic tradition of Judaism, in a context where the temptation to assimilate is great.

When was 1 Esdras written? First of all, clearly, we are in the period when the Greek language had become established since the conquests of Alexander the Great in the year 332 BC of Palestine and Egypt. Moreover, the Greek translation by the Septuagint of the Hebrew text of the Bible was completed in the 2nd part of the 2nd century. Now, we have said that 1 Esdras was written before Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah were translated into Greek. We must therefore place 1 Esdras in the first half or the middle of the second century BC. This is confirmed by the comparison with the style of the book of the prophet Daniel (so much so that some biblical scholars think it is the same author) which is placed around the year 164 BC, following the reconquest of the temple and its purification, after the death of the persecutor Antiochus Epiphanes.

The biggest problem with 1 Esdras is its chronology and some of its historical data, as the author seems to confuse the dates of various events and takes us abruptly through time.

  • At the very beginning, he rightly reminds us of the period of king Josiah (639 to 609 BC) and his religious reform, followed by the two deportations of the Jewish people to Babylonia by Nebuchadnezzar (604 to 562 BC), i.e. in 598 BC and then in 587 BC. Then, exactly, in chapter 2, he refers to the edict of Cyrius in 538 BC which authorized the Jews to return to Palestine under the leadership of Sheshbazzar, bringing back the objects looted from the temple.

  • But suddenly he transports us almost a hundred years later, to the time of Artaxerxes (-465 to -424), to tell us about a letter which denounces the reconstruction of the city of Jerusalem, the restoration of its squares and walls, and the laying of the foundations of the temple. However, at that time, the temple was already built, because this reconstruction took place much earlier from 520 to 515 BC; the author not only misplaces Artaxerxes in time, but seems to confuse perhaps the reconstruction of the temple with the restoration of the city walls.

  • In chapter 3, he goes back in time to the time of Darius (522-486 BC), the second successor of King Cyrus, to incorporate the tale of the three young bodyguards and to make Darius the one responsible for the rebuilding of the temple and the sending of Zerubbabel as governor of the province of Judah. Now, the author seems to imply that this is the first caravan to set out for Jerusalem, and that it is under the leadership of Zerubbabel. Yet we know from the Hebrew text of Ezra that this first caravan set out 25 years earlier in the time of king Cyrus under the leadership of Sheshbazzar; besides, the author seems a little confused when he writes: "king Cyrus had them (sacred objects) removed from the temple in Babylon to give them to Zerubbabel, to Sheshbazzar the governor" (1 Esd 6:17; the Hebrew rather says: "king Cyrus had them removed from the temple in Babylon to give them to the man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor", Esd 5:14)

  • In chapter 6, the author seems to have forgotten the meeting of Zerubbabel and Darius and the mandate that Darius gave him to rebuild the temple, and then states that Zerubbabel resumes the construction of the temple under the impulse of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. And even more. The governors of Syria and Phoenicia seem to have completely forgotten Darius' letter instructing them to help rebuild the temple, so they object and force the Jews to contact Darius to remind him, not of his earlier letter, but of Cyrus' edict; thus chapter 6 seems to completely ignore chapters 3 to 5.

  • Finally, the date of the events around Ezra is problematic. He would have been born in the time of Artaxerxes (465-424 BC), we learn in chapter 8 (the seventh year of the king according to Ezra 7:7, i.e. in 458 BC). Now, this is the same period when Nehemiah, an official at the court of Susa, exercised his activities as governor (from the 20th year of the king according to Ne 2:1, i.e. -445), going twice to Jerusalem, in -445 to restore the walls of the city, and -432 for various reforms. 1 Esdras ignores him completely, and the Hebrew Ezra presents them together at the reading of the Law ("Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest-scribe and the Levites who gave the explanations to the people said to all the people", Ne 8:9a). Many biblical scholars believe that Ezra's action takes place after Nehemiah, and therefore his activities should be placed some 60 years later, around 398.

What does it mean? The author has a project around the integrity of the Jewish religion, and he has his heroes: Zerubbabel and Ezra. Around all this, he compiles the various documents in his possession, proceeding to various collages, while respecting as much as possible the letter of these texts. As he does not completely master the chronology of events and leaders, he finds himself rewriting history. All this does not take away the value of the subject, as well as of certain historical data.

1 Esdras in history

This writing is known to the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who refers to it in his Jewish Antiquities (11, 3, #33 to 68) with the three young bodyguards account. It would be very popular in the early church, especially among the church fathers, such as Clement of Alexandria, Origen (Hexaples), Eusebius of Caesarea, Tertullian, Cyprian and Augustine. But St. Jerome refused to include it in his Latin translation of the Bible because it was not part of the Jewish canon of Scripture. However, it continued to be part of the Scriptures in the Eastern churches.

In 1560, Pope Clement VIII decided to relegate 1 Esdras to the appendix of the Latin version of the Bible, after the New Testament texts, for fear of seeing it disappear completely. In 1962, it was used as an offertory text in the Extraordinary Missal for the votive Mass for the election of a pope: "(They told them) not to partake of the holy things, until a high priest arises who is clothed with manifestation and truth", 1 Esd 5:40). In 2010, it was included among the deuterocanonical texts of the Ecumenical Translation of the Bible, as it is still part of the canon of Scripture in the Eastern Orthodox churches.

-André Gilbert, February 2019

References:

Overview

Chapter 1The king of Judea, Josiah (who reigned from -639 to -609), in the 18th year of his reign (-622), commanded that the Passover be celebrated on the 14th of Nisan (the beginning of the religious calendar started with the spring equinox, so the 14th corresponds to the first days of April) and that the Ark of the Covenant be placed in the holy of holies of the temple, and for this purpose he reorganized the role of the priests and Levites. For this purpose, he offered lambs, kids and calves for sacrifice, while the prefects offered sheep and calves, as did the army leaders. After offering the unleavened bread in the temple, the priests and the Levites offered the people the roasted meat in the morning, which was then boiled in a pot, while the fat was offered to the Lord. The celebration of the Passover continued for seven days. Such a feast had not been celebrated since the prophet Samuel (931 to 877 BC).

After these events, the Pharaoh of Egypt undertook to wage war against Babylon, and therefore wanted to fight a battle at Karkemish, a city on the Euphrates River, on the border between Turkey and modern Syria. To get there, he had to pass through Palestine. But Josiah took up a position against him and blocked his way on the plain of Megiddo. Through his messenger, Pharaoh asked him in vain not to come between him and his enemy, as did the prophet Jeremiah. In the ensuing battle, Josiah was mortally wounded and brought back to Jerusalem where he was buried in the tomb of his fathers in 609 BC. The people chose Jeconiah, his son, to replace him, but after three months, Pharaoh intervened to remove him and put in his place Jehoiakim, his brother, while imposing on the people a heavy tribute. Jehoiakim proved to be a terrible leader, imprisoning the elite, until Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, intervened in 598 BC, to deport him to Babylon with part of the population, taking also the treasures of the temple. Jehoiakim junior replaced his father in Jerusalem, but he reigned only a few months before Nebuchadnezzar intervened to deport him and replace him with Zedekiah who reigned from 597-587. Under his reign, impiety and iniquity multiplied in the country, the prophets were ridiculed, and he himself revolted against his suzerain, until the Babylonians, also called Chaldeans, intervened for the second time and massacred part of the population, taking the survivors and the entire temple treasury to Babylon, before burning it and demolishing the walls. This deportation to Babylon in 587 BC was to last until 538 BC with the arrival of the Persian Empire. The prophet Jeremiah had predicted 70 years of devastation, a round number, probably counting from the year 606 BC (cf Jer 25:11-12).

Chapter 2The Persian Empire was established in 538 BC and Cyrus, who reigned from 558 BC to 528 BC, issued an edict which reads as follows: as king of the world, he had a mandate from the God of Israel to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and therefore asked all the exiles to return to the land to offer the help of their hands and their goods. The leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, their priests and Levites, and their people responded to the call. King Cyrus also demanded the return of all the property that had been looted from the temple in Jerusalem.

Or, much later, in the time of the Persian king Artaxerxes (who reigned from 465 BC to 424 BC), a group of Samaritans wrote him a letter denouncing the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem, the restoration of its walls, and the establishment of the temple's foundations, seeing it as an autonomist movement, since the history of the Jews reveals a long tradition of revolts; with an independent Palestine, he would lose access to Coelesyria and Phoenicia. The king replied that he had been able to consult the archives and verify that the city of Jerusalem had a long history of revolt and that the Jews had even subjected Coelesyria and Phoenicia to tribute in the past; he therefore ordered the immediate cessation of the reconstruction of the city. The group of Samaritans immediately set out for Jerusalem with an armed force to force a halt to all work.

Chapter 3The Persian king Darius I or the Great (-550 to -486), who reigned from -522 to -486, offered one day a great feast to all the dignitaries of his palace and of his immense empire that stretched from India to North Africa, and proposed a contest: the one who would present him with the wisest maxim would become his right-hand man and receive all the prestige and riches associated with it. Now, three young bodyguards gave him each a maxim in a sealed envelope: the first one had written that wine is the strongest, the second one that the king is the strongest, the third one that women are the strongest, but that the truth triumphs over all. The next day, having received read each of the maxims, he asked each one to explain it. The first one said: wine is the strongest, because it exerts the same influence on the rich and the poor, the powerful and the weak, it makes you forget the sorrows and the debts, the friends and the brothers, your social status and all the actions you have just done, and on the other hand, it transforms every thought into joy and happiness, it makes us talk a lot and makes us quick to take the sword.
Chapter 4The second, who had asserted that the king is the strongest, spoke as follows: even if men dominate the land and the sea, the king is still stronger, he who, by his command alone, can make them wage war and attack their enemies, and hand over to him all their spoils, while the civilians must cultivate the land and give him the fruit of their labors, while paying taxes; each one must obey him at the drop of a hat, and his bodyguards must unceasingly serve him.

The third, who spoke of women and truth, was called Zerubbabel, a Jew, and he said Women are stronger than wine, men, and the king, for it is they who have given birth to vintners, men, and kings, it is they who have made the garments of which men boast, it is they to whom the jewels of the spoils of war finally belong, it is they whom men prefer to precious metals, it is because of them that man abandons his father, his mother and even his country, it is because of them that some lose their reason or become slaves, and it is only to one of them that the king allows to amuse himself by removing the crown from his head, or to be irritated against him. While the audience is dumbfounded, Zerubbabel continues with the truth: wine may be unjust, men may be unjust, the king may be unjust, and they will perish in their unrighteousness, but the truth is never unrighteous, does not show favoritism, discrimination, or wickedness, and it will remain forever, for God is a God of truth. He is immediately acclaimed by the audience.

Recognizing Zerubbabel as the victor, King Darius asked him to tell him what he wanted. Zerubbabel reminds him of his promise to rebuild Jerusalem and its burned temple, and to bring back all the treasures that had been stolen. The king fulfills his promise by writing letters to all his dignitaries: wood from Lebanon was to be brought to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple; the Jews who decided to return to Judea were not to be bothered and were to regain their freedom, and their country was to be exempted from tribute, while the villages occupied by the Idumeans were to be restored; funds will be allocated for the reconstruction of the temple, for the offering of burnt offerings and for the maintenance of the priests, the Levites and the guards of the city; finally, the objects stolen and kept in Babylon will be returned to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel then addressed a prayer of blessing to the king, and went to Babylon to bring the good news to all his brothers.

Chapter 5In the second year of Darius (i.e. 520 BC), the return from Babylon to Jerusalem was organized by tribes, accompanied by the Persian cavalry, to the sound of music and drums. The author takes the trouble to name the members of the caravan, beginning with the priests, accompanied by twelve guides who took the lead: Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Resaiah, Eneneus, Mordecai, Beelsarus, Aspharasus, Reeliah, Rehum, and Baanah. This is followed by a list of the Jews of the caravan divided according to their clan or place of origin. Some who claimed to be priests were dismissed from the priesthood when the required evidence was not found in the genealogical documents. The caravan would have consisted of 42,360 people (including women?). When they arrived in Jerusalem, the priests and Levites took up residence in the city, while the others returned to their ancestral villages.

In the seventh month (September-October, the time of the autumn festivities), despite the absence of the temple, they prepared to offer burnt offerings in the place of the old altar. This is how the feast of the tents or the harvest was celebrated. Then, the construction work began, laying the foundations of the temple, in the second year of the arrival of the caravan (i.e. in -518), the Levites playing the role of foremen, supervised by the elders who had known the old temple. All this was done to the sound of trumpets, so much so that the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin, descendants of pagans deported by the kings of Assyria, such as Esar-haddon (-681 to -669), who had adopted the Jewish cult and wanted to offer their service, were alerted. Zerubbabel refused. The author mentions the obstruction of the enemies of Judah to the construction of the temple, which was only resumed under Darius.

Chapter 6In the second year of King Darius (i.e. 520 BC), under the impetus of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, the eldest son of the former Jewish king Jehoiakim, and Joshua resumed the construction of the temple, of which only the foundations had been laid. Immediately the governor of Syria and Phoenicia and his officials interfered, questioning the right to rebuild the temple. But without stopping the work, they send a letter to Darius telling the situation, mentioning that it is a great house, with polished stones and precious wood, which is being built, and that the elders explained to them that many years ago a temple had been completed by a great king, but because of the sins of the Jewish people, it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon and the Chaldeans, while the people were taken into captivity, but that King Cyrus had subsequently given orders to rebuild the temple and to bring back the stolen sacred and precious objects that were in the Babylonian temple; The king would have to check all this in the royal archives and issue a decision on what to do next. After checking in the royal archives of Babylon and Ectaban that Cyrus had indeed given the order to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem with a height and width of 88 feet and to cover the costs, and to repatriate from Babylon the objects confiscated from the temple of Jerusalem, Darius asked the governor of Syria and Phoenicia to let the Jews free to rebuild their temple and to pay from their income tax for the sacrifices and oblations of the temple; and whoever objected to the execution of this order should be put to death and have his property confiscated by the king.
Chapter 7Then the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia and his officials carried out the order received, presiding over the work of the temple and collaborating with the elders among the Jews. Thus, with the support of Cyrus (who reigned from 559 BC to 530 BC), Darius (who reigned from 522 BC to 486 BC) and Artarxerxes (who reigned from 465 BC to 424 BC), the construction of the temple was completed in March 515 BC (the 6th year of Darius' reign). The priests and Levites, divided according to the 12 tribes of Israel, then proceeded to consecrate the temple with animal burnt offerings and celebrated the Passover in early April. They were joined by the Jews who had returned from captivity and all the other Jews who had remained in Palestine and had taken care to separate themselves from the Gentiles. They celebrated the feast of unleavened bread for seven days, to give thanks for what God had accomplished through the king of Persia.
Chapter 8Much later after the completion of the temple, Ezra was born in the time of Artarxerxes (who reigned from 465 BC to 424 BC), of priestly descent, an expert scribe of the Law, who had become a royal official in Babylon. With priests, Levites, singers and porters, he decided to go up to Jerusalem around 458 BC. He brought with him a decree from the king stating that he would allow the priests, Levites and any Jews who wished to accompany Ezra to Jerusalem to see if the situation there was in accordance with the Law, and to bring royal gifts for burnt offerings and for the needs of the temple; the treasurers of Syria and Phoenicia must see to the requests of Ezra in conformity with the Law, and on the other hand, they cannot levy any tax on all the personnel of the temple; finally, Ezra is mandated to appoint the judges and the magistrates for Syria and Phoenicia, and all must obey the Jewish Law and the royal law, under penalty of death or punishment or fine or imprisonment. For this journey to Jerusalem, Ezra chose about 1530 men and, after three days of walking, realizing that there was a lack of priests, Levites, singers and servants for the service of the temple, he asked to be sent another 258 people.

The caravan sets out in early April, without the protection of foot soldiers, horsemen and an advanced escort, but with the support of God and prayer. And Ezra entrusts twelve priests with the treasures as well as the gold and silver for the temple, to be handed over to the chief priests, the Levites and the clan leaders upon their arrival in Jerusalem in the temple halls. The caravan arrived safely in Jerusalem in August. After three days in Jerusalem, the treasures and the gold and silver are handed over to a priest of the temple. The members of the caravan offer a burnt offering of animals in thanksgiving and transmit the king's orders to the governors of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.

After having settled down, Ezra learns of the existence of mixed marriages between the Jews and the multitude of foreign nations living in the region, in contradiction with the Law. He is bewildered. He makes a prayer to God in which he expresses his shame at the sin of the people, whereas God, after having punished his people by the captivity in Babylon for the sins of former times, knew in his mercy to preserve a small remainder to repatriate them on the holy ground, to see again this defiled ground. Then a crowd gathers around Ezra and one of them, Shecaniah, proposes to send back all the women from the foreigners with their children. Ezra then makes the tribal leaders of the priests and Levites of all Israel swear to do so.

Chapter 9Then Ezra went to a notable priest, Jehohanan, to fast, and summoned all the Jews who had returned from captivity to Jerusalem in December, with three days' notice, for a compulsory gathering, on pain of having his property confiscated and losing his status as a "survivor of captivity." The people of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin were standing in the temple square, and everyone was shivering, for it was the rainy season. Ezra spoke up to reproach them for marrying foreign women, and asked them to stop sinning by separating from them. The crowd answered that they were ready to obey, but not right away because of the bad weather and the fact that these things take time; it would be better to settle this with a commission of inquiry in due time. This commission began its work in January and submitted its report in April: among those who had taken foreign wives were 17 families of priests, six families of Levites, two families of singers, two families of porters, and 75 families of ordinary Jews; all of them undertook to send away the foreign wives with their children.

Later, in the month of September, the crowd gathered in the main square of the temple in front of the eastern gate and asked Ezra, the high priest, to read to them the Law of Moses, also called the Pentateuch. Then Ezra, standing on a wooden platform that had been set up, read it from dawn until noon, beginning with a prayer of blessing, while the Levites explained to the people the meaning of what was being read. Then it was the invitation to the feast, because this day was considered dedicated to the Lord, and the people went to eat and drink, giving portions to those who had none, being all joy.

Note:

  • In addition to the Greek text of 1 Esdras and its translation by the NRSV, we have added a third column, called: parallel; these are the equivalent texts in our canonical Bible, i.e. the 2nd book of Chronicles, the books of Esdras and Nehemiah, which are noted in brackets with the Chapter number
  • Two sections of the canonical book of Ezra in our Bible are in Aramaic, not Hebrew, i.e. Ezra 4:8 - 6:18 and 7:12-26: these passages are preceded by the asterisk (*) and end with an asterisk (*).

Full Text

VerseGreek TextEnglish Translation (NRSV)Parallel (NRSV)

Chapter 1

1Καὶ ἤγαγεν Ιωσιας τὸ πασχα ἐν Ιερουσαλημ τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔθυσεν τὸ πασχα τῇ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ πρώτουJosiah kept the passover to his Lord in Jerusalem; he killed the passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month,(2 Chronicles 35) 1 Josiah kept a passover to the LORD in Jerusalem; they slaughtered the passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month.
2στήσας τοὺς ἱερεῖς κατ ἐφημερίας ἐστολισμένους ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τοῦ κυρίου.having placed the priests according to their divisions, arrayed in their vestments, in the temple of the Lord.2 He appointed the priests to their offices and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD.
3καὶ εἶπεν τοῖς Λευίταις, ἱεροδούλοις τοῦ Ισραηλ, ἁγιάσαι ἑαυτοὺς τῷ κυρίῳ ἐν τῇ θέσει τῆς ἁγίας κιβωτοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ, ᾧ ᾠκοδόμησεν Σαλωμων ὁ τοῦ Δαυιδ ὁ βασιλεύς Οὐκ ἔσται ὑμῖν ἆραι ἐπ ὤμων αὐτήν·He told the Levites, the temple servants of Israel, that they should sanctify themselves to the Lord and put the holy ark of the Lord in the house that King Solomon, son of David, had built; and he said, "You need no longer carry it on your shoulders.3a He said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to the LORD, "Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon son of David, king of Israel, built; you need no longer carry it on your shoulders.
4καὶ νῦν λατρεύετε τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ ὑμῶν καὶ θεραπεύετε τὸ ἔθνος αὐτοῦ Ισραηλ καὶ ἑτοιμάσατε κατὰ τὰς πατριὰς καὶ τὰς φυλὰς ὑμῶν κατὰ τὴν γραφὴν Δαυιδ βασιλέως Ισραηλ καὶ κατὰ τὴν μεγαλειότητα Σαλωμων τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦNow worship the Lord your God and serve his people Israel; prepare yourselves by your families and kindred, in accordance with the directions of King David of Israel and the magnificence of his son Solomon.3b Now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel. 4 Make preparations by your ancestral houses by your divisions, following the written directions of King David of Israel and the written directions of his son Solomon.
5καὶ στάντες ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ κατὰ τὴν μεριδαρχίαν τὴν πατρικὴν ὑμῶν τῶν Λευιτῶν τῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὑμῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ἐν τάξειStand in order in the temple according to the groupings of the ancestral houses of you Levites, who minister before your kindred the people of Israel,5 Take position in the holy place according to the groupings of the ancestral houses of your kindred the people, and let there be Levites for each division of an ancestral house.
6θύσατε τὸ πασχα καὶ τὰς θυσίας ἑτοιμάσατε τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ὑμῶν καὶ ποιήσατε τὸ πασχα κατὰ τὸ πρόσταγμα τοῦ κυρίου τὸ δοθὲν τῷ Μωυσῇ.and kill the passover lamb and prepare the sacrifices for your kindred, and keep the passover according to the commandment of the Lord that was given to Moses."6 Slaughter the passover lamb, sanctify yourselves, and on behalf of your kindred make preparations, acting according to the word of the LORD by Moses."
7καὶ ἐδωρήσατο Ιωσιας τῷ λαῷ τῷ εὑρεθέντι ἀρνῶν καὶ ἐρίφων τριάκοντα χιλιάδας, μόσχους τρισχιλίους· ταῦτα ἐκ τῶν βασιλικῶν ἐδόθη κατ ἐπαγγελίαν τῷ λαῷ καὶ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν καὶ Λευίταις.To the people who were present Josiah gave thirty thousand lambs and kids, and three thousand calves; these were given from the king's possessions, as he promised, to the people and the priests and Levites.7 Then Josiah contributed to the people, as passover offerings for all that were present, lambs and kids from the flock to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bulls; these were from the king's possessions.
8καὶ ἔδωκεν Χελκιας καὶ Ζαχαριας καὶ Ησυηλος οἱ ἐπιστάται τοῦ ἱεροῦ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν εἰς πασχα πρόβατα δισχίλια ἑξακόσια, μόσχους τριακοσίους.Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officers of the temple, gave to the priests for the passover two thousand six hundred sheep and three hundred calves.8 His officials contributed willingly to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the passover offerings two thousand six hundred lambs and kids and three hundred bulls.
9καὶ Ιεχονιας καὶ Σαμαιας καὶ Ναθαναηλ ὁ ἀδελφὸς καὶ Ασαβιας καὶ Οχιηλος καὶ Ιωραμ χιλίαρχοι ἔδωκαν τοῖς Λευίταις εἰς πασχα πρόβατα πεντακισχίλια, μόσχους ἑπτακοσίους.And Jeconiah and Shemaiah and his brother Nethanel, and Hashabiah and Ochiel and Joram, captains over thousands, gave the Levites for the passover five thousand sheep and seven hundred calves.9 Conaniah also, and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for the passover offerings five thousand lambs and kids and five hundred bulls.
10καὶ ταῦτα τὰ γενόμενα· εὐπρεπῶς ἔστησαν οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ ΛευῖταιThis is what took place. The priests and the Levites, 10a When the service had been prepared for, the priests
11ἔχοντες τὰ ἄζυμα κατὰ τὰς φυλὰςhaving the unleavened bread, stood in proper order according to kindred 10b stood in their place, and the Levites in their divisions according to the king's command. 11 They slaughtered the passover lamb, and the priests dashed the blood that they received from them, while the Levites did the skinning.
12καὶ κατὰ τὰς μεριδαρχίας τῶν πατέρων ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ λαοῦ προσενεγκεῖν τῷ κυρίῳ κατὰ τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐν βιβλίῳ Μωυσῆ, καὶ οὕτω τὸ πρωινόν.and the grouping of the ancestral houses, before the people, to make the offering to the Lord as it is written in the book of Moses; this they did in the morning.12 They set aside the burnt offerings so that they might distribute them according to the groupings of the ancestral houses of the people, to offer to the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And they did the same with the bulls.
13καὶ ὤπτησαν τὸ πασχα πυρὶ ὡς καθήκει καὶ τὰς θυσίας ἥψησαν ἐν τοῖς χαλκείοις καὶ λέβησιν μετ εὐωδίας καὶ ἀπήνεγκαν πᾶσι τοῖς ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ.They roasted the passover lamb with fire, as required; and they boiled the sacrifices in bronze pots and caldrons, with a pleasing odor, and carried them to all the people. 13 They roasted the passover lamb with fire according to the ordinance; and they boiled the holy offerings in pots, in caldrons, and in pans, and carried them quickly to all the people.
14μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἡτοίμασαν ἑαυτοῖς τε καὶ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν ἀδελφοῖς αὐτῶν υἱοῖς Ααρων· οἱ γὰρ ἱερεῖς ἀνέφερον τὰ στέατα ἕως ἀωρίας, καὶ οἱ Λευῖται ἡτοίμασαν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν ἀδελφοῖς αὐτῶν υἱοῖς Ααρων.Afterward they prepared the passover for themselves and for their kindred the priests, the sons of Aaron, because the priests were offering the fat until nightfall; so the Levites prepared it for themselves and for their kindred the priests, the sons of Aaron.14 Afterward they made preparations for themselves and for the priests, because the priests the descendants of Aaron were occupied in offering the burnt offerings and the fat parts until night; so the Levites made preparations for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.
15καὶ οἱ ἱεροψάλται υἱοὶ Ασαφ ἦσαν ἐπὶ τῆς τάξεως αὐτῶν κατὰ τὰ ὑπὸ Δαυιδ τεταγμένα καὶ Ασαφ καὶ Ζαχαριας καὶ Εδδινους οἱ παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ οἱ θυρωροὶ ἐφ ἑκάστου πυλῶνος· οὐκ ἔστιν παραβῆναι ἕκαστον τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἐφημερίαν, οἱ γὰρ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν οἱ Λευῖται ἡτοίμασαν αὐτοῖς.The temple singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their place according to the arrangement made by David, and also Asaph, Zechariah, and Eddinus, who represented the king. The gatekeepers were at each gate; no one needed to interrupt his daily duties, for their kindred the Levites prepared the passover for them.15 The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were in their place according to the command of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and the king's seer Jeduthun. The gatekeepers were at each gate; they did not need to interrupt their service, for their kindred the Levites made preparations for them.
16καὶ συνετελέσθη τὰ τῆς θυσίας τοῦ κυρίου ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ἀχθῆναι τὸ πασχα καὶ προσενεχθῆναι τὰς θυσίας ἐπὶ τὸ τοῦ κυρίου θυσιαστήριον κατὰ τὴν ἐπιταγὴν τοῦ βασιλέως Ιωσιου.So the things that had to do with the sacrifices to the Lord were accomplished that day: the passover was kept and the sacrifices were offered on the altar of the Lord, according to the command of King Josiah.16 So all the service of the LORD was prepared that day, to keep the passover and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, according to the command of King Josiah.
17καὶ ἠγάγοσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ οἱ εὑρεθέντες ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τούτῳ τὸ πασχα καὶ τὴν ἑορτὴν τῶν ἀζύμων ἡμέρας ἑπτά.And the people of Israel who were present at that time kept the passover and the festival of unleavened bread seven days.17 The people of Israel who were present kept the passover at that time, and the festival of unleavened bread seven days.
18καὶ οὐκ ἤχθη τὸ πασχα τοιοῦτο ἐν τῷ Ισραηλ ἀπὸ τῶν χρόνων Σαμουηλ τοῦ προφήτου,No passover like it had been kept in Israel since the times of the prophet Samuel;18a No passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel;
19καὶ πάντες οἱ βασιλεῖς τοῦ Ισραηλ οὐκ ἠγάγοσαν πασχα τοιοῦτον, οἷον ἤγαγεν Ιωσιας καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται καὶ οἱ Ιουδαῖοι καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ οἱ εὑρεθέντες ἐν τῇ κατοικήσει αὐτῶν ἐν Ιερουσαλημ·none of the kings of Israel had kept such a passover as was kept by Josiah and the priests and Levites and the people of Judah and all of Israel who were living in Jerusalem.18b none of the kings of Israel had kept such a passover as was kept by Josiah, by the priests and the Levites, by all Judah and Israel who were present, and by the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
20ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῳ ἔτει βασιλεύοντος Ιωσιου ἤχθη τὸ πασχα τοῦτο. –In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this passover was kept.19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this passover was kept.
21καὶ ὠρθώθη τὰ ἔργα Ιωσιου ἐνώπιον τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ ἐν καρδίᾳ πλήρει εὐσεβείας.And the deeds of Josiah were upright in the sight of the Lord, for his heart was full of godliness. 
22καὶ τὰ κατ αὐτὸν δὲ ἀναγέγραπται ἐν τοῖς ἔμπροσθεν χρόνοις, περὶ τῶν ἡμαρτηκότων καὶ ἠσεβηκότων εἰς τὸν κύριον παρὰ πᾶν ἔθνος καὶ βασιλείαν, καὶ ἃ ἐλύπησαν αὐτὸν ἐν αἰσθήσει, καὶ οἱ λόγοι τοῦ κυρίου ἀνέστησαν ἐπὶ Ισραηλ.In ancient times the events of his reign have been recorded - concerning those who sinned and acted wickedly toward the Lord beyond any other people or kingdom, and how they grieved the Lord deeply, so that the words of the Lord fell upon Israel. 
23Καὶ μετὰ πᾶσαν τὴν πρᾶξιν ταύτην Ιωσιου συνέβη Φαραω βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου ἐλθόντα πόλεμον ἐγεῖραι ἐν Χαρκαμυς ἐπὶ τοῦ Εὐφράτου, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς ἀπάντησιν αὐτῷ Ιωσιας.After all these acts of Josiah, it happened that Pharaoh, king of Egypt, went to make war at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him.20 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, King Neco of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him.
24καὶ διεπέμψατο βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου πρὸς αὐτὸν λέγων Τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί ἐστιν, βασιλεῦ τῆς Ιουδαίας;And the king of Egypt sent word to him saying, "What have we to do with each other, O king of Judea?21a But Neco sent envoys to him, saying, "What have I to do with you, king of Judah?
25οὐχὶ πρὸς σὲ ἐξαπέσταλμαι ὑπὸ κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ, ἐπὶ γὰρ τοῦ Εὐφράτου ὁ πόλεμός μού ἐστιν. καὶ νῦν κύριος μετ ἐμοῦ ἐστιν, καὶ κύριος μετ ἐμοῦ ἐπισπεύδων ἐστίν· ἀπόστηθι καὶ μὴ ἐναντιοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ.I was not sent against you by the Lord God, for my war is at the Euphrates. And now the Lord is with me! The Lord is with me, urging me on! Stand aside, and do not oppose the Lord."22b I am not coming against you today, but against the house with which I am at war; and God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, so that he will not destroy you."
26καὶ οὐκ ἀπέστρεψεν ἑαυτὸν Ιωσιας ἐπὶ τὸ ἅρμα αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ πολεμεῖν αὐτὸν ἐπιχειρεῖ οὐ προσέχων ῥήμασιν Ιερεμιου προφήτου ἐκ στόματος κυρίου·Josiah, however, did not turn back to his chariot, but tried to fight with him, and did not heed the words of the prophet Jeremiah from the mouth of the Lord.22a But Josiah would not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God,
27ἀλλὰ συνεστήσατο πρὸς αὐτὸν πόλεμον ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ Μαγεδδαους, καὶ κατέβησαν οἱ ἄρχοντες πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Ιωσιαν.He joined battle with him in the plain of Megiddo, and the commanders came down against King Josiah.22b but joined battle in the plain of Megiddo. 23a The archers shot King Josiah;
28καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς παισὶν αὐτοῦ Ἀποστήσατέ με ἀπὸ τῆς μάχης, ἠσθένησα γὰρ λίαν. καὶ εὐθέως ἀπέστησαν αὐτὸν οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς παρατάξεως,The king said to his servants, "Take me away from the battle, for I am very weak." And immediately his servants took him out of the line of battle.23a and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am badly wounded." 24a So his servants took him out of the chariot
29καὶ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὸ ἅρμα τὸ δευτέριον αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἀποκατασταθεὶς εἰς Ιερουσαλημ μετήλλαξεν τὸν βίον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐτάφη ἐν τῷ πατρικῷ τάφῳ.He got into his second chariot; and after he was brought back to Jerusalem he died, and was buried in the tomb of his ancestors.24b and carried him in his second chariot and brought him to Jerusalem. There he died, and was buried in the tombs of his ancestors.
30καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ Ιουδαίᾳ ἐπένθησαν τὸν Ιωσιαν, καὶ ἐθρήνησεν Ιερεμιας ὁ προφήτης ὑπὲρ Ιωσιου, καὶ οἱ προκαθήμενοι σὺν γυναιξὶν ἐθρηνοῦσαν αὐτὸν ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης, καὶ ἐξεδόθη τοῦτο γίνεσθαι αἰεὶ εἰς ἅπαν τὸ γένος Ισραηλ.In all Judea they mourned for Josiah. The prophet Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and the principal men, with the women, have made lamentation for him to this day; it was ordained that this should always be done throughout the whole nation of Israel.24c All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a custom in Israel; they are recorded in the Laments.
31ταῦτα δὲ ἀναγέγραπται ἐν τῇ βύβλῳ τῶν ἱστορουμένων περὶ τῶν βασιλέων τῆς Ιουδαίας· καὶ τὸ καθ ἓν πραχθὲν τῆς πράξεως Ιωσιου καὶ τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ καὶ τῆς συνέσεως αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ νόμῳ κυρίου, τά τε προπραχθέντα ὑπ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ νῦν, ἱστόρηται ἐν τῷ βυβλίῳ τῶν βασιλέων Ισραηλ καὶ Ιουδα.These things are written in the book of the histories of the kings of Judea; and every one of the acts of Josiah, and his splendor, and his understanding of the law of the Lord, and the things that he had done before, and these that are now told, are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his faithful deeds in accordance with what is written in the law of the LORD, 27 and his acts, first and last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.
32Καὶ ἀναλαβόντες οἱ ἐκ τοῦ ἔθνους τὸν Ιεχονιαν υἱὸν Ιωσιου ἀνέδειξαν βασιλέα ἀντὶ Ιωσιου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ὄντα ἐτῶν εἴκοσι τριῶν.The men of the nation took Jeconiah son of Josiah, who was twenty-three years old, and made him king in succession to his father Josiah.1 The people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king to succeed his father in Jerusalem. 2a Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign;
33καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν Ιουδα καὶ Ιερουσαλημ μῆνας τρεῖς. καὶ ἀπεκατέστησεν αὐτὸν βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου βασιλεύειν ἐν ΙερουσαλημHe reigned three months in Judah and Jerusalem. Then the king of Egypt deposed him from reigning in Jerusalem,2b he reigned three months in Jerusalem. 3a Then the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem
34καὶ ἐζημίωσεν τὸ ἔθνος ἀργυρίου ταλάντοις ἑκατὸν καὶ χρυσίου ταλάντῳ ἑνί.and fined the nation one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.3b and laid on the land a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.
35καὶ ἀνέδειξεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου βασιλέα Ιωακιμ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, βασιλέα τῆς Ιουδαίας καὶ Ιερουσαλημ.The king of Egypt made his brother Jehoiakim king of Judea and Jerusalem.4a The king of Egypt made his brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim;
36καὶ ἔδησεν Ιωακιμ τοὺς μεγιστᾶνας, Ζαριον δὲ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ συλλαβὼν ἀνήγαγεν ἐξ Αἰγύπτου.Jehoiakim put the nobles in prison, and seized his brother Zarius and brought him back from Egypt.4b but Neco took his brother Jehoahaz and carried him to Egypt.
37Ἐτῶν δὲ ἦν εἴκοσι πέντε Ιωακιμ, ὅτε ἐβασίλευσεν τῆς Ιουδαίας καὶ Ιερουσαλημ, καὶ ἐποίησεν τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον κυρίου.Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign in Judea and Jerusalem; he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God.
38ἐπ αὐτὸν δὲ ἀνέβη Ναβουχοδονοσορ βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος καὶ δήσας αὐτὸν ἐν χαλκείῳ δεσμῷ ἀπήγαγεν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα.King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came up against him; he bound him with a chain of bronze and took him away to Babylon.6 Against him King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came up, and bound him with fetters to take him to Babylon.
39καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἱερῶν σκευῶν τοῦ κυρίου λαβὼν Ναβουχοδονοσορ καὶ ἀπενέγκας ἀπηρείσατο ἐν τῷ ναῷ αὐτοῦ ἐν Βαβυλῶνι.Nebuchadnezzar also took some holy vessels of the Lord, and carried them away, and stored them in his temple in Babylon.7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried some of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon and put them in his palace in Babylon.
40τὰ δὲ ἱστορηθέντα περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ τῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκαθαρσίας καὶ δυσσεβείας ἀναγέγραπται ἐν τῇ βίβλῳ τῶν χρόνων τῶν βασιλέων.But the things that are reported about Jehoiakim, and his uncleanness and impiety, are written in the annals of the kings.8a Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and the abominations that he did, and what was found against him, are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah;
41Καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν ἀντ αὐτοῦ Ιωακιμ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ· ὅτε γὰρ ἀνεδείχθη, ἦν ἐτῶν δέκα ὀκτώ,His son Jehoiachin became king in his place; when he was made king he was eighteen years old,8b and his son Jehoiachin succeeded him. 9a Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign;
42βασιλεύει δὲ μῆνας τρεῖς καὶ ἡμέρας δέκα ἐν Ιερουσαλημ καὶ ἐποίησεν τὸ πονηρὸν ἔναντι κυρίου.and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.9b he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.
43Καὶ μετ ἐνιαυτὸν ἀποστείλας Ναβουχοδονοσορ μετήγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα ἅμα τοῖς ἱεροῖς σκεύεσιν τοῦ κυρίουA year later Nebuchadnezzar sent and removed him to Babylon, with the holy vessels of the Lord,10a In the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, along with the precious vessels of the house of the LORD,
44καὶ ἀνέδειξε Σεδεκιαν βασιλέα τῆς Ιουδαίας καὶ Ιερουσαλημ, Σεδεκιαν ὄντα ἐτῶν εἴκοσι ἑνός, βασιλεύει δὲ ἔτη ἕνδεκα.and made Zedekiah king of Judea and Jerusalem. Zedekiah was twenty-one years old, and he reigned eleven years.10b and made his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem. 11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
45καὶ ἐποίησεν τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον κυρίου καὶ οὐκ ἐνετράπη ἀπὸ τῶν ῥηθέντων λόγων ὑπὸ Ιερεμιου τοῦ προφήτου ἐκ στόματος τοῦ κυρίου.He also did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not heed the words that were spoken by the prophet Jeremiah from the mouth of the Lord.12 He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before the prophet Jeremiah who spoke from the mouth of the LORD.
46καὶ ὁρκισθεὶς ἀπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως Ναβουχοδονοσορ τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ κυρίου ἐπιορκήσας ἀπέστη καὶ σκληρύνας αὐτοῦ τὸν τράχηλον καὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ παρέβη τὰ νόμιμα κυρίου θεοῦ Ισραηλ.Although King Nebuchadnezzar had made him swear by the name of the Lord, he broke his oath and rebelled; he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart and transgressed the laws of the Lord, the God of Israel.13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God; he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel.
47καὶ οἱ ἡγούμενοι δὲ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ τῶν ἱερέων πολλὰ ἠσέβησαν καὶ ἠνόμησαν ὑπὲρ πάσας τὰς ἀκαθαρσίας πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν καὶ ἐμίαναν τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ κυρίου τὸ ἁγιαζόμενον ἐν Ιεροσολύμοις.Even the leaders of the people and of the priests committed many acts of sacrilege and lawlessness beyond all the unclean deeds of all the nations, and polluted the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem - the temple that God had made holy. 14 All the leading priests and the people also were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of the LORD that he had consecrated in Jerusalem.
48καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου αὐτοῦ μετακαλέσαι αὐτούς, καθὸ ἐφείδετο αὐτῶν καὶ τοῦ σκηνώματος αὐτοῦ.The God of their ancestors sent his messenger to call them back, because he would have spared them and his dwelling place.15 The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place;
49αὐτοὶ δὲ ἐξεμυκτήρισαν ἐν τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ, καὶ ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ ἐλάλησεν κύριος, ἦσαν ἐκπαίζοντες τοὺς προφήτας αὐτοῦ ἕως τοῦ θυμωθέντα αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῷ ἔθνει αὐτοῦ διὰ τὰ δυσσεβήματα προστάξαι ἀναβιβάσαι ἐπ αὐτοὺς τοὺς βασιλεῖς τῶν Χαλδαίων.But they mocked his messengers, and whenever the Lord spoke, they scoffed at his prophets, until in his anger against his people because of their ungodly acts he gave command to bring against them the kings of the Chaldeans.16 but they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words, and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against his people became so great that there was no remedy. 17a Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans,
50οὗτοι ἀπέκτειναν τοὺς νεανίσκους αὐτῶν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ περικύκλῳ τοῦ ἁγίου αὐτῶν ἱεροῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐφείσαντο νεανίσκου καὶ παρθένου καὶ πρεσβύτου καὶ νεωτέρου, ἀλλὰ πάντας παρέδωκεν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν.These killed their young men with the sword around their holy temple, and did not spare young man or young woman, old man or child, for he gave them all into their hands.17b who killed their youths with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or young woman, the aged or the feeble; he gave them all into his hand.
51καὶ πάντα τὰ ἱερὰ σκεύη τοῦ κυρίου τὰ μεγάλα καὶ τὰ μικρὰ καὶ τὰς κιβωτοὺς τοῦ κυρίου καὶ τὰς βασιλικὰς ἀποθήκας ἀναλαβόντες ἀπήνεγκαν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα.They took all the holy vessels of the Lord, great and small, the treasure chests of the Lord, and the royal stores, and carried them away to Babylon.18 All the vessels of the house of God, large and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his officials, all these he brought to Babylon.
52καὶ ἐνεπύρισαν τὸν οἶκον τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἔλυσαν τὰ τείχα Ιεροσολύμων καὶ τοὺς πύργους αὐτῶν ἐνεπύρισαν ἐν πυρὶThey burned the house of the Lord, broke down the walls of Jerusalem, burned their towers with fire,19 They burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious vessels.
53καὶ συνετέλεσαν πάντα τὰ ἔνδοξα αὐτῆς ἀχρεῶσαι· καὶ τοὺς ἐπιλοίπους ἀπήγαγεν μετὰ ῥομφαίας εἰς Βαβυλῶνα.and utterly destroyed all its glorious things. The survivors he led away to Babylon with the sword,20a He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword,
54καὶ ἦσαν παῖδες αὐτῷ καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ μέχρι τοῦ βασιλεῦσαι Πέρσας εἰς ἀναπλήρωσιν τοῦ ῥήματος τοῦ κυρίου ἐν στόματι Ιερεμιουand they were servants to him and to his sons until the Persians began to reign, in fulfillment of the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah,20b and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, 21a to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah,
55Ἕως τοῦ εὐδοκῆσαι τὴν γῆν τὰ σάββατα αὐτῆς, πάντα τὸν χρόνον τῆς ἐρημώσεως αὐτῆς, σαββατιεῖ εἰς συμπλήρωσιν ἐτῶν ἑβδομήκοντα.saying, "Until the land has enjoyed its sabbaths, it shall keep sabbath all the time of its desolation until the completion of seventy years."21b until the land had made up for its sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

Chapter 2

1Βασιλεύοντος Κύρου Περσῶν ἔτους πρώτου εἰς συντέλειαν ῥήματος κυρίου ἐν στόματι Ιερεμιου ἤγειρεν κύριος τὸ πνεῦμα Κύρου βασιλέως Περσῶν, καὶ ἐκήρυξεν ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἅμα διὰ γραπτῶν λέγωνIn the first year of Cyrus as king of the Persians, so that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished - the Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of the Persians, and he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:(Ezra 1) 1 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he sent a herald throughout all his kingdom, and also in a written edict declared:
2Τάδε λέγει ὁ βασιλεὺς Περσῶν Κῦρος Ἐμὲ ἀνέδειξεν βασιλέα τῆς οἰκουμένης ὁ κύριος τοῦ Ισραηλ, κύριος ὁ ὕψιστος, καὶ ἐσήμηνέν μοι οἰκοδομῆσαι αὐτῷ οἶκον ἐν Ιερουσαλημ τῇ ἐν τῇ Ιουδαίᾳ."Thus says Cyrus king of the Persians: The Lord of Israel, the Lord Most High, has made me king of the world, and he has commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judea.2 "Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah.
3εἴ τίς ἐστιν οὖν ὑμῶν ἐκ τοῦ ἔθνους αὐτοῦ, ἔστω ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ μετ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀναβὰς εἰς τὴν Ιερουσαλημ τὴν ἐν τῇ Ιουδαίᾳ οἰκοδομείτω τὸν οἶκον τοῦ κυρίου τοῦ Ισραηλ [οὗτος ὁ κύριος ὁ κατασκηνώσας ἐν Ιερουσαλημ].If any of you, therefore, are of his people, may your Lord be with you; go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord of Israel - he is the Lord who dwells in Jerusalem -3 Any of those among you who are of his people - may their God be with them! - are now permitted to go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel - he is the God who is in Jerusalem;
4ὅσοι οὖν κατὰ τόπους οἰκοῦσιν, βοηθείτωσαν αὐτῷ οἱ ἐν τῷ τόπῳ αὐτοῦ ἐν χρυσίῳ καὶ ἐν ἀργυρίῳ ἐν δόσεσιν μεθ ἵππων καὶ κτηνῶν σὺν τοῖς ἄλλοις τοῖς κατ εὐχὰς προστεθειμένοις εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ κυρίου τὸ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ. –and let each of you, wherever you may live, be helped by the people of your place with gold and silver, with gifts and with horses and cattle, besides the other things added as votive offerings for the temple of the Lord that is in Jerusalem."4 and let all survivors, in whatever place they reside, be assisted by the people of their place with silver and gold, with goods and with animals, besides freewill offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem."
5καὶ καταστάντες οἱ ἀρχίφυλοι τῶν πατριῶν τῆς Ιουδα καὶ Βενιαμιν φυλῆς καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται καὶ πάντων ὧν ἤγειρεν κύριος τὸ πνεῦμα ἀναβῆναι οἰκοδομῆσαι οἶκον τῷ κυρίῳ τὸν ἐν Ιερουσαλημ,Then arose the heads of families of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, and all whose spirit the Lord had stirred to go up to build the house in Jerusalem for the Lord;5 The heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites - everyone whose spirit God had stirred - got ready to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
6καὶ οἱ περικύκλῳ αὐτῶν ἐβοήθησαν ἐν πᾶσιν, ἀργυρίῳ καὶ χρυσίῳ, ἵπποις καὶ κτήνεσιν καὶ εὐχαῖς ὡς πλείσταις πολλῶν, ὧν ὁ νοῦς ἠγέρθη.their neighbors helped them with everything, with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with a very great number of votive offerings from many whose hearts were stirred.6 All their neighbors aided them with silver vessels, with gold, with goods, with animals, and with valuable gifts, besides all that was freely offered.
7καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς Κῦρος ἐξήνεγκεν τὰ ἱερὰ σκεύη τοῦ κυρίου, ἃ μετήγαγεν Ναβουχοδονοσορ ἐξ Ιερουσαλημ καὶ ἀπηρείσατο αὐτὰ ἐν τῷ ἑαυτοῦ εἰδωλίῳ·King Cyrus also brought out the holy vessels of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and stored in his temple of idols.7 King Cyrus himself brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods.
8ἐξενέγκας δὲ αὐτὰ Κῦρος ὁ βασιλεὺς Περσῶν παρέδωκεν αὐτὰ Μιθριδάτῃ τῷ ἑαυτοῦ γαζοφύλακι, διὰ δὲ τούτου παρεδόθησαν Σαναβασσάρῳ προστάτῃ τῆς Ιουδαίας.When King Cyrus of the Persians brought these out, he gave them to Mithridates, his treasurer, and by him they were given to Sheshbazzar, the governor of Judea.8 King Cyrus of Persia had them released into the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
9ὁ δὲ τούτων ἀριθμὸς ἦν· σπονδεῖα χρυσᾶ χίλια, σπονδεῖα ἀργυρᾶ χίλια, θυίσκαι ἀργυραῖ εἴκοσι ἐννέα,The number of these was: one thousand gold cups, one thousand silver cups, twenty-nine silver censers, 9 And this was the inventory: gold basins, thirty; silver basins, one thousand; knives, twenty-nine;
10φιάλαι χρυσαῖ τριάκοντα, ἀργυραῖ δισχίλιαι τετρακόσιαι δέκα καὶ ἄλλα σκεύη χίλια.thirty gold bowls, two thousand four hundred ten silver bowls, and one thousand other vessels.10 gold bowls, thirty; other silver bowls, four hundred ten; other vessels, one thousand;
11τὰ δὲ πάντα σκεύη διεκομίσθη, χρυσᾶ καὶ ἀργυρᾶ, πεντακισχίλια τετρακόσια ἑξήκοντα ἐννέα, ἀνηνέχθη δὲ ὑπὸ Σαναβασσάρου ἅμα τοῖς ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος εἰς Ιεροσόλυμα.All the vessels were handed over, gold and silver, five thousand four hundred sixty-nine, and they were carried back by Sheshbazzar with the returning exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem.11 the total of the gold and silver vessels was five thousand four hundred. All these Sheshbazzar brought up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.
12Ἐν δὲ τοῖς ἐπὶ Ἀρταξέρξου τοῦ Περσῶν βασιλέως χρόνοις κατέγραψεν αὐτῷ κατὰ τῶν κατοικούντων ἐν τῇ Ιουδαίᾳ καὶ Ιερουσαλημ Βεσλεμος καὶ Μιθραδάτης καὶ Ταβελλιος καὶ Ραουμος καὶ Βεελτέεμος καὶ Σαμσαῖος ὁ γραμματεὺς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ τούτοις συντασσόμενοι, οἰκοῦντες δὲ ἐν Σαμαρείᾳ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις τόποις, τὴν ὑπογεγραμμένην ἐπιστολήνIn the time of King Artaxerxes of the Persians, Bishlam, Mithridates, Tabeel, Rehum, Beltethmus, the scribe Shimshai, and the rest of their associates, living in Samaria and other places, wrote him the following letter, against those who were living in Judea and Jerusalem:(Ezra 4) 7 And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to King Artaxerxes of Persia; the letter was written in Aramaic and translated. * 8 Rehum the royal deputy and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows
13Βασιλεῖ Ἀρταξέρξῃ κυρίῳ οἱ παῖδές σου Ραουμος ὁ τὰ προσπίπτοντα καὶ Σαμσαῖος ὁ γραμματεὺς καὶ οἱ ἐπίλοιποι τῆς βουλῆς αὐτῶν κριταὶ οἱ ἐν Κοίλῃ Συρίᾳ καὶ Φοινίκῃ·"To King Artaxerxes our lord, your servants the recorder Rehum and the scribe Shimshai and the other members of their council, and the judges in Coelesyria and Phoenicia:9 (then Rehum the royal deputy, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, the judges, the envoys, the officials, the Persians, the people of Erech, the Babylonians, the people of Susa, that is, the Elamites, 10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River wrote - and now 11 this is a copy of the letter that they sent): "To King Artaxerxes: Your servants, the people of the province Beyond the River, send greeting. And now
14καὶ νῦν γνωστὸν ἔστω τῷ κυρίῳ βασιλεῖ διότι οἱ Ιουδαῖοι ἀναβάντες παρ ὑμῶν πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ἐλθόντες εἰς Ιερουσαλημ, τὴν πόλιν τὴν ἀποστάτιν καὶ πονηρὰν οἰκοδομοῦσιν, τάς τε ἀγορὰς αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ τείχη θεραπεύουσιν καὶ ναὸν ὑποβάλλονται.Let it now be known to our lord the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem and are building that rebellious and wicked city, repairing its market places and walls and laying the foundations for a temple.12 may it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city; they are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.
15ἐὰν οὖν ἡ πόλις αὕτη οἰκοδομηθῇ καὶ τὰ τείχη συντελεσθῇ, φορολογίαν οὐ μὴ ὑπομείνωσιν δοῦναι, ἀλλὰ καὶ βασιλεῦσιν ἀντιστήσονται.Now if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not only refuse to pay tribute but will even resist kings.13 Now may it be known to the king that, if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be reduced.
16καὶ ἐπεὶ ἐνεργεῖται τὰ κατὰ τὸν ναόν, καλῶς ἔχειν ὑπολαμβάνομεν μὴ ὑπεριδεῖν τὸ τοιοῦτο, ἀλλὰ προσφωνῆσαι τῷ κυρίῳ βασιλεῖ, ὅπως, ἂν φαίνηταί σοι, ἐπισκεφθῇ ἐν τοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν πατέρων σου βιβλίοις·Since the building of the temple is now going on, we think it best not to neglect such a matter, but to speak to our lord the king, in order that, if it seems good to you, search may be made in the records of your ancestors.14 Now because we share the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king's dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king, 15a so that a search may be made in the annals of your ancestors.
17καὶ εὑρήσεις ἐν τοῖς ὑπομνηματισμοῖς τὰ γεγραμμένα περὶ τούτων καὶ γνώσῃ ὅτι ἡ πόλις ἦν ἐκείνη ἀποστάτις καὶ βασιλεῖς καὶ πόλεις ἐνοχλοῦσα καὶ οἱ Ιουδαῖοι ἀποστάται καὶ πολιορκίας συνιστάμενοι ἐν αὐτῇ ἔτι ἐξ αἰῶνος, δι ἣν αἰτίαν καὶ ἡ πόλις αὕτη ἠρημώθη.You will find in the annals what has been written about them, and will learn that this city was rebellious, troubling both kings and other cities, and that the Jews were rebels and kept setting up blockades in it from of old. That is why this city was laid waste.15b You will discover in the annals that this is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that sedition was stirred up in it from long ago. On that account this city was laid waste.
18νῦν οὖν ὑποδείκνυμέν σοι, κύριε βασιλεῦ, διότι, ἐὰν ἡ πόλις αὕτη οἰκοδομηθῇ καὶ τὰ ταύτης τείχη ἀνασταθῇ, κάθοδός σοι οὐκέτι ἔσται εἰς Κοίλην Συρίαν καὶ Φοινίκην. –Therefore we now make known to you, O lord and king, that if this city is built and its walls finished, you will no longer have access to Coelesyria and Phoenicia."16 We make known to the king that, if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the River."
19τότε ἀντέγραψεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ραούμῳ τῷ γράφοντι τὰ προσπίπτοντα καὶ Βεελτεέμῳ καὶ Σαμσαίῳ γραμματεῖ καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς τοῖς συντασσομένοις καὶ οἰκοῦσιν ἐν τῇ Σαμαρείᾳ καὶ Συρίᾳ καὶ Φοινίκῃ τὰ ὑπογεγραμμέναThen the king, in reply to the recorder Rehum, Beltethmus, the scribe Shimshai, and the others associated with them and living in Samaria and Syria and Phoenicia, wrote as follows:17 The king sent an answer: "To Rehum the royal deputy and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River, greeting. And now
20Ἀνέγνων τὴν ἐπιστολήν, ἣν πεπόμφατε πρός με."I have read the letter that you sent me. 18 the letter that you sent to us has been read in translation before me.
21ἐπέταξα οὖν ἐπισκέψασθαι, καὶ εὑρέθη ὅτι ἐστὶν ἡ πόλις ἐκείνη ἐξ αἰῶνος βασιλεῦσιν ἀντιπαρατάσσουσα καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἀποστάσεις καὶ πολέμους ἐν αὐτῇ συντελοῦντεςSo I ordered search to be made, and it has been found that this city from of old has fought against kings, that the people in it were given to rebellion and war,19 So I made a decree, and someone searched and discovered that this city has risen against kings from long ago, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it.
22καὶ βασιλεῖς ἰσχυροὶ καὶ σκληροὶ ἦσαν ἐν Ιερουσαλημ κυριεύοντες καὶ φορολογοῦντες Κοίλην Συρίαν καὶ Φοινίκην.and that mighty and cruel kings ruled in Jerusalem and exacted tribute from Coelesyria and Phoenicia.20 Jerusalem has had mighty kings who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid.
23νῦν οὖν ἐπέταξα ἀποκωλῦσαι τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ἐκείνους τοῦ οἰκοδομῆσαι τὴν πόλινTherefore I have now issued orders to prevent these people from building the city 21 Therefore issue an order that these people be made to cease, and that this city not be rebuilt, until I make a decree.
24καὶ προνοηθῆναι ὅπως μηθὲν παρὰ ταῦτα γένηται καὶ μὴ προβῇ ἐπὶ πλεῖον τὰ τῆς κακίας εἰς τὸ βασιλεῖς ἐνοχλῆσαι. –and to take care that nothing more be done and that such wicked proceedings go no further to the annoyance of kings."22 Moreover, take care not to be slack in this matter; why should damage grow to the hurt of the king?"
25τότε ἀναγνωσθέντων τῶν παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως Ἀρταξέρξου γραφέντων ὁ Ραουμος καὶ Σαμσαῖος ὁ γραμματεὺς καὶ οἱ τούτοις συντασσόμενοι ἀναζεύξαντες κατὰ σπουδὴν εἰς Ιερουσαλημ μεθ ἵππου καὶ ὄχλου παρατάξεως ἤρξαντο κωλύειν τοὺς οἰκοδομοῦντας.Then, when the letter from King Artaxerxes was read, Rehum and the scribe Shimshai and their associates went quickly to Jerusalem, with cavalry and a large number of armed troops, and began to hinder the builders. 23 Then when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum and the scribe Shimshai and their associates, they hurried to the Jews in Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease.
26καὶ ἤργει ἡ οἰκοδομὴ τοῦ ἱεροῦ τοῦ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ μέχρι τοῦ δευτέρου ἔτους τῆς βασιλείας Δαρείου τοῦ Περσῶν βασιλέως.And the building of the temple in Jerusalem stopped until the second year of the reign of King Darius of the Persians.24 At that time the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped and was discontinued until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.

Chapter 3

1Καὶ βασιλεὺς Δαρεῖος ἐποίησεν δοχὴν μεγάλην πᾶσιν τοῖς ὑπ αὐτὸν καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς οἰκογενέσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς μεγιστᾶσιν τῆς Μηδίας καὶ τῆς ΠερσίδοςNow King Darius gave a great banquet for all that were under him, all that were born in his house, and all the nobles of Media and Persia, 
2καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς σατράπαις καὶ στρατηγοῖς καὶ τοπάρχαις τοῖς ὑπ αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰνδικῆς μέχρι τῆς Αἰθιοπίας ἐν ταῖς ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι ἑπτὰ σατραπείαις.and all the satraps and generals and governors that were under him in the hundred twenty-seven satrapies from India to Ethiopia. 
3καὶ ἐφάγοσαν καὶ ἐπίοσαν καὶ ἐμπλησθέντες ἀνέλυσαν, ὁ δὲ Δαρεῖος ὁ βασιλεὺς ἀνέλυσεν εἰς τὸν κοιτῶνα καὶ ἐκοιμήθη καὶ ἔξυπνος ἐγένετο.They ate and drank, and when they were satisfied they went away, and King Darius went to his bedroom; he went to sleep, but woke up again. 
4τότε οἱ τρεῖς νεανίσκοι οἱ σωματοφύλακες οἱ φυλύσσοντες τὸ σῶμα τοῦ βασιλέως εἶπαν ἕτερος πρὸς τὸν ἕτερονThen the three young men of the bodyguard, who kept guard over the person of the king, said to one another, 
5Εἴπωμεν ἕκαστος ἡμῶν ἕνα λόγον, ὃς ὑπερισχύσει· καὶ οὗ ἂν φανῇ τὸ ῥῆμα αὐτοῦ σοφώτερον τοῦ ἑτέρου, δώσει αὐτῷ Δαρεῖος ὁ βασιλεὺς δωρεὰς μεγάλας καὶ ἐπινίκια μεγάλα"Let each of us state what one thing is strongest; and to the one whose statement seems wisest, King Darius will give rich gifts and great honors of victory. 
6καὶ πορφύραν περιβαλέσθαι καὶ ἐν χρυσώμασιν πίνειν καὶ ἐπὶ χρυσῷ καθεύδειν καὶ ἅρμα χρυσοχάλινον καὶ κίδαριν βυσσίνην καὶ μανιάκην περὶ τὸν τράχηλον,He shall be clothed in purple, and drink from gold cups, and sleep on a gold bed, and have a chariot with gold bridles, and a turban of fine linen, and a necklace around his neck; 
7καὶ δεύτερος καθιεῖται Δαρείου διὰ τὴν σοφίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ συγγενὴς Δαρείου κληθήσεται.and because of his wisdom he shall sit next to Darius and shall be called Kinsman of Darius." 
8καὶ τότε γράψαντες ἕκαστος τὸν ἑαυτοῦ λόγον ἐσφραγίσαντο καὶ ἔθηκαν ὑπὸ τὸ προσκεφάλαιον Δαρείου τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ εἶπανThen each wrote his own statement, and they sealed them and put them under the pillow of King Darius, and said 
9Ὅταν ἐγερθῇ ὁ βασιλεύς, δώσουσιν αὐτῷ τὸ γράμμα, καὶ ὃν ἂν κρίνῃ ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ οἱ τρεῖς μεγιστᾶνες τῆς Περσίδος ὅτι ὁ λόγος αὐτοῦ σοφώτερος, αὐτῷ δοθήσεται τὸ νῖκος καθὼς γέγραπται."When the king wakes, they will give him the writing; and to the one whose statement the king and the three nobles of Persia judge to be wisest the victory shall be given according to what is written." 
10ὁ εἷς ἔγραψεν Ὑπερισχύει ὁ οἶνος.The first wrote, "Wine is strongest." 
11ὁ ἕτερος ἔγραψεν Ὑπερισχύει ὁ βασιλεύς.The second wrote, "The king is strongest." 
12ὁ τρίτος ἔγραψεν Ὑπερισχύουσιν αἱ γυναῖκες, ὑπὲρ δὲ πάντα νικᾷ ἡ ἀλήθεια.The third wrote, "Women are strongest, but above all things truth is victor." 
13καὶ ὅτε ἐξηγέρθη ὁ βασιλεύς, λαβόντες τὸ γράμμα ἔδωκαν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀνέγνω.When the king awoke, they took the writing and gave it to him, and he read it. 
14καὶ ἐξαποστείλας ἐκάλεσεν πάντας τοὺς μεγιστᾶνας τῆς Περσίδος καὶ τῆς Μηδίας καὶ σατράπας καὶ στρατηγοὺς καὶ τοπάρχας καὶ ὑπάτους καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐν τῷ χρηματιστηρίῳ, καὶ ἀνεγνώσθη τὸ γράμμα ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν.Then he sent and summoned all the nobles of Persia and Media and the satraps and generals and governors and prefects, and he took his seat in the council chamber, and the writing was read in their presence. 
15καὶ εἶπεν Καλέσατε τοὺς νεανίσκους, καὶ αὐτοὶ δηλώσουσιν τοὺς λόγους αὐτῶν· καὶ ἐκλήθησαν καὶ εἰσήλθοσαν.He said, "Call the young men, and they shall explain their statements." So they were summoned, and came in.  
16καὶ εἶπαν αὐτοῖς Ἀπαγγείλατε ἡμῖν περὶ τῶν γεγραμμένων.They said to them, "Explain to us what you have written."  
17Καὶ ἤρξατο ὁ πρῶτος ὁ εἴπας περὶ τῆς ἰσχύος τοῦ οἴνου καὶ ἔφη οὕτωςThen the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine, began and said:  
18Ἄνδρες, πῶς ὑπερισχύει ὁ οἶνος; πάντας τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς πίνοντας αὐτὸν πλανᾷ τὴν διάνοιαν."Gentlemen, how is wine the strongest? It leads astray the minds of all who drink it. 
19τοῦ τε βασιλέως καὶ τοῦ ὀρφανοῦ ποιεῖ τὴν διάνοιαν μίαν, τήν τε τοῦ οἰκέτου καὶ τὴν τοῦ ἐλευθέρου, τήν τε τοῦ πένητος καὶ τὴν τοῦ πλουσίου.It makes equal the mind of the king and the orphan, of the slave and the free, of the poor and the rich. 
20καὶ πᾶσαν διάνοιαν μεταστρέφει εἰς εὐωχίαν καὶ εὐφροσύνην καὶ οὐ μέμνηται πᾶσαν λύπην καὶ πᾶν ὀφείλημα.It turns every thought to feasting and mirth, and forgets all sorrow and debt. 
21καὶ πάσας καρδίας ποιεῖ πλουσίας καὶ οὐ μέμνηται βασιλέα οὐδὲ σατράπην καὶ πάντα διὰ ταλάντων ποιεῖ λαλεῖν.It makes all hearts feel rich, forgets kings and satraps, and makes everyone talk in millions. 
22καὶ οὐ μέμνηται, ὅταν πίνωσιν, φιλιάζειν φίλοις καὶ ἀδελφοῖς, καὶ μετ οὐ πολὺ σπῶνται μαχαίρας·When people drink they forget to be friendly with friends and kindred, and before long they draw their swords. 
23καὶ ὅταν ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴνου γενηθῶσιν, οὐ μέμνηται ἃ ἔπραξαν.And when they recover from the wine, they do not remember what they have done. 
24ὦ ἄνδρες, οὐχ ὑπερισχύει ὁ οἶνος, ὅτι οὕτως ἀναγκάζει ποιεῖν; καὶ ἐσίγησεν οὕτως εἴπας.Gentlemen, is not wine the strongest, since it forces people to do these things?" When he had said this, he stopped speaking. 

Chapter 4

1Καὶ ἤρξατο ὁ δεύτερος λαλεῖν ὁ εἴπας περὶ τῆς ἰσχύος τοῦ βασιλέωςThen the second, who had spoken of the strength of the king, began to speak: 
2Ὦ ἄνδρες, οὐχ ὑπερισχύουσιν οἱ ἄνθρωποι τὴν γῆν καὶ τὴν θάλασσαν κατακρατοῦντες καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς;"Gentlemen, are not men strongest, who rule over land and sea and all that is in them? 
3ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς ὑπερισχύει καὶ κυριεύει αὐτῶν καὶ δεσπόζει αὐτῶν, καὶ πᾶν, ὃ ἐὰν εἴπῃ αὐτοῖς, ἐνακούουσιν.But the king is stronger; he is their lord and master, and whatever he says to them they obey. 
4ἐὰν εἴπῃ αὐτοῖς ποιῆσαι πόλεμον ἕτερος πρὸς τὸν ἕτερον, ποιοῦσιν· ἐὰν δὲ ἐξαποστείλῃ αὐτοὺς πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους, βαδίζουσιν καὶ κατεργάζονται τὰ ὄρη καὶ τὰ τείχη καὶ τοὺς πύργους.If he tells them to make war on one another, they do it; and if he sends them out against the enemy, they go, and conquer mountains, walls, and towers. 
5φονεύουσιν καὶ φονεύονται καὶ τὸν λόγον τοῦ βασιλέως οὐ παραβαίνουσιν· ἐὰν δὲ νικήσωσιν, τῷ βασιλεῖ κομίζουσιν πάντα, καὶ ὅσα ἐὰν προνομεύσωσιν, καὶ τὰ ἄλλα πάντα.They kill and are killed, and do not disobey the king's command; if they win the victory, they bring everything to the king - whatever spoil they take and everything else. 
6καὶ ὅσοι οὐ στρατεύονται οὐδὲ πολεμοῦσιν, ἀλλὰ γεωργοῦσιν τὴν γῆν, πάλιν ὅταν σπείρωσι, θερίσαντες ἀναφέρουσιν τῷ βασιλεῖ· καὶ ἕτερος τὸν ἕτερον ἀναγκάζοντες ἀναφέρουσι τοὺς φόρους τῷ βασιλεῖ.Likewise those who do not serve in the army or make war but till the soil; whenever they sow and reap, they bring some to the king; and they compel one another to pay taxes to the king. 
7καὶ αὐτὸς εἷς μόνος ἐστίν· ἐὰν εἴπῃ ἀποκτεῖναι, ἀποκτέννουσιν· εἶπεν ἀφεῖναι, ἀφίουσιν·And yet he is only one man! If he tells them to kill, they kill; if he tells them to release, they release; 
8εἶπε πατάξαι, τύπτουσιν· εἶπεν ἐρημῶσαι, ἐρημοῦσιν· εἶπεν οἰκοδομῆσαι, οἰκοδομοῦσιν·if he tells them to attack, they attack; if he tells them to lay waste, they lay waste; if he tells them to build, they build; 
9εἶπεν ἐκκόψαι, ἐκκόπτουσιν· εἶπεν φυτεῦσαι, φυτεύουσιν.if he tells them to cut down, they cut down; if he tells them to plant, they plant. 
10καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ αἱ δυνάμεις αὐτοῦ ἐνακούουσιν.All his people and his armies obey him.  
11πρὸς δὲ τούτοις αὐτὸς ἀνάκειται, ἐσθίει καὶ πίνει καὶ καθεύδει, αὐτοὶ δὲ τηροῦσιν κύκλῳ περὶ αὐτὸν καὶ οὐ δύνανται ἕκαστος ἀπελθεῖν καὶ ποιεῖν τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ οὐδὲ παρακούουσιν αὐτοῦ.Furthermore, he reclines, he eats and drinks and sleeps, but they keep watch around him, and no one may go away to attend to his own affairs, nor do they disobey him. 
12ὦ ἄνδρες, πῶς οὐχ ὑπερισχύει ὁ βασιλεύς, ὅτι οὕτως ἐπακουστός ἐστιν; καὶ ἐσίγησεν.Gentlemen, why is not the king the strongest, since he is to be obeyed in this fashion?" And he stopped speaking.  
13Ὁ δὲ τρίτος ὁ εἴπας περὶ τῶν γυναικῶν καὶ τῆς ἀληθείασ – οὗτός ἐστιν Ζοροβαβελ – ἤρξατο λαλεῖνThen the third, who had spoken of women and truth (and this was Zerubbabel), began to speak: 
14Ἄνδρες, οὐ μέγας ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ πολλοὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι καὶ ὁ οἶνος ἰσχύει; τίς οὖν ὁ δεσπόζων αὐτῶν ἢ τίς ὁ κυριεύων αὐτῶν; οὐχ αἱ γυναῖκες;"Gentlemen, is not the king great, and are not men many, and is not wine strong? Who is it, then, that rules them, or has the mastery over them? Is it not women? 
15αἱ γυναῖκες ἐγέννησαν τὸν βασιλέα καὶ πάντα τὸν λαόν, ὃς κυριεύει τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ τῆς γῆς·Women gave birth to the king and to every people that rules over sea and land. 
16καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐγένοντο, καὶ αὗται ἐξέθρεψαν αὐτοὺς τοὺς φυτεύοντας τοὺς ἀμπελῶνας, ἐξ ὧν ὁ οἶνος γίνεται.From women they came; and women brought up the very men who plant the vineyards from which comes wine. 
17καὶ αὗται ποιοῦσιν τὰς στολὰς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ αὗται ποιοῦσιν δόξαν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, καὶ οὐ δύνανται οἱ ἄνθρωποι εἶναι χωρὶς τῶν γυναικῶν.Women make men's clothes; they bring men glory; men cannot exist without women. 
18ἐὰν δὲ συναγάγωσιν χρυσίον καὶ ἀργύριον καὶ πᾶν πρᾶγμα ὡραῖον καὶ ἴδωσιν γυναῖκα μίαν καλὴν τῷ εἴδει καὶ τῷ κάλλει,If men gather gold and silver or any other beautiful thing, and then see a woman lovely in appearance and beauty, 
19καὶ ταῦτα πάντα ἀφέντες εἰς αὐτὴν ἐγκέχηναν καὶ χάσκοντες τὸ στόμα θεωροῦσιν αὐτήν, καὶ πάντες αὐτὴν αἱρετίζουσιν μᾶλλον ἢ τὸ χρυσίον καὶ τὸ ἀργύριον καὶ πᾶν πρᾶγμα ὡραῖον.they let all those things go, and gape at her, and with open mouths stare at her, and all prefer her to gold or silver or any other beautiful thing. 
20ἄνθρωπος τὸν ἑαυτοῦ πατέρα ἐγκαταλείπει, ὃς ἐξέθρεψεν αὐτόν, καὶ τὴν ἰδίαν χώραν καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἰδίαν γυναῖκα κολλᾶται·A man leaves his own father, who brought him up, and his own country, and clings to his wife. 
21καὶ μετὰ τῆς γυναικὸς ἀφίησι τὴν ψυχὴν καὶ οὔτε τὸν πατέρα μέμνηται οὔτε τὴν μητέρα οὔτε τὴν χώραν.With his wife he ends his days, with no thought of his father or his mother or his country. 
22καὶ ἐντεῦθεν δεῖ ὑμᾶς γνῶναι ὅτι αἱ γυναῖκες κυριεύουσιν ὑμῶν· οὐχὶ πονεῖτε καὶ μοχθεῖτε καὶ πάντα ταῖς γυναιξὶν δίδοτε καὶ φέρετε;Therefore you must realize that women rule over you! "Do you not labor and toil, and bring everything and give it to women? 
23καὶ λαμβάνει ἄνθρωπος τὴν ῥομφαίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκπορεύεται ἐξοδεύειν καὶ λῃστεύειν καὶ κλέπτειν καὶ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν πλεῖν καὶ ποταμούς·A man takes his sword, and goes out to travel and rob and steal and to sail the sea and rivers; 
24καὶ τὸν λέοντα θεωρεῖ καὶ ἐν σκότει βαδίζει, καὶ ὅταν κλέψῃ καὶ ἁρπάσῃ καὶ λωποδυτήσῃ, τῇ ἐρωμένῃ ἀποφέρει.he faces lions, and he walks in darkness, and when he steals and robs and plunders, he brings it back to the woman he loves. 
25καὶ πλεῖον ἀγαπᾷ ἄνθρωπος τὴν ἰδίαν γυναῖκα μᾶλλον ἢ τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὴν μητέρα·A man loves his wife more than his father or his mother. 
26καὶ πολλοὶ ἀπενοήθησαν ταῖς ἰδίαις διανοίαις διὰ τὰς γυναῖκας καὶ δοῦλοι ἐγένοντο δι αὐτάς,Many men have lost their minds because of women, and have become slaves because of them. 
27καὶ πολλοὶ ἀπώλοντο καὶ ἐσφάλησαν καὶ ἡμάρτοσαν διὰ τὰς γυναῖκας.Many have perished, or stumbled, or sinned because of women. 
28καὶ νῦν οὐ πιστεύετέ μοι; οὐχὶ μέγας ὁ βασιλεὺς τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ; οὐχὶ πᾶσαι αἱ χῶραι εὐλαβοῦνται ἅψασθαι αὐτοῦ;And now do you not believe me? "Is not the king great in his power? Do not all lands fear to touch him? 
29ἐθεώρουν αὐτὸν καὶ Ἀπάμην τὴν θυγατέρα Βαρτάκου τοῦ θαυμαστοῦ τὴν παλλακὴν τοῦ βασιλέως καθημένην ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ βασιλέωςYet I have seen him with Apame, the king's concubine, the daughter of the illustrious Bartacus; she would sit at the king's right hand 
30καὶ ἀφαιροῦσαν τὸ διάδημα ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ἐπιτιθοῦσαν ἑαυτῇ καὶ ἐρράπιζεν τὸν βασιλέα τῇ ἀριστερᾷ.and take the crown from the king's head and put it on her own, and slap the king with her left hand. 
31καὶ πρὸς τούτοις ὁ βασιλεὺς χάσκων τὸ στόμα ἐθεώρει αὐτήν· καὶ ἐὰν προσγελάσῃ αὐτῷ, γελᾷ· ἐὰν δὲ πικρανθῇ ἐπ αὐτόν, κολακεύει αὐτήν, ὅπως διαλλαγῇ αὐτῷ.At this the king would gaze at her with mouth agape. If she smiles at him, he laughs; if she loses her temper with him, he flatters her, so that she may be reconciled to him. 
32ὦ ἄνδρες, πῶς οὐχὶ ἰσχυραὶ αἱ γυναῖκες, ὅτι οὕτως πράσσουσιν;Gentlemen, why are not women strong, since they do such things?"  
33καὶ τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ οἱ μεγιστᾶνες ἐνέβλεπον ἕτερος πρὸς τὸν ἕτερον. –Then the king and the nobles looked at one another;  
34καὶ ἤρξατο λαλεῖν περὶ τῆς ἀληθείας Ἄνδρες, οὐχὶ ἰσχυραὶ αἱ γυναῖκες; μεγάλη ἡ γῆ, καὶ ὑψηλὸς ὁ οὐρανός, καὶ ταχὺς τῷ δρόμῳ ὁ ἥλιος, ὅτι στρέφεται ἐν τῷ κύκλῳ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ πάλιν ἀποτρέχει εἰς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ τόπον ἐν μιᾷ ἡμέρᾳ.and he began to speak about truth: "Gentlemen, are not women strong? The earth is vast, and heaven is high, and the sun is swift in its course, for it makes the circuit of the heavens and returns to its place in one day. 
35οὐχὶ μέγας ὃς ταῦτα ποιεῖ; καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια μεγάλη καὶ ἰσχυροτέρα παρὰ πάντα.Is not the one who does these things great? But truth is great, and stronger than all things. 
36πᾶσα ἡ γῆ τὴν ἀλήθειαν καλεῖ, καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς αὐτὴν εὐλογεῖ, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔργα σείεται καὶ τρέμει, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν μετ αὐτοῦ ἄδικον οὐθέν.The whole earth calls upon truth, and heaven blesses it. All God's works quake and tremble, and with him there is nothing unrighteous. 
37ἄδικος ὁ οἶνος, ἄδικος ὁ βασιλεύς, ἄδικοι αἱ γυναῖκες, ἄδικοι πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ ἄδικα πάντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν, πάντα τὰ τοιαῦτα· καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἀλήθεια, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀδικίᾳ αὐτῶν ἀπολοῦνται.Wine is unrighteous, the king is unrighteous, women are unrighteous, all human beings are unrighteous, all their works are unrighteous, and all such things. There is no truth in them and in their unrighteousness they will perish. 
38ἡ δὲ ἀλήθεια μένει καὶ ἰσχύει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα καὶ ζῇ καὶ κρατεῖ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος.But truth endures and is strong forever, and lives and prevails forever and ever. 
39καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν παρ αὐτῇ λαμβάνειν πρόσωπα οὐδὲ διάφορα, ἀλλὰ τὰ δίκαια ποιεῖ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἀδίκων καὶ πονηρῶν· καὶ πάντες εὐδοκοῦσι τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῇ κρίσει αὐτῆς οὐθὲν ἄδικον.With it there is no partiality or preference, but it does what is righteous instead of anything that is unrighteous or wicked. Everyone approves its deeds, and there is nothing unrighteous in its judgment. 
40καὶ αὐτῇ ἡ ἰσχὺς καὶ τὸ βασίλειον καὶ ἡ ἐξουσία καὶ ἡ μεγαλειότης τῶν πάντων αἰώνων. εὐλογητὸς ὁ θεὸς τῆς ἀληθείας.To it belongs the strength and the kingship and the power and the majesty of all the ages. Blessed be the God of truth!" 
41καὶ ἐσιώπησεν τοῦ λαλεῖν· καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς τότε ἐφώνησεν, καὶ τότε εἶπον Μεγάλη ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ὑπερισχύει.When he stopped speaking, all the people shouted and said, "Great is truth, and strongest of all!"  
42Τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν αὐτῷ Αἴτησαι ὃ θέλεις πλείω τῶν γεγραμμένων, καὶ δώσομέν σοι, ὃν τρόπον εὑρέθης σοφώτερος· καὶ ἐχόμενός μου καθήσῃ καὶ συγγενής μου κληθήσῃ.Then the king said to him, "Ask what you wish, even beyond what is written, and we will give it to you, for you have been found to be the wisest. You shall sit next to me, and be called my Kinsman." 
43τότε εἶπεν τῷ βασιλεῖ Μνήσθητι τὴν εὐχήν, ἣν ηὔξω οἰκοδομῆσαι τὴν Ιερουσαλημ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ᾗ τὸ βασίλειόν σου παρέλαβες,Then he said to the king, "Remember the vow that you made on the day when you became king, to build Jerusalem, 
44καὶ πάντα τὰ σκεύη τὰ λημφθέντα ἐξ Ιερουσαλημ ἐκπέμψαι, ἃ ἐξεχώρισεν Κῦρος, ὅτε ηὔξατο ἐκκόψαι Βαβυλῶνα, καὶ ηὔξατο ἐξαποστεῖλαι ἐκεῖ.and to send back all the vessels that were taken from Jerusalem, which Cyrus set apart when he began to destroy Babylon, and vowed to send them back there. 
45καὶ σὺ εὔξω οἰκοδομῆσαι τὸν ναόν, ὃν ἐνεπύρισαν οἱ Ιδουμαῖοι, ὅτε ἠρημώθη ἡ Ιουδαία ὑπὸ τῶν Χαλδαίων.You also vowed to build the temple, which the Edomites burned when Judea was laid waste by the Chaldeans. 
46καὶ νῦν τοῦτό ἐστιν, ὅ σε ἀξιῶ, κύριε βασιλεῦ, καὶ ὃ αἰτοῦμαί σε, καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ μεγαλωσύνη ἡ παρὰ σοῦ· δέομαι οὖν ἵνα ποιήσῃς τὴν εὐχήν, ἣν ηὔξω τῷ βασιλεῖ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ποιῆσαι ἐκ στόματός σου. –And now, O lord the king, this is what I ask and request of you, and this befits your greatness. I pray therefore that you fulfill the vow whose fulfillment you vowed to the King of heaven with your own lips." 
47τότε ἀναστὰς Δαρεῖος ὁ βασιλεὺς κατεφίλησεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἔγραψεν αὐτῷ τὰς ἐπιστολὰς πρὸς πάντας τοὺς οἰκονόμους καὶ τοπάρχας καὶ στρατηγοὺς καὶ σατράπας, ἵνα προπέμψωσιν αὐτὸν καὶ τοὺς μετ αὐτοῦ πάντας ἀναβαίνοντας οἰκοδομῆσαι τὴν Ιερουσαλημ.Then King Darius got up and kissed him, and wrote letters for him to all the treasurers and governors and generals and satraps, that they should give safe conduct to him and to all who were going up with him to build Jerusalem. 
48καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς τοπάρχαις ἐν Κοίλῃ Συρίᾳ καὶ Φοινίκῃ καὶ τοῖς ἐν τῷ Λιβάνῳ ἔγραψεν ἐπιστολὰς μεταφέρειν ξύλα κέδρινα ἀπὸ τοῦ Λιβάνου εἰς Ιερουσαλημ καὶ ὅπως οἰκοδομήσωσιν μετ αὐτοῦ τὴν πόλιν.And he wrote letters to all the governors in Coelesyria and Phoenicia and to those in Lebanon, to bring cedar timber from Lebanon to Jerusalem, and to help him build the city. 
49καὶ ἔγραψεν πᾶσι τοῖς Ιουδαίοις τοῖς ἀναβαίνουσιν ἀπὸ τῆς βασιλείας εἰς τὴν Ιουδαίαν ὑπὲρ τῆς ἐλευθερίας, πάντα δυνατὸν καὶ σατράπην καὶ τοπάρχην καὶ οἰκονόμον μὴ ἐπελεύσεσθαι ἐπὶ τὰς θύρας αὐτῶν,He wrote in behalf of all the Jews who were going up from his kingdom to Judea, in the interest of their freedom, that no officer or satrap or governor or treasurer should forcibly enter their doors; 
50καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν χώραν, ἣν κρατήσουσιν, ἀφορολόγητον αὐτοῖς ὑπάρχειν, καὶ ἵνα οἱ Ιδουμαῖοι ἀφιῶσι τὰς κώμας ἃς διακρατοῦσιν τῶν Ιουδαίων,that all the country that they would occupy should be theirs without tribute; that the Idumeans should give up the villages of the Jews that they held; 
51καὶ εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ ἱεροῦ δοθῆναι κατ ἐνιαυτὸν τάλαντα εἴκοσι μέχρι τοῦ οἰκοδομηθῆναι,that twenty talents a year should be given for the building of the temple until it was completed, 
52καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον ὁλοκαυτώματα καρποῦσθαι καθ ἡμέραν, καθὰ ἔχουσιν ἐντολὴν ἑπτακαίδεκα προσφέρειν, ἄλλα τάλαντα δέκα κατ ἐνιαυτόν,and an additional ten talents a year for burnt offerings to be offered on the altar every day, in accordance with the commandment to make seventeen offerings; 
53καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς προσβαίνουσιν ἀπὸ τῆς Βαβυλωνίας κτίσαι τὴν πόλιν ὑπάρχειν τὴν ἐλευθερίαν, αὐτοῖς τε καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῶν καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἱερεῦσι τοῖς προσβαίνουσιν.and that all who came from Babylonia to build the city should have their freedom, they and their children and all the priests who came. 
54ἔγραψεν δὲ καὶ τὴν χορηγίαν καὶ τὴν ἱερατικὴν στολήν, ἐν τίνι λατρεύουσιν ἐν αὐτῇ.He wrote also concerning their support and the priests' vestments in which they were to minister. 
55καὶ τοῖς Λευίταις ἔγραψεν δοῦναι τὴν χορηγίαν ἕως ἧς ἡμέρας ἐπιτελεσθῇ ὁ οἶκος καὶ Ιερουσαλημ οἰκοδομηθῆναι,He wrote that the support for the Levites should be provided until the day when the temple would be finished and Jerusalem built. 
56καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς φρουροῦσι τὴν πόλιν, ἔγραψε δοῦναι αὐτοῖς κλήρους καὶ ὀψώνια.He wrote that land and wages should be provided for all who guarded the city. 
57καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν πάντα τὰ σκεύη, ἃ ἐξεχώρισεν Κῦρος ἀπὸ Βαβυλῶνος· καὶ πάντα, ὅσα εἶπεν Κῦρος ποιῆσαι, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπέταξεν ποιῆσαι καὶ ἐξαποστεῖλαι εἰς Ιερουσαλημ.And he sent back from Babylon all the vessels that Cyrus had set apart; everything that Cyrus had ordered to be done, he also commanded to be done and to be sent to Jerusalem. 
58Καὶ ὅτε ἐξῆλθεν ὁ νεανίσκος, ἄρας τὸ πρόσωπον εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐναντίον Ιερουσαλημ εὐλόγησεν τῷ βασιλεῖ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ λέγωνWhen the young man went out, he lifted up his face to heaven toward Jerusalem, and praised the King of heaven, saying, 
59Παρὰ σοῦ ἡ νίκη, καὶ παρὰ σοῦ ἡ σοφία, καὶ σὴ ἡ δόξα, καὶ ἐγὼ σὸς οἰκέτης."From you comes the victory; from you comes wisdom, and yours is the glory. I am your servant. 
60εὐλογητὸς εἶ, ὃς ἔδωκάς μοι σοφίαν· καὶ σοὶ ὁμολογῶ, δέσποτα τῶν πατέρων.Blessed are you, who have given me wisdom; I give you thanks, O Lord of our ancestors."  
61καὶ ἔλαβεν τὰς ἐπιστολὰς καὶ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ πᾶσιν.So he took the letters, and went to Babylon and told this to all his kindred. 
62καὶ εὐλόγησαν τὸν θεὸν τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν, ὅτι ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἄνεσιν καὶ ἄφεσινAnd they praised the God of their ancestors, because he had given them release and permission 
63ἀναβῆναι καὶ οἰκοδομῆσαι Ιερουσαλημ καὶ τὸ ἱερόν, οὗ ὠνομάσθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐπ αὐτῷ, καὶ ἐκωθωνίζοντο μετὰ μουσικῶν καὶ χαρᾶς ἡμέρας ἑπτά.to go up and build Jerusalem and the temple that is called by his name; and they feasted, with music and rejoicing, for seven days.  

Chapter 5

1Μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἐξελέγησαν ἀναβῆναι ἀρχηγοὶ οἴκου πατριῶν κατὰ φυλὰς αὐτῶν καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες καὶ οἱ παῖδες αὐτῶν καὶ αἱ παιδίσκαι καὶ τὰ κτήνη αὐτῶν.After this the heads of ancestral houses were chosen to go up, according to their tribes, with their wives and sons and daughters, and their male and female servants, and their livestock. 
2καὶ Δαρεῖος συναπέστειλεν μετ αὐτῶν ἱππεῖς χιλίους ἕως τοῦ ἀποκαταστῆσαι αὐτοὺς εἰς Ιερουσαλημ μετ εἰρήνης καὶ μετὰ μουσικῶν, τυμπάνων καὶ αὐλῶν·And Darius sent with them a thousand cavalry to take them back to Jerusalem in safety, with the music of drums and flutes; 
3καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν παίζοντες, καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς συναναβῆναι μετ ἐκείνων.all their kindred were making merry. And he made them go up with them. 
4Καὶ ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν ἀνδρῶν τῶν ἀναβαινόντων κατὰ πατριὰς αὐτῶν εἰς τὰς φυλὰς ἐπὶ τὴν μεριδαρχίαν αὐτῶν.These are the names of the men who went up, according to their ancestral houses in the tribes, over their groups: 
5οἱ ἱερεῖς υἱοὶ Φινεες υἱοῦ Ααρων· Ἰησοῦς ὁ τοῦ Ιωσεδεκ τοῦ Σαραιου καὶ Ιωακιμ ὁ τοῦ Ζοροβαβελ τοῦ Σαλαθιηλ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ Δαυιδ ἐκ τῆς γενεᾶς Φαρες, φυλῆς δὲ Ιουδα,the priests, the descendants of Phinehas son of Aaron; Jeshua son of Jozadak son of Seraiah and Joakim son of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, of the house of David, of the lineage of Phares, of the tribe of Judah, 
6ὃς ἐλάλησεν ἐπὶ Δαρείου τοῦ βασιλέως Περσῶν λόγους σοφοὺς ἐν τῷ δευτέρῳ ἔτει τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ μηνὶ Νισαν τοῦ πρώτου μηνός. –who spoke wise words before King Darius of the Persians, in the second year of his reign, in the month of Nisan, the first month.  
7εἰσὶν δὲ οὗτοι ἐκ τῆς Ιουδαίας οἱ ἀναβάντες ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας τῆς παροικίας, οὓς μετῴκισεν Ναβουχοδονοσορ βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος εἰς ΒαβυλῶναThese are the Judeans who came up out of their sojourn in exile, whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had carried away to Babylon(Ezra 2) 1a Now these were the people of the province who came from those captive exiles whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia;
8καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν εἰς Ιερουσαλημ καὶ τὴν λοιπὴν Ιουδαίαν ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν πόλιν, οἱ ἐλθόντες μετὰ Ζοροβαβελ καὶ Ἰησοῦ, Νεεμιου, Ζαραιου, Ρησαιου, Ενηνιος, Μαρδοχαιου, Βεελσαρου, Ασφαρασου, Βορολιου, Ροιμου, Βαανα τῶν προηγουμένων αὐτῶν.and who returned to Jerusalem and the rest of Judea, each to his own town. They came with Zerubbabel and Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Resaiah, Eneneus, Mordecai, Beelsarus, Aspharasus, Reeliah, Rehum, and Baanah, their leaders.1b they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, all to their own towns. 2a They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.
9ἀριθμὸς τῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἔθνους καὶ οἱ προηγούμενοι αὐτῶν· υἱοὶ Φορος δύο χιλιάδες καὶ ἑκατὸν ἑβδομήκοντα δύο.The number of those of the nation and their leaders: the descendants of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two. 2b The number of the Israelite people: 3 the descendants of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
10υἱοὶ Σαφατ τετρακόσιοι ἑβδομήκοντα δύο. υἱοὶ Αρεε ἑπτακόσιοι πεντήκοντα ἕξ.The descendants of Shephatiah, four hundred seventy-two. The descendants of Arah, seven hundred fifty-six.4 Of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two. 5 Of Arah, seven hundred seventy-five.
11υἱοὶ Φααθμωαβ εἰς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰησοῦ καὶ Ιωαβ δισχίλιοι ὀκτακόσιοι δέκα δύο.The descendants of Pahath-moab, of the descendants of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve.6 Of Pahathmoab, namely the descendants of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve.
12υἱοὶ Ωλαμου χίλιοι διακόσιοι πεντήκοντα τέσσαρες. υἱοὶ Ζατου ἐννακόσιοι τεσσαράκοντα πέντε. υἱοὶ Χορβε ἑπτακόσιοι πέντε. υἱοὶ Βανι ἑξακόσιοι τεσσαράκοντα ὀκτώ.The descendants of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. The descendants of Zattu, nine hundred forty-five. The descendants of Chorbe, seven hundred five. The descendants of Bani, six hundred forty-eight.7 Of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. 8 Of Zattu, nine hundred forty-five. 9 Of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty. 10 Of Bani, six hundred forty-two.
13υἱοὶ Βηβαι ἑξακόσιοι εἴκοσι τρεῖς. υἱοὶ Ασγαδ χίλιοι τριακόσιοι εἴκοσι δύο.The descendants of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three. The descendants of Azgad, one thousand three hundred twenty-two.11 Of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three. 12 Of Azgad, one thousand two hundred twenty-two.
14υἱοὶ Αδωνικαμ ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα ἑπτά. υἱοὶ Βαγοι δισχίλιοι ἑξήκοντα ἕξ. υἱοὶ Αδινου τετρακόσιοι πεντήκοντα τέσσαρες.The descendants of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-seven. The descendants of Bigvai, two thousand sixty-six. The descendants of Adin, four hundred fifty-four.13 Of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-six. 14 Of Bigvai, two thousand fifty-six. 15 Of Adin, four hundred fifty-four.
15υἱοὶ Ατηρ Εζεκιου ἐνενήκοντα δύο. υἱοὶ Κιλαν καὶ Αζητας ἑξήκοντα ἑπτά. υἱοὶ Αζουρου τετρακόσιοι τριάκοντα δύο.The descendants of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, ninety-two. The descendants of Kilan and Azetas, sixtyseven. The descendants of Azaru, four hundred thirty-two.16 Of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
16υἱοὶ Αννιας ἑκατὸν εἷς. υἱοὶ Αρομ υἱοὶ Βασσαι τριακόσιοι εἴκοσι τρεῖς. υἱοὶ Αριφου ἑκατὸν δέκα δύο.The descendants of Annias, one hundred one. The descendants of Arom. The descendants of Bezai, three hundred twenty-three. The descendants of Arsiphurith, one hundred twelve.17 Of Bezai, three hundred twenty-three. 18 Of Jorah, one hundred twelve.
17υἱοὶ Βαιτηρους τρισχίλιοι πέντε. υἱοὶ ἐκ Βαιθλωμων ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι τρεῖς.The descendants of Baiterus, three thousand five. The descendants of Bethlomon, one hundred twenty-three.19 Of Hashum, two hundred twenty-three. 20 Of Gibbar, ninety-five. 21 Of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty-three.
18οἱ ἐκ Νετεβας πεντήκοντα πέντε. οἱ ἐξ Ενατου ἑκατὸν πεντήκοντα ὀκτώ. οἱ ἐκ Βαιτασμων τεσσαράκοντα δύο.Those from Netophah, fifty-five. Those from Anathoth, one hundred fifty-eight. Those from Bethasmoth, forty-two.22 The people of Netophah, fifty-six. 23 Of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight. 24 The descendants of Azmaveth, forty-two.
19οἱ ἐκ Καριαθιαριος εἴκοσι πέντε. οἱ ἐκ Καπιρας καὶ Βηροτ ἑπτακόσιοι τεσσαράκοντα τρεῖς.Those from Kiriatharim, twenty-five. Those from Chephirah and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three.25 Of Kiriatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three.
20οἱ Χαδιασαι καὶ Αμμιδιοι τετρακόσιοι εἴκοσι δύο. οἱ ἐκ Κιραμας καὶ Γαββης ἑξακόσιοι εἴκοσι εἷς.The Chadiasans and Ammidians, four hundred twenty-two. Those from Kirama and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.26 Of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.
21οἱ ἐκ Μακαλων ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι δύο. οἱ ἐκ Βαιτολιω πεντήκοντα δύο. υἱοὶ Νιφις ἑκατὸν πεντήκοντα ἕξ.Those from Macalon, one hundred twentytwo. Those from Betolio, fifty-two. The descendants of Niphish, one hundred fifty-six.27 The people of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two. 28 Of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three.
22υἱοὶ Καλαμω ἄλλου καὶ Ωνους ἑπτακόσιοι εἴκοσι πέντε. υἱοὶ Ιερεχου τριακόσιοι τεσσαράκοντα πέντε.The descendants of the other Calamolalus and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five. The descendants of Jerechus, three hundred forty-five.29 The descendants of Nebo, fifty-two. 30 Of Magbish, one hundred fifty-six. 31 Of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. 32 Of Harim, three hundred twenty. 33 Of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five. 34 Of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
23υἱοὶ Σαναας τρισχίλιοι τριακόσιοι τριάκοντα. –The descendants of Senaah, three thousand three hundred thirty.35 Of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty.
24οἱ ἱερεῖς· υἱοὶ Ιεδδου τοῦ υἱοῦ Ἰησοῦ εἰς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ανασιβ ἐννακόσιοι ἑβδομήκοντα δύο. υἱοὶ Εμμηρου χίλιοι πεντήκοντα δύο.The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah son of Jeshua, of the descendants of Anasib, nine hundred seventy-two. The descendants of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two.36 The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three. 37 Of Immer, one thousand fifty-two.
25υἱοὶ Φασσουρου χίλιοι διακόσιοι τεσσαράκοντα ἑπτά. υἱοὶ Χαρμη χίλιοι δέκα ἑπτά. –The descendants of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven. The descendants of Charme, one thousand seventeen.38 Of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven. 39 Of Harim, one thousand seventeen.
26οἱ δὲ Λευῖται· υἱοὶ Ἰησοῦ καὶ Καδμιηλου καὶ Βαννου καὶ Σουδιου ἑβδομήκοντα τέσσαρες.The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel and Bannas and Sudias, seventy-four.40 The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the descendants of Hodaviah, seventy-four.
27οἱ ἱεροψάλται· υἱοὶ Ασαφ ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι ὀκτώ.The temple singers: the descendants of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight.41 The singers: the descendants of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight.
28οἱ θυρωροί· υἱοὶ Σαλουμ, υἱοὶ Αταρ, υἱοὶ Τολμαν, υἱοὶ Ακουβ, υἱοὶ Ατητα, υἱοὶ Σωβαι, οἱ πάντες ἑκατὸν τριάκοντα ἐννέα. –The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, the descendants of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty-nine.42 The descendants of the gatekeepers: of Shallum, of Ater, of Talmon, of Akkub, of Hatita, and of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty-nine.
29οἱ ἱερόδουλοι· υἱοὶ Ησαυ, υἱοὶ Ασιφα, υἱοὶ Ταβαωθ, υἱοὶ Κηρας, υἱοὶ Σουα, υἱοὶ Φαδαιου, υἱοὶ Λαβανα, υἱοὶ Αγγαβα,The temple servants: the descendants of Esau, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth, the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Sua, the descendants of Padon, the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah,43 The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, 44 Keros, Siaha, Padon, 45a Lebanah, Hagabah,
30υἱοὶ Ακουδ, υἱοὶ Ουτα, υἱοὶ Κηταβ, υἱοὶ Αγαβα, υἱοὶ Συβαι, υἱοὶ Αναν, υἱοὶ Καθουα, υἱοὶ Γεδδουρ,the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Uthai, the descendants of Ketab, the descendants of Hagab, the descendants of Subai, the descendants of Hana, the descendants of Cathua, the descendants of Geddur,45b Akkub, 46 Hagab, Shamlai, Hanan, 47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,
31υἱοὶ Ιαιρου, υἱοὶ Δαισαν, υἱοὶ Νοεβα, υἱοὶ Χασεβα, υἱοὶ Γαζηρα, υἱοὶ Οζιου, υἱοὶ Φινοε, υἱοὶ Ασαρα, υἱοὶ Βασθαι, υἱοὶ Ασανα, υἱοὶ Μαανι, υἱοὶ Ναφισι, υἱοὶ Ακουφ, υἱοὶ Αχιβα, υἱοὶ Ασουρ, υἱοὶ Φαρακιμ, υἱοὶ Βασαλωθ,the descendants of Jairus, the descendants of Daisan, the descendants of Noeba, the descendants of Chezib, the descendants of Gazera, the descendants of Uzza, the descendants of Phinoe, the descendants of Hasrah, the descendants of Basthai, the descendants of Asnah, the descendants of Maani, the descendants of Nephisim, the descendants of Acuph, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Asur, the descendants of Pharakim, the descendants of Bazluth,48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, 49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai, 50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephisim, 51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, 52a Bazluth,
32υἱοὶ Μεεδδα, υἱοὶ Κουθα, υἱοὶ Χαρεα, υἱοὶ Βαρχους, υἱοὶ Σεραρ, υἱοὶ Θομοι, υἱοὶ Νασι, υἱοὶ Ατιφα.the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Cutha, the descendants of Charea, the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Serar, the descendants of Temah, the descendants of Neziah, the descendants of Hatipha.52b Mehida, Harsha, 53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah, 54 Neziah, and Hatipha.
33υἱοὶ παίδων Σαλωμων· υἱοὶ Ασσαφιωθ, υἱοὶ Φαριδα, υἱοὶ Ιεηλι, υἱοὶ Λοζων, υἱοὶ Ισδαηλ, υἱοὶ Σαφυθι,The descendants of Solomon's servants: the descendants of Assaphioth, the descendants of Peruda, the descendants of Jaalah, the descendants of Lozon, the descendants of Isdael, the descendants of Shephatiah,55 The descendants of Solomon's servants: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, 56 Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel, 57a Shephatiah,
34υἱοὶ Αγια, υἱοὶ Φακαρεθ – σαβιη, υἱοὶ Σαρωθιε, υἱοὶ Μασιας, υἱοὶ Γας, υἱοὶ Αδδους, υἱοὶ Σουβας, υἱοὶ Αφερρα, υἱοὶ Βαρωδις, υἱοὶ Σαφατ, υἱοὶ Αμων.the descendants of Agia, the descendants of Pocherethhazzebaim, the descendants of Sarothie, the descendants of Masiah, the descendants of Gas, the descendants of Addus, the descendants of Subas, the descendants of Apherra, the descendants of Barodis, the descendants of Shaphat, the descendants of Allon.57b Hattil, Pochereth-hazzebaim, and Ami.
35πάντες οἱ ἱερόδουλοι καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν παίδων Σαλωμων τριακόσιοι ἑβδομήκοντα δύο. –All the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants were three hundred seventy-two.58 All the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants were three hundred ninety-two.
36οὗτοι ἀναβάντες ἀπὸ Θερμελεθ καὶ Θελερσας, ἡγούμενος αὐτῶν Χαρααθ, Αδαν καὶ Αμαρ,The following are those who came up from Tel-melah and Telharsha, under the leadership of Cherub, Addan, and Immer,59a The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer,
37καὶ οὐκ ἠδύναντο ἀπαγγεῖλαι τὰς πατριὰς αὐτῶν καὶ γενεὰς ὡς ἐκ τοῦ Ισραηλ εἰσίν· υἱοὶ Δαλαν τοῦ υἱοῦ Τουβαν, υἱοὶ Νεκωδαν, ἑξακόσιοι πεντήκοντα δύο.though they could not prove by their ancestral houses or lineage that they belonged to Israel: the descendants of Delaiah son of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda, six hundred fifty-two.59b though they could not prove their families or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: 60 the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, six hundred fifty-two.
38καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἱερέων οἱ ἐμποιούμενοι ἱερωσύνης καὶ οὐχ εὑρέθησαν· υἱοὶ Οββια, υἱοὶ Ακκως, υἱοὶ Ιοδδους τοῦ λαβόντος Αυγιαν γυναῖκα τῶν θυγατέρων Φαρζελλαιου καὶ ἐκλήθη ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ·Of the priests the following had assumed the priesthood but were not found registered: the descendants of Habaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Jaddus who had married Agia, one of the daughters of Barzillai, and was called by his name.61 Also, of the descendants of the priests: the descendants of Habaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who had married one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name).
39καὶ τούτων ζητηθείσης τῆς γενικῆς γραφῆς ἐν τῷ καταλοχισμῷ καὶ μὴ εὑρεθείσης ἐχωρίσθησαν τοῦ ἱερατεύειν,When a search was made in the register and the genealogy of these men was not found, they were excluded from serving as priests.62 These looked for their entries in the genealogical records, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean;
40καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Νεεμιας καὶ Ατθαριας μὴ μετέχειν τῶν ἁγίων αὐτούς, ἕως ἀναστῇ ἀρχιερεὺς ἐνδεδυμένος τὴν δήλωσιν καὶ τὴν ἀλήθειαν. –And Nehemiah and Attharias told them not to share in the holy things until a high priest should appear wearing Urim and Thummim.63 the governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim.
41οἱ δὲ πάντες ἦσαν· Ισραηλ ἀπὸ δωδεκαετοῦς χωρὶς παίδων καὶ παιδισκῶν μυριάδες τέσσαρες δισχίλιοι τριακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα· παῖδες τούτων καὶ παιδίσκαι ἑπτακισχίλιοι τριακόσιοι τριάκοντα ἑπτά· ψάλται καὶ ψαλτῳδοὶ διακόσιοι τεσσαράκοντα πέντε·All those of Israel, twelve or more years of age, besides male and female servants, were forty-two thousand three hundred sixty; their male and female servants were seven thousand three hundred thirtyseven; there were two hundred forty-five musicians and singers.64 The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, 65 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven; and they had two hundred male and female singers.
42κάμηλοι τετρακόσιοι τριάκοντα πέντε, καὶ ἵπποι ἑπτακισχίλιοι τριάκοντα ἕξ, ἡμίονοι διακόσιοι τεσσαράκοντα πέντε, ὑποζύγια πεντακισχίλια πεντακόσια εἴκοσι πέντε. –There were four hundred thirty-five camels, and seven thousand thirty-six horses, two hundred forty-five mules, and five thousand five hundred twenty-five donkeys. 66 They had seven hundred thirty-six horses, two hundred forty-five mules, 67 four hundred thirtyfive camels, and six thousand seven hundred twenty donkeys.
43καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἡγουμένων κατὰ τὰς πατριὰς ἐν τῷ παραγίνεσθαι αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ θεοῦ τὸ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ εὔξαντο ἐγεῖραι τὸν οἶκον ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν αὐτῶν δύναμινSome of the heads of families, when they came to the temple of God that is in Jerusalem, vowed that, to the best of their ability, they would erect the house on its site,68 As soon as they came to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of families made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site.
44καὶ δοῦναι εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν γαζοφυλάκιον τῶν ἔργων χρυσίου μνᾶς χιλίας καὶ ἀργυρίου μνᾶς πεντακισχιλίας καὶ στολὰς ἱερατικὰς ἑκατόν. –and that they would give to the sacred treasury for the work a thousand minas of gold, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests' vestments.69 According to their resources they gave to the building fund sixty-one thousand darics of gold, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priestly robes.
45καὶ κατῳκίσθησαν οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται καὶ οἱ ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ καὶ τῇ χώρᾳ, οἵ τε ἱεροψάλται καὶ οἱ θυρωροὶ καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ ἐν ταῖς κώμαις αὐτῶν.The priests, the Levites, and some of the people settled in Jerusalem and its vicinity; and the temple singers, the gatekeepers, and all Israel in their towns.70 The priests, the Levites, and some of the people lived in Jerusalem and its vicinity; and the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all Israel in their towns.
46Ἐνστάντος δὲ τοῦ ἑβδόμου μηνὸς καὶ ὄντων τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ἑκάστου ἐν τοῖς ἰδίοις συνήχθησαν ὁμοθυμαδὸν εἰς τὸ εὐρύχωρον τοῦ πρώτου πυλῶνος τοῦ πρὸς τῇ ἀνατολῇ.When the seventh month came, and the Israelites were all in their own homes, they gathered with a single purpose in the square before the first gate toward the east.(Ezra 3) 1 When the seventh month came, and the Israelites were in the towns, the people gathered together in Jerusalem.
47καὶ καταστὰς Ἰησοῦς ὁ τοῦ Ιωσεδεκ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ Ζοροβαβελ ὁ τοῦ Σαλαθιηλ καὶ οἱ τούτου ἀδελφοὶ ἡτοίμασαν τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ΙσραηλThen Jeshua son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, with his kinsmen, took their places and prepared the altar of the God of Israel,2a Then Jeshua son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his kin set out to build the altar of the God of Israel,
48προσενέγκαι ἐπ αὐτοῦ ὁλοκαυτώσεις ἀκολούθως τοῖς ἐν τῇ Μωυσέως βίβλῳ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τοῦ θεοῦ διηγορευμένοις.to offer burnt offerings upon it, in accordance with the directions in the book of Moses the man of God.2b to offer burnt offerings on it, as prescribed in the law of Moses the man of God.
49καὶ ἐπισυνήχθησαν αὐτοῖς ἐκ τῶν ἄλλων ἐθνῶν τῆς γῆς. καὶ κατώρθωσαν τὸ θυσιαστήριον ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐν ἔχθρᾳ ἦσαν αὐτοῖς καὶ κατίσχυσαν αὐτοὺς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἀνέφερον θυσίας κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν καὶ ὁλοκαυτώματα τῷ κυρίῳ τὸ πρωινὸν καὶ τὸ δειλινὸνAnd some joined them from the other peoples of the land. And they erected the altar in its place, for all the peoples of the land were hostile to them and were stronger than they; and they offered sacrifices at the proper times and burnt offerings to the Lord morning and evening.3 They set up the altar on its foundation, because they were in dread of the neighboring peoples, and they offered burnt offerings upon it to the LORD, morning and evening.
50καὶ ἠγάγοσαν τὴν τῆς σκηνοπηγίας ἑορτήν, ὡς ἐπιτέτακται ἐν τῷ νόμῳ, καὶ θυσίας καθ ἡμέραν, ὡς προσῆκον ἦν,They kept the festival of booths, as it is commanded in the law, and offered the proper sacrifices every day,4 And they kept the festival of booths, as prescribed, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the ordinance, as required for each day,
51καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα προσφορὰς ἐνδελεχισμοῦ καὶ θυσίας σαββάτων καὶ νουμηνιῶν καὶ ἑορτῶν πασῶν ἡγιασμένων.and thereafter the regular offerings and sacrifices on sabbaths and at new moons and at all the consecrated feasts.5 and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the sacred festivals of the LORD, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the LORD.
52καὶ ὅσοι εὔξαντο εὐχὴν τῷ θεῷ, ἀπὸ τῆς νουμηνίας τοῦ ἑβδόμου μηνὸς ἤρξαντο προσφέρειν θυσίας τῷ θεῷ, καὶ ὁ ναὸς τοῦ θεοῦ οὔπω ᾠκοδόμητο.And all who had made any vow to God began to offer sacrifices to God, from the new moon of the seventh month, though the temple of God was not yet built.6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.
53καὶ ἔδωκαν ἀργύριον τοῖς λατόμοις καὶ τέκτοσι καὶ βρωτὰ καὶ ποτὰ καὶ χαρα τοῖς Σιδωνίοις καὶ Τυρίοις εἰς τὸ παράγειν αὐτοὺς ἐκ τοῦ Λιβάνου ξύλα κέδρινα διαφέρειν σχεδίας εἰς τὸν Ιοππης λιμένα κατὰ τὸ πρόσταγμα τὸ γραφὲν αὐτοῖς παρὰ Κύρου τοῦ Περσῶν βασιλέως. –They gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food and drink and carts to the Sidonians and the Tyrians, to bring cedar logs from Lebanon and convey them in rafts to the harbor of Joppa, according to the decree that they had in writing from King Cyrus of the Persians.7 So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from King Cyrus of Persia.
54καὶ τῷ δευτέρῳ ἔτει παραγενόμενος εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς Ιερουσαλημ μηνὸς δευτέρου ἤρξατο Ζοροβαβελ ὁ τοῦ Σαλαθιηλ καὶ Ἰησοῦς ὁ τοῦ Ιωσεδεκ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ Λευῖται καὶ πάντες οἱ παραγενόμενοι ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας εἰς ΙερουσαλημIn the second year after their coming to the temple of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with their kindred and the levitical priests and all who had come back to Jerusalem from exile;8 In the second year after their arrival at the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their people, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work on the house of the LORD.
55καὶ ἐθεμελίωσαν τὸν ναὸν τοῦ θεοῦ τῇ νουμηνίᾳ τοῦ δευτέρου μηνὸς τοῦ δευτέρου ἔτους ἐν τῷ ἐλθεῖν εἰς τὴν Ιουδαίαν καὶ Ιερουσαλημ.and they laid the foundation of the temple of God on the new moon of the second month in the second year after they came to Judea and Jerusalem.9 And Jeshua with his sons and his kin, and Kadmiel and his sons, Binnui and Hodaviah along with the sons of Henadad, the Levites, their sons and kin, together took charge of the workers in the house of God.
56καὶ ἔστησαν τοὺς Λευίτας ἀπὸ εἰκοσαετοῦς ἐπὶ τῶν ἔργων τοῦ κυρίου, καὶ ἔστη Ἰησοῦς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ καὶ Καδμιηλ ὁ ἀδελφὸς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰησοῦ Ημαδαβουν καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ιωδα τοῦ Ιλιαδουν σὺν τοῖς υἱοῖς καὶ ἀδελφοῖς, πάντες οἱ Λευῖται, ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐργοδιῶκται ποιοῦντες εἰς τὰ ἔργα ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ θεοῦ.They appointed the Levites who were twenty or more years of age to have charge of the work of the Lord. And Jeshua arose, and his sons and kindred and his brother Kadmiel and the sons of Jeshua Emadabun and the sons of Joda son of Iliadun, with their sons and kindred, all the Levites, pressing forward the work on the house of God with a single purpose. So the builders built the temple of the Lord.10a When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD,
57καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν οἱ οἰκοδόμοι τὸν ναὸν τοῦ κυρίου, καὶ ἔστησαν οἱ ἱερεῖς ἐστολισμένοι μετὰ μουσικῶν καὶ σαλπίγγων καὶ οἱ Λευῖται υἱοὶ Ασαφ ἔχοντες τὰ κύμβαλα ὑμνοῦντες τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ εὐλογοῦντες κατὰ Δαυιδ βασιλέα τοῦ ΙσραηλAnd the priests stood arrayed in their vestments, with musical instruments and trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, praising the Lord and blessing him, according to the directions of King David of Israel;10b the priests in their vestments were stationed to praise the LORD with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, according to the directions of King David of Israel;
58καὶ ἐφώνησαν δι ὕμνων ὁμολογοῦντες τῷ κυρίῳ, ὅτι ἡ χρηστότης αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας παντὶ Ισραηλ.they sang hymns, giving thanks to the Lord, "For his goodness and his glory are forever upon all Israel."11a and they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel."
59καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἐσάλπισαν καὶ ἐβόησαν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ὑμνοῦντες τῷ κυρίῳ ἐπὶ τῇ ἐγέρσει τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ κυρίου.And all the people sounded trumpets and shouted with a great shout, praising the Lord for the erection of the house of the Lord.11b And all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
60καὶ ἤλθοσαν ἐκ τῶν ἱερέων τῶν Λευιτῶν καὶ τῶν προκαθημένων κατὰ τὰς πατριὰς αὐτῶν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι οἱ ἑωρακότες τὸν πρὸ τούτου οἶκον πρὸς τὴν τούτου οἰκοδομὴν μετὰ κραυγῆς καὶ κλαυθμοῦ μεγάλουSome of the levitical priests and heads of ancestral houses, old men who had seen the former house, came to the building of this one with outcries and loud weeping,12a But many of the priests and Levites and heads of families, old people who had seen the first house on its foundations, wept with a loud voice when they saw this house,
61καὶ πολλοὶ διὰ σαλπίγγων καὶ χαρᾶς μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇwhile many came with trumpets and a joyful noise,12b though many shouted aloud for joy,
62ὥστε τὸν λαὸν μὴ ἀκούειν τῶν σαλπίγγων διὰ τὸν κλαυθμὸν τοῦ λαοῦ, ὁ γὰρ ὄχλος ἦν ὁ σαλπίζων μεγαλωστὶ ὥστε μακρόθεν ἀκούεσθαι.so that the people could not hear the trumpets because of the weeping of the people. For the multitude sounded the trumpets loudly, so that the sound was heard far away;13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted so loudly that the sound was heard far away.
63Καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ ἐχθροὶ τῆς φυλῆς Ιουδα καὶ Βενιαμιν ἤλθοσαν ἐπιγνῶναι τίς ἡ φωνὴ τῶν σαλπίγγων.and when the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin heard it, they came to find out what the sound of the trumpets meant.(Ezra 4) 1a When the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin
64καὶ ἐπέγνωσαν ὅτι οἱ ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας οἰκοδομοῦσιν τὸν ναὸν τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ Ισραηλ,They learned that those who had returned from exile were building the temple for the Lord God of Israel.2b heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel,
65καὶ προσελθόντες τῷ Ζοροβαβελ καὶ Ἰησοῦ καὶ τοῖς ἡγουμένοις τῶν πατριῶν λέγουσιν αὐτοῖς Συνοικοδομήσομεν ὑμῖν·So they approached Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the heads of the ancestral houses and said to them, "We will build with you.2a they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of families and said to them, "Let us build with you,
66ὁμοίως γὰρ ὑμῖν ἀκούομεν τοῦ κυρίου ὑμῶν καὶ αὐτῷ ἐπιθύομεν ἀπὸ ἡμερῶν Ασβασαρεθ βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων, ὃς μετήγαγεν ἡμᾶς ἐνταῦθα.For we obey your Lord just as you do and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of King Esar-haddon of the Assyrians, who brought us here."2b for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of King Esar-haddon of Assyria who brought us here."
67καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ζοροβαβελ καὶ Ἰησοῦς καὶ οἱ ἡγούμενοι τῶν πατριῶν τοῦ Ισραηλ Οὐχ ὑμῖν καὶ ἡμῖν τοῦ οἰκοδομῆσαι τὸν οἶκον κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ ἡμῶν·But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the heads of the ancestral houses in Israel said to them, "You have nothing to do with us in building the house for the Lord our God,3a But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of families in Israel said to them, "You shall have no part with us in building a house to our God;
68ἡμεῖς γὰρ μόνοι οἰκοδομήσομεν τῷ κυρίῳ τοῦ Ισραηλ ἀκολούθως οἷς προσέταξεν ἡμῖν Κῦρος ὁ βασιλεὺς Περσῶν.for we alone will build it for the Lord of Israel, as Cyrus, the king of the Persians, has commanded us."3b but we alone will build to the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus of Persia has commanded us."
69τὰ δὲ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς ἐπικείμενα τοῖς ἐν τῇ Ιουδαίᾳ καὶ πολιορκοῦντες εἶργον τοῦ οἰκοδομεῖνBut the peoples of the land pressed hard upon those in Judea, cut off their supplies, and hindered their building;4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and made them afraid to build,
70καὶ ἐπιβουλὰς καὶ δημαγωγίας καὶ ἐπισυστάσεις ποιούμενοι ἀπεκώλυσαν τοῦ ἐπιτελεσθῆναι τὴν οἰκοδομὴν πάντα τὸν χρόνον τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ βασιλέως Κύρου. καὶ εἴρχθησαν τῆς οἰκοδομῆς ἔτη δύο ἕως τῆς Δαρείου βασιλείας.and by plots and demagoguery and uprisings they prevented the completion of the building as long as King Cyrus lived. They were kept from building for two years, until the reign of Darius. 5 and they bribed officials to frustrate their plan throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia.

Chapter 6

1Ἐν δὲ τῷ δευτέρῳ ἔτει τῆς τοῦ Δαρείου βασιλείας ἐπροφήτευσεν Αγγαιος καὶ Ζαχαριας ὁ τοῦ Εδδι οἱ προφῆται ἐπὶ τοὺς Ιουδαίους τοὺς ἐν τῇ Ιουδαίᾳ καὶ Ιερουσαλημ ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι κυρίου θεοῦ Ισραηλ ἐπ αὐτούς.Now in the second year of the reign of Darius, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews who were in Judea and Jerusalem; they prophesied to them in the name of the Lord God of Israel.(Ezra 5) 1 Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.
2τότε στὰς Ζοροβαβελ ὁ τοῦ Σαλαθιηλ καὶ Ἰησοῦς ὁ τοῦ Ιωσεδεκ ἤρξαντο οἰκοδομεῖν τὸν οἶκον τοῦ κυρίου τὸν ἐν Ιερουσαλημ συνόντων τῶν προφητῶν τοῦ κυρίου βοηθούντων αὐτοῖς.Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak began to build the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, with the help of the prophets of the Lord who were with them.2 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak set out to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
3ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ χρόνῳ παρῆν πρὸς αὐτοὺς Σισίννης ὁ ἔπαρχος Συρίας καὶ Φοινίκης καὶ Σαθραβουζάνης καὶ οἱ συνέταιροι καὶ εἶπαν αὐτοῖςAt the same time Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia and Sathrabuzanes and their associates came to them and said,3a At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus,
4Τίνος ὑμῖν συντάξαντος τὸν οἶκον τοῦτον οἰκοδομεῖτε καὶ τὴν στέγην ταύτην καὶ τἄλλα πάντα ἐπιτελεῖτε; καὶ τίνες εἰσὶν οἱ οἰκοδόμοι οἱ ταῦτα ἐπιτελοῦντες;"By whose order are you building this house and this roof and finishing all the other things? And who are the builders that are finishing these things?"3b "Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?" 4 They also asked them this, "What are the names of the men who are building this building?"
5καὶ ἔσχοσαν χάριν ἐπισκοπῆς γενομένης ἐπὶ τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῶν Ιουδαίων5 Yet the elders of the Jews were dealt with kindly, for the providence of the Lord was over the captives;5a But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews,
6καὶ οὐκ ἐκωλύθησαν τῆς οἰκοδομῆς μέχρι τοῦ ὑποσημανθῆναι Δαρείῳ περὶ αὐτῶν καὶ προσφωνηθῆναι.they were not prevented from building until word could be sent to Darius concerning them and a report made.5b and they did not stop them until a report reached Darius and then answer was returned by letter in reply to it.
7Ἀντίγραφον ἐπιστολῆς, ἧς ἔγραψεν Δαρείῳ καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Σισίννης ὁ ἔπαρχος Συρίας καὶ Φοινίκης καὶ Σαθραβουζάνης καὶ οἱ συνέταιροι οἱ ἐν Συρίᾳ καὶ Φοινίκῃ ἡγεμόνεςA copy of the letter that Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, and their associates the local rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, wrote and sent to Darius:6 The copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and his associates the envoys who were in the province Beyond the River sent to King Darius; 7a they sent him a report, in which was written as follows:
8Βασιλεῖ Δαρείῳ χαίρειν. πάντα γνωστὰ ἔστω τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν τῷ βασιλεῖ, ὅτι παραγενόμενοι εἰς τὴν χώραν τῆς Ιουδαίας καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς Ιερουσαλημ τὴν πόλιν κατελάβομεν τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τῶν Ιουδαίων ἐν Ιερουσαλημ τῇ πόλει οἰκοδομοῦντας οἶκον τῷ κυρίῳ μέγαν καινὸν διὰ λίθων ξυστῶν πολυτελῶν ξύλων τιθεμένων ἐν τοῖς τοίχοις"To King Darius, greetings. Let it be fully known to our lord the king that, when we went to the country of Judea and entered the city of Jerusalem, we found the elders of the Jews, who had been in exile, building in the city of Jerusalem a great new house for the Lord, of hewn stone, with costly timber laid in the walls.7b "To Darius the king, all peace! 8a May it be known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built of hewn stone, and timber is laid in the walls;
9καὶ τὰ ἔργα ἐκεῖνα ἐπὶ σπουδῆς γιγνόμενα καὶ εὐοδούμενον τὸ ἔργον ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐν πάσῃ δόξῃ καὶ ἐπιμελείᾳ συντελούμενα.These operations are going on rapidly, and the work is prospering in their hands and being completed with all splendor and care.8b this work is being done diligently and prospers in their hands.
10τότε ἐπυνθανόμεθα τῶν πρεσβυτέρων τούτων λέγοντες Τίνος ὑμῖν προστάξαντος οἰκοδομεῖτε τὸν οἶκον τοῦτον καὶ τὰ ἔργα ταῦτα θεμελιοῦτε;Then we asked these elders, 'At whose command are you building this house and laying the foundations of this structure?'9 Then we spoke to those elders and asked them, 'Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?'
11ἐπηρωτήσαμεν οὖν αὐτοὺς εἵνεκεν τοῦ γνωρίσαι σοι καὶ γράψαι σοι τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς ἀφηγουμένους καὶ τὴν ὀνοματογραφίαν ᾐτοῦμεν αὐτοὺς τῶν προκαθηγουμένων.In order that we might inform you in writing who the leaders are, we questioned them and asked them for a list of the names of those who are at their head.10 We also asked them their names, for your information, so that we might write down the names of the men at their head.
12οἱ δὲ ἀπεκρίθησαν ἡμῖν λέγοντες Ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν παῖδες τοῦ κυρίου τοῦ κτίσαντος τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν.They answered us, 'We are the servants of the Lord who created the heaven and the earth.11a This was their reply to us: 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth,
13καὶ ᾠκοδόμητο ὁ οἶκος ἔμπροσθεν ἐτῶν πλειόνων διὰ βασιλέως τοῦ Ισραηλ μεγάλου καὶ ἰσχυροῦ καὶ ἐπετελέσθη.The house was built many years ago by a king of Israel who was great and strong, and it was finished.11b and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.
14καὶ ἐπεὶ οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν παραπικράναντες ἥμαρτον εἰς τὸν κύριον τοῦ Ισραηλ τὸν οὐράνιον, παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς εἰς χεῖρας Ναβουχοδονοσορ βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος βασιλέως τῶν Χαλδαίων·But when our ancestors sinned against the Lord of Israel who is in heaven, and provoked him, he gave them over into the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, king of the Chaldeans;12a But because our ancestors had angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean,
15τόν τε οἶκον καθελόντες ἐνεπύρισαν καὶ τὸν λαὸν ᾐχμαλώτευσαν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα.and they pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried the people away captive to Babylon.12b who destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia.
16ἐν δὲ τῷ πρώτῳ ἔτει βασιλεύοντος Κύρου χώρας Βαβυλωνίας ἔγραψεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Κῦρος οἰκοδομῆσαι τὸν οἶκον τοῦτον·But in the first year that Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylonia, King Cyrus wrote that this house should be rebuilt.13 However, King Cyrus of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt.
17καὶ τὰ ἱερὰ σκεύη τὰ χρυσᾶ καὶ τὰ ἀργυρᾶ, ἃ ἐξήνεγκεν Ναβουχοδονοσορ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ καὶ ἀπηρείσατο αὐτὰ ἐν τῷ ἑαυτοῦ ναῷ, πάλιν ἐξήνεγκεν αὐτὰ Κῦρος ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐκ τοῦ ναοῦ τοῦ ἐν Βαβυλῶνι, καὶ παρεδόθη Ζοροβαβελ καὶ Σαναβασσάρῳ τῷ ἐπάρχῳ,And the holy vessels of gold and of silver, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the house in Jerusalem and stored in his own temple, these King Cyrus took out again from the temple in Babylon, and they were delivered to Zerubbabel and Sheshbazzar the governor14 Moreover, the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem and had brought into the temple of Babylon, these King Cyrus took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.
18καὶ ἐπετάγη αὐτῷ ἀπενέγκαντι πάντα τὰ σκεύη ταῦτα ἀποθεῖναι ἐν τῷ ναῷ τῷ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ καὶ τὸν ναὸν τοῦ κυρίου τοῦτον οἰκοδομηθῆναι ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου.with the command that he should take all these vessels back and put them in the temple at Jerusalem, and that this temple of the Lord should be rebuilt on its site.15 He said to him, "Take these vessels; go and put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site."
19τότε ὁ Σαναβάσσαρος ἐκεῖνος παραγενόμενος ἐνεβάλετο τοὺς θεμελίους τοῦ οἴκου κυρίου τοῦ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ, καὶ ἀπ ἐκείνου μέχρι τοῦ νῦν οἰκοδομούμενος οὐκ ἔλαβεν συντέλειαν.Then this Sheshbazzar, after coming here, laid the foundations of the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. Although it has been in process of construction from that time until now, it has not yet reached completion.'16 Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from that time until now it has been under construction, and it is not yet finished.'
20νῦν οὖν, εἰ κρίνεται, βασιλεῦ, ἐπισκεπήτω ἐν τοῖς βασιλικοῖς βιβλιοφυλακίοις τοῦ κυρίου βασιλέως τοῖς ἐν Βαβυλῶνι·Now therefore, O king, if it seems wise to do so, let search be made in the royal archives of our lord the king that are in Babylon;17a And now, if it seems good to the king, have a search made in the royal archives there in Babylon,
21καὶ ἐὰν εὑρίσκηται μετὰ τῆς γνώμης Κύρου τοῦ βασιλέως γενομένην τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ οἴκου κυρίου τοῦ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ καὶ κρίνηται τῷ κυρίῳ βασιλεῖ ἡμῶν, προσφωνησάτω ἡμῖν περὶ τούτων.if it is found that the building of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem was done with the consent of King Cyrus, and if it is approved by our lord the king, let him send us directions concerning these things."17b to see whether a decree was issued by King Cyrus for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. Let the king send us his pleasure in this matter."
22Τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς Δαρεῖος προσέταξεν ἐπισκέψασθαι ἐν τοῖς βασιλικοῖς βιβλιοφυλακίοις τοῖς κειμένοις ἐν Βαβυλῶνι, καὶ εὑρέθη ἐν Ἐκβατάνοις τῇ βάρει τῇ ἐν Μηδίᾳ χώρᾳ τόμος εἷς, ἐν ᾧ ὑπεμνημάτιστο τάδεThen Darius commanded that search be made in the royal archives that were deposited in Babylon. And in Ecbatana, the fortress that is in the country of Media, a scroll was found in which this was recorded:(Ezra 6) 1 Then King Darius made a decree, and they searched the archives where the documents were stored in Babylon. 2a But it was in Ecbatana, the capital in the province of Media, that a scroll was found on which this was written:
23Ἔτους πρώτου βασιλεύοντος Κύρου· βασιλεὺς Κῦρος προσέταξεν τὸν οἶκον τοῦ κυρίου τὸν ἐν Ιερουσαλημ οἰκοδομῆσαι, ὅπου ἐπιθύουσιν διὰ πυρὸς ἐνδελεχοῦς,"In the first year of the reign of King Cyrus, he ordered the building of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, where they sacrifice with perpetual fire;2b "A record. 3a In the first year of his reign, King Cyrus issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices are offered and burnt offerings are brought;
24οὗ τὸ ὕψος πήχεων ἑξήκοντα, πλάτος πήχεων ἑξήκοντα, διὰ δόμων λιθίνων ξυστῶν τριῶν καὶ δόμου ξυλίνου ἐγχωρίου καινοῦ ἑνός, καὶ τὸ δαπάνημα δοθῆναι ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου Κύρου τοῦ βασιλέως·its height to be sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits, with three courses of hewn stone and one course of new native timber; the cost to be paid from the treasury of King Cyrus;3b its height shall be sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits, 4 with three courses of hewn stones and one course of timber; let the cost be paid from the royal treasury.
25καὶ τὰ ἱερὰ σκεύη τοῦ οἴκου κυρίου, τά τε χρυσᾶ καὶ τὰ ἀργυρᾶ, ἃ ἐξήνεγκεν Ναβουχοδονοσορ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ καὶ ἀπήνεγκεν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα, ἀποκατασταθῆναι εἰς τὸν οἶκον τὸν ἐν Ιερουσαλημ, οὗ ἦν κείμενα, ὅπως τεθῇ ἐκεῖ.and that the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both of gold and of silver, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the house in Jerusalem and carried away to Babylon, should be restored to the house in Jerusalem, to be placed where they had been."5 Moreover, let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple in Jerusalem, each to its place; you shall put them in the house of God."
26προσέταξεν δὲ ἐπιμεληθῆναι Σισίννῃ ἐπάρχῳ Συρίας καὶ Φοινίκης καὶ Σαθραβουζάνῃ καὶ τοῖς συνεταίροις καὶ τοῖς ἀποτεταγμένοις ἐν Συρίᾳ καὶ Φοινίκῃ ἡγεμόσιν ἀπέχεσθαι τοῦ τόπου, ἐᾶσαι δὲ τὸν παῖδα τοῦ κυρίου Ζοροβαβελ, ἔπαρχον δὲ τῆς Ιουδαίας, καὶ τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τῶν Ιουδαίων τὸν οἶκον τοῦ κυρίου ἐκεῖνον οἰκοδομεῖν ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου.So Darius commanded Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, and their associates, and those who were appointed as local rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, to keep away from the place, and to permit Zerubbabel, the servant of the Lord and governor of Judea, and the elders of the Jews to build this house of the Lord on its site.6 "Now you, Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and you, their associates, the envoys in the province Beyond the River, keep away; 7 let the work on this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site.
27κἀγὼ δὲ ἐπέταξα ὁλοσχερῶς οἰκοδομῆσαι καὶ ἀτενίσαι ἵνα συμποιῶσιν τοῖς ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας τῆς Ιουδαίας μέχρι τοῦ ἐπιτελεσθῆναι τὸν οἶκον τοῦ κυρίου·"And I command that it be built completely, and that full effort be made to help those who have returned from the exile of Judea, until the house of the Lord is finished;8a Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God:
28καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς φορολογίας Κοίλης Συρίας καὶ Φοινίκης ἐπιμελῶς σύνταξιν δίδοσθαι τούτοις τοῖς ἀνθρώποις εἰς θυσίας τῷ κυρίῳ, Ζοροβαβελ ἐπάρχῳ, εἰς ταύρους καὶ κριοὺς καὶ ἄρνας,and that out of the tribute of Coelesyria and Phoenicia a portion be scrupulously given to these men, that is, to Zerubbabel the governor, for sacrifices to the Lord, for bulls and rams and lambs,8b the cost is to be paid to these people, in full and without delay, from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province Beyond the River. 9a 9 Whatever is needed - young bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven,
29ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ πυρὸν καὶ ἅλα καὶ οἶνον καὶ ἔλαιον ἐνδελεχῶς κατ ἐνιαυτόν, καθὼς ἂν οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ ὑπαγορεύσωσιν ἀναλίσκεσθαι καθ ἡμέραν ἀναμφισβητήτως,and likewise wheat and salt and wine and oil, regularly every year, without quibbling, for daily use as the priests in Jerusalem may indicate,9b wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests in Jerusalem require - let that be given to them day by day without fail,
30ὅπως προσφέρωνται σπονδαὶ τῷ θεῷ τῷ ὑψίστῳ ὑπὲρ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τῶν παίδων καὶ προσεύχωνται περὶ τῆς αὐτῶν ζωῆς.in order that libations may be made to the Most High God for the king and his children, and prayers be offered for their lives."10 so that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his children.
31καὶ προσέταξεν ἵνα ὅσοι ἐὰν παραβῶσίν τι τῶν προειρημένων καὶ τῶν προσγεγραμμένων ἢ καὶ ἀκυρώσωσιν, λημφθῆναι ξύλον ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ τούτου κρεμασθῆναι καὶ τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ εἶναι βασιλικά.He commanded that if anyone should transgress or nullify any of the things herein written, a beam should be taken out of the house of the perpetrator, who then should be impaled upon it, and all property forfeited to the king.11 Furthermore I decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of the house of the perpetrator, who then shall be impaled on it. The house shall be made a dunghill.
32διὰ ταῦτα καὶ ὁ κύριος, οὗ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐπικέκληται ἐκεῖ, ἀφανίσαι πάντα βασιλέα καὶ ἔθνος, ὃς ἐκτενεῖ τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ κωλῦσαι ἢ κακοποιῆσαι τὸν οἶκον τοῦ κυρίου ἐκεῖνον τὸν ἐν Ιερουσαλημ."Therefore may the Lord, whose name is there called upon, destroy every king and nation that shall stretch out their hands to hinder or damage that house of the Lord in Jerusalem.12a 12 May the God who has established his name there overthrow any king or people that shall put forth a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem.
33ἐγὼ βασιλεὺς Δαρεῖος δεδογμάτικα ἐπιμελῶς κατὰ ταῦτα γίγνεσθαι."I, King Darius, have decreed that it be done with all diligence as here prescribed."12b I, Darius, make a decree; let it be done with all diligence."

Chapter 7

1Τότε Σισίννης ὁ ἔπαρχος Κοίλης Συρίας καὶ Φοινίκης καὶ Σαθραβουζάνης καὶ οἱ συνέταιροι κατακολουθήσαντες τοῖς ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως Δαρείου προσταγεῖσινThen Sisinnes the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, and their associates, following the orders of King Darius,(Ezra 6) 13 Then, according to the word sent by King Darius, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what King Darius had ordered.
2ἐπεστάτουν τῶν ἱερῶν ἔργων ἐπιμελέστερον συνεργοῦντες τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις τῶν Ιουδαίων καὶ ἱεροστάταις.supervised the holy work with very great care, assisting the elders of the Jews and the chief officers of the temple.14 So the elders of the Jews
3καὶ εὔοδα ἐγίνετο τὰ ἱερὰ ἔργα προφητευόντων Αγγαιου καὶ Ζαχαριου τῶν προφητῶν,The holy work prospered, while the prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied;14b built and prospered, through the prophesying of the prophet Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo.
4καὶ συνετέλεσαν ταῦτα διὰ προστάγματος τοῦ κυρίου θεοῦ Ισραηλ,and they completed it by the command of the Lord God of Israel.14c They finished their building by command of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia;
5καὶ μετὰ τῆς γνώμης Κύρου καὶ Δαρείου καὶ Ἀρταξέρξου βασιλέως Περσῶν συνετελέσθη ὁ οἶκος ὁ ἅγιος ἕως τρίτης καὶ εἰκάδος μηνὸς Αδαρ τοῦ ἕκτου ἔτους βασιλέως Δαρείου.So with the consent of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of the Persians, the holy house was finished by the twenty-third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of King Darius.15 and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
6καὶ ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας οἱ προστεθέντες ἀκολούθως τοῖς ἐν τῇ Μωυσέως βίβλῳ·And the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of those who returned from exile who joined them, did according to what was written in the book of Moses.16 The people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.
7καὶ προσήνεγκαν εἰς τὸν ἐγκαινισμὸν τοῦ ἱεροῦ τοῦ κυρίου ταύρους ἑκατόν, κριοὺς διακοσίους, ἄρνας τετρακοσίους,They offered at the dedication of the temple of the Lord one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs,17a They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs,
8χιμάρους ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτίας παντὸς τοῦ Ισραηλ δώδεκα πρὸς ἀριθμὸν ἐκ τῶν φυλάρχων τοῦ Ισραηλ δώδεκα·and twelve male goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the twelve leaders of the tribes of Israel;17b and as a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
9καὶ ἔστησαν οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται ἐστολισμένοι κατὰ φυλὰς ἐπὶ τῶν ἔργων τοῦ κυρίου θεοῦ Ισραηλ ἀκολούθως τῇ Μωυσέως βίβλῳ καὶ οἱ θυρωροὶ ἐφ ἑκάστου πυλῶνος.and the priests and the Levites stood arrayed in their vestments, according to kindred, for the services of the Lord God of Israel in accordance with the book of Moses; and the gatekeepers were at each gate.18 Then they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses. *
10Καὶ ἠγάγοσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τῶν ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας τὸ πασχα ἐν τῇ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ τοῦ πρώτου μηνός· ὅτι ἡγνίσθησαν οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται ἅμα,The people of Israel who came from exile kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, after the priests and the Levites were purified together.19 On the fourteenth day of the first month the returned exiles kept the passover. 20a For both the priests and the Levites had purified themselves;
11καὶ πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας οὐχ ἡγνίσθησαν, ὅτι οἱ Λευῖται ἅμα πάντες ἡγνίσθησανNot all of the returned captives were purified, but the Levites were all purified together,20b all of them were clean.
12καὶ ἔθυσαν τὸ πασχα πᾶσιν τοῖς υἱοῖς τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας καὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτῶν τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν καὶ ἑαυτοῖς.and they sacrificed the passover lamb for all the returned captives and for their kindred the priests and for themselves.20c So they killed the passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves.
13καὶ ἐφάγοσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ οἱ ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας, πάντες οἱ χωρισθέντες ἀπὸ τῶν βδελυγμάτων τῶν ἐθνῶν τῆς γῆς, ζητοῦντες τὸν κύριον.The people of Israel who had returned from exile ate it, all those who had separated themselves from the abominations of the peoples of the land and sought the Lord.21 It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by all who had joined them and separated themselves from the pollutions of the nations of the land to worship the LORD, the God of Israel.
14καὶ ἠγάγοσαν τὴν ἑορτὴν τῶν ἀζύμων ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας εὐφραινόμενοι ἔναντι τοῦ κυρίου,They also kept the festival of unleavened bread seven days, rejoicing before the Lord,22a With joy they celebrated the festival of unleavened bread seven days;
15ὅτι μετέστρεψεν τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων ἐπ αὐτοὺς κατισχῦσαι τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τὰ ἔργα κυρίου θεοῦ Ισραηλ.because he had changed the will of the king of the Assyrians concerning them, to strengthen their hands for the service of the Lord God of Israel. 22b for the LORD had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.

Chapter 8

1Καὶ μεταγενέστερος τούτων βασιλεύοντος Ἀρταξέρξου τοῦ Περσῶν βασιλέως προσέβη Εσδρας Σαραιου τοῦ Εζεριου τοῦ Χελκιου τοῦ ΣαλημουAfter these things, when Artaxerxes, the king of the Persians, was reigning, Ezra came, the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum,(Ezra 7) 1 After this, in the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2a son of Shallum,
2τοῦ Σαδδουκου τοῦ Αχιτωβ τοῦ Αμαριου τοῦ Οζιου τοῦ Βοκκα τοῦ Αβισουε τοῦ Φινεες τοῦ Ελεαζαρ τοῦ Ααρων τοῦ πρώτου ἱερέως·son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, son of Amariah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, son of Abishua, son of Phineas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the high priest.2b son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, 4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of the chief priest Aaron -
3οὗτος Εσδρας ἀνέβη ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος ὡς γραμματεὺς εὐφυὴς ὢν ἐν τῷ Μωυσέως νόμῳ τῷ ἐκδεδομένῳ ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ Ισραηλ,This Ezra came up from Babylon as a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which was given by the God of Israel;6a this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses that the LORD the God of Israel had given;
4καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ βασιλεὺς δόξαν, εὑρόντος χάριν ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ ἀξιώματα αὐτοῦ.and the king showed him honor, for he found favor before the king in all his requests.6b and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.
5καὶ συνανέβησαν ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ τῶν ἱερέων καὶ Λευιτῶν καὶ ἱεροψαλτῶν καὶ θυρωρῶν καὶ ἱεροδούλων εἰς Ιεροσόλυμα ἔτους ἑβδόμου βασιλεύοντος Ἀρταξέρξου ἐν τῷ πέμπτῳ μηνί [οὗτος ἐνιαυτὸς ἕβδομος τῷ βασιλεῖ]·There came up with him to Jerusalem some of the people of Israel and some of the priests and Levites and temple singers and gatekeepers and temple servants, in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, in the fifth month (this was the king's seventh year);7 Some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants also went up to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 8 They came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
6ἐξελθόντες γὰρ ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος τῇ νουμηνίᾳ τοῦ πρώτου μηνὸς ἐν τῇ νουμηνίᾳ τοῦ πέμπτου μηνὸς παρεγένοντο εἰς Ιεροσόλυμα κατὰ τὴν δοθεῖσαν αὐτοῖς εὐοδίαν παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἐπ αὐτῷ.for they left Babylon on the new moon of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the new moon of the fifth month, by the prosperous journey that the Lord gave them.9 On the first day of the first month the journey up from Babylon was begun, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the gracious hand of his God was upon him.
7ὁ γὰρ Εσδρας πολλὴν ἐπιστήμην περιεῖχεν εἰς τὸ μηδὲν παραλιπεῖν τῶν ἐκ τοῦ νόμου κυρίου καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἐντολῶν διδάξαι τὸν πάντα Ισραηλ πάντα τὰ δικαιώματα καὶ τὰ κρίματα.For Ezra possessed great knowledge, so that he omitted nothing from the law of the Lord or the commandments, but taught all Israel all the ordinances and judgments. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach the statutes and ordinances in Israel.
8Προσπεσόντος δὲ τοῦ γραφέντος προστάγματος παρὰ Ἀρταξέρξου τοῦ βασιλέως πρὸς Εσδραν τὸν ἱερέα καὶ ἀναγνώστην τοῦ νόμου κυρίου, οὗ ἐστιν ἀντίγραφον τὸ ὑποκείμενονThe following is a copy of the written commission from King Artaxerxes that was delivered to Ezra the priest and reader of the law of the Lord:11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to the priest Ezra, the scribe, a scholar of the text of the commandments of the LORD and his statutes for Israel:
9Βασιλεὺς Ἀρταξέρξης Εσδρα τῷ ἱερεῖ καὶ ἀναγνώστῃ τοῦ νόμου κυρίου χαίρειν."King Artaxerxes to Ezra the priest and reader of the law of the Lord, greeting.12 * "Artaxerxes, king of kings, to the priest Ezra, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven: Peace. And now
10καὶ τὰ φιλάνθρωπα ἐγὼ κρίνας προσέταξα τοὺς βουλομένους ἐκ τοῦ ἔθνους τῶν Ιουδαίων αἱρετίζοντας καὶ τῶν ἱερέων καὶ τῶν Λευιτῶν, καὶ τῶν δὲ ἐν τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ βασιλείᾳ, συμπορεύεσθαί σοι εἰς Ιερουσαλημ.In accordance with my gracious decision, I have given orders that those of the Jewish nation and of the priests and Levites and others in our realm, those who freely choose to do so, may go with you to Jerusalem.13 I decree that any of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom who freely offers to go to Jerusalem may go with you.
11ὅσοι οὖν ἐνθυμοῦνται, συνεξορμάτωσαν, καθάπερ δέδοκται ἐμοί τε καὶ τοῖς ἑπτὰ φίλοις συμβουλευταῖς,Let as many as are so disposed, therefore, leave with you, just as I and the seven Friends who are my counselors have decided,14a For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors
12ὅπως ἐπισκέψωνται τὰ κατὰ τὴν Ιουδαίαν καὶ Ιερουσαλημ ἀκολούθως ᾧ ἔχει ἐν τῷ νόμῳ τοῦ κυρίου,in order to look into matters in Judea and Jerusalem, in accordance with what is in the law of the Lord,14b to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your hand,
13καὶ ἀπενεγκεῖν δῶρα τῷ κυρίῳ τοῦ Ισραηλ, ἃ ηὐξάμην ἐγώ τε καὶ οἱ φίλοι, εἰς Ιερουσαλημ καὶ πᾶν χρυσίον καὶ ἀργύριον, ὃ ἐὰν εὑρεθῇ ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ τῆς Βαβυλωνίας, τῷ κυρίῳ εἰς Ιερουσαλημ σὺν τῷ δεδωρημένῳ ὑπὸ τοῦ ἔθνους εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ κυρίου αὐτῶν τὸ ἐν Ιερουσαλημand to carry to Jerusalem the gifts for the Lord of Israel that I and my Friends have vowed, and to collect for the Lord in Jerusalem all the gold and silver that may be found in the country of Babylonia, together with what is given by the nation for the temple of their Lord that is in Jerusalem,15 and also to convey the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, given willingly for the house of their God in Jerusalem.
14συναχθῆναι τό τε χρυσίον καὶ ἀργύριον εἰς ταύρους καὶ κριοὺς καὶ ἄρνας καὶ τὰ τούτοις ἀκόλουθαboth gold and silver for bulls and rams and lambs and what goes with them,17a With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs,
15ὥστε προσενεγκεῖν θυσίας ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ κυρίου αὐτῶν τὸ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ.so as to offer sacrifices on the altar of their Lord that is in Jerusalem.17b and their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.
16καὶ πάντα, ὅσα ἂν βούλῃ μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου ποιῆσαι χρυσίῳ καὶ ἀργυρίῳ, ἐπιτέλει κατὰ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ σουWhatever you and your kindred are minded to do with the gold and silver, perform it in accordance with the will of your God;18 Whatever seems good to you and your colleagues to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God.
17καὶ τὰ ἱερὰ σκεύη τοῦ κυρίου τὰ διδόμενά σοι εἰς τὴν χρείαν τοῦ ἱεροῦ τοῦ θεοῦ σου τοῦ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ.deliver the holy vessels of the Lord that are given you for the use of the temple of your God that is in Jerusalem.19 The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem.
18καὶ τὰ λοιπά, ὅσα ἂν ὑποπίπτῃ σοι εἰς τὴν χρείαν τοῦ ἱεροῦ τοῦ θεοῦ σου, δώσεις ἐκ τοῦ βασιλικοῦ γαζοφυλακίου·And whatever else occurs to you as necessary for the temple of your God, you may provide out of the royal treasury.20 And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which you are responsible for providing, you may provide out of the king's treasury.
19κἀγὼ δὲ Ἀρταξέρξης ὁ βασιλεὺς προσέταξα τοῖς γαζοφύλαξι Συρίας καὶ Φοινίκης, ἵνα ὅσα ἂν ἀποστείλῃ Εσδρας ὁ ἱερεὺς καὶ ἀναγνώστης τοῦ νόμου τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου, ἐπιμελῶς διδῶσιν αὐτῷ ἕως ἀργυρίου ταλάντων ἑκατόν,"I, King Artaxerxes, have commanded the treasurers of Syria and Phoenicia that whatever Ezra the priest and reader of the law of the Most High God sends for, they shall take care to give him, up to a hundred talents of silver,21 "I, King Artaxerxes, decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever the priest Ezra, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence, 22a up to one hundred talents of silver,
20ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἕως πυροῦ κόρων ἑκατὸν καὶ οἴνου μετρητῶν ἑκατὸν καὶ ἅλα ἐκ πλήθους·and likewise up to a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, and salt in abundance.22b one hundred cors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and unlimited salt.
21πάντα τὰ κατὰ τὸν τοῦ θεοῦ νόμον ἐπιτελεσθήτω ἐπιμελῶς τῷ θεῷ τῷ ὑψίστῳ ἕνεκα τοῦ μὴ γενέσθαι ὀργὴν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τῶν υἱῶν.Let all things prescribed in the law of God be scrupulously fulfilled for the Most High God, so that wrath may not come upon the kingdom of the king and his sons.23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, or wrath will come upon the realm of the king and his heirs.
22καὶ ὑμῖν δὲ λέγεται ὅπως πᾶσι τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν καὶ τοῖς Λευίταις καὶ ἱεροψάλταις καὶ θυρωροῖς καὶ ἱεροδούλοις καὶ πραγματικοῖς τοῦ ἱεροῦ τούτου μηδεμία φορολογία μηδὲ ἄλλη ἐπιβολὴ γίγνηται, καὶ ἐξουσίαν μηδένα ἔχειν ἐπιβαλεῖν τι τούτοις.You are also informed that no tribute or any other tax is to be laid on any of the priests or Levites or temple singers or gatekeepers or temple servants or persons employed in this temple, and that no one has authority to impose any tax on them.24 We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on any of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
23καὶ σύ, Εσδρα, κατὰ τὴν σοφίαν τοῦ θεοῦ ἀνάδειξον κριτὰς καὶ δικαστάς, ὅπως δικάζωσιν ἐν ὅλῃ Συρίᾳ καὶ Φοινίκῃ πάντας τοὺς ἐπισταμένους τὸν νόμον τοῦ θεοῦ σου· καὶ τοὺς μὴ ἐπισταμένους δὲ διδάξεις."And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of God, appoint judges and justices to judge all those who know the law of your God, throughout all Syria and Phoenicia; and you shall teach it to those who do not know it.25 "And you, Ezra, according to the God-given wisdom you possess, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River who know the laws of your God; and you shall teach those who do not know them.
24καὶ πάντες, ὅσοι ἐὰν παραβαίνωσι τὸν νόμον τοῦ θεοῦ σου καὶ τὸν βασιλικόν, ἐπιμελῶς κολασθήσονται, ἐάν τε καὶ θανάτῳ ἐάν τε καὶ τιμωρίᾳ ἢ ἀργυρικῇ ζημίᾳ ἢ ἀπαγωγῇ.All who transgress the law of your God or the law of the kingdom shall be strictly punished, whether by death or some other punishment, either fine or imprisonment." 26 All who will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on them, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of their goods or for imprisonment." *
25Εὐλογητὸς μόνος ὁ κύριος ὁ δοὺς ταῦτα εἰς τὴν καρδίαν τοῦ βασιλέως, δοξάσαι τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ τὸν ἐν Ιερουσαλημ,Then Ezra the scribe said, "Blessed be the Lord alone, who put this into the heart of the king, to glorify his house that is in Jerusalem,27 Blessed be the LORD, the God of our ancestors, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king to glorify the house of the LORD in Jerusalem,
26καὶ ἐμὲ ἐτίμησεν ἔναντι τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τῶν συμβουλευόντων καὶ πάντων τῶν φίλων καὶ μεγιστάνων αὐτοῦ.and who honored me in the sight of the king and his counselors and all his Friends and nobles.28a and who extended to me steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers.
27καὶ ἐγὼ εὐθαρσὴς ἐγενόμην κατὰ τὴν ἀντίλημψιν κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ μου καὶ συνήγαγον ἐκ τοῦ Ισραηλ ἄνδρας ὥστε συναναβῆναί μοι.I was encouraged by the help of the Lord my God, and I gathered men from Israel to go up with me."28b I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.
28Καὶ οὗτοι οἱ προηγούμενοι κατὰ τὰς πατριὰς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς μεριδαρχίας οἱ ἀναβάντες μετ ἐμοῦ ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ Ἀρταξέρξου τοῦ βασιλέως·These are the leaders, according to their ancestral houses and their groups, who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of King Artaxerxes:(Ezra 8) 1 These are their family heads, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylonia, in the reign of King Artaxerxes:
29ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Φινεες Γαρσομος· ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ιεταμαρου Γαμηλος· ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Δαυιδ Αττους ὁ Σεχενιου·Of the descendants of Phineas, Gershom. Of the descendants of Ithamar, Gamael. Of the descendants of David, Hattush son of Shecaniah.2 Of the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom. Of Ithamar, Daniel. Of David, Hattush,
30ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Φορος Ζαχαριας καὶ μετ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ γραφῆς ἄνδρες ἑκατὸν πεντήκοντα·Of the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him a hundred fifty men enrolled.3 of the descendants of Shecaniah. Of Parosh, Zechariah, with whom were registered one hundred fifty males.
31ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Φααθμωαβ Ελιαωνιας Ζαραιου καὶ μετ αὐτοῦ ἄνδρες διακόσιοι·Of the descendants of Pahathmoab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred men.4 Of the descendants of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.
32ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ζαθοης Σεχενιας Ιεζηλου καὶ μετ αὐτοῦ ἄνδρες τριακόσιοι· ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Αδινου Βην – Ιωναθου καὶ μετ αὐτοῦ ἄνδρες διακόσιοι πεντήκοντα·Of the descendants of Zattu, Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred men. Of the descendants of Adin, Obed son of Jonathan, and with him two hundred fifty men.5 Of the descendants of Zattu, Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males. 6 Of the descendants of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.
33ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ηλαμ Ιεσιας Γοθολιου καὶ μετ αὐτοῦ ἄνδρες ἑβδομήκοντα·Of the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Gotholiah, and with him seventy men.7 Of the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.
34ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Σαφατιου Ζαραιας Μιχαηλου καὶ μετ αὐτοῦ ἄνδρες ἑβδομήκοντα·Of the descendants of Shephatiah, Zeraiah son of Michael, and with him seventy men.8 Of the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him eighty males.
35ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ιωαβ Αβαδιας Ιεζηλου καὶ μετ αὐτοῦ ἄνδρες διακόσιοι δέκα δύο·Of the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred twelve men.9 Of the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred eighteen males.
36ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Βανι Ασσαλιμωθ Ιωσαφιου καὶ μετ αὐτοῦ ἄνδρες ἑκατὸν ἑξήκοντα·Of the descendants of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred sixty men.10 Of the descendants of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him one hundred sixty males.
37ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Βαβι Ζαχαριας Βηβαι καὶ μετ αὐτοῦ ἄνδρες εἴκοσι ὀκτώ·Of the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight men.11 Of the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight males.
38ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ασγαθ Ιωανης Ακαταν καὶ μετ αὐτοῦ ἄνδρες ἑκατὸν δέκα·Of the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him a hundred ten men.12 Of the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him one hundred ten males.
39ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Αδωνικαμ οἱ ἔσχατοι, καὶ ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν· Ελιφαλατος, Ιεουηλ καὶ Σαμαιας, καὶ μετ αὐτῶν ἄνδρες ἑβδομήκοντα·Of the descendants of Adonikam, the last ones, their names being Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them seventy men.13 Of the descendants of Adonikam, those who came later, their names being Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males.
40ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Βαγο Ουθι ὁ τοῦ Ισταλκουρου καὶ μετ αὐτοῦ ἄνδρες ἑβδομήκοντα.Of the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai son of Istalcurus, and with him seventy men.14 Of the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai and Zaccur, and with them seventy males.
41Καὶ συνήγαγον αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὸν λεγόμενον Θεραν ποταμόν, καὶ παρενεβάλομεν αὐτόθι ἡμέρας τρεῖς, καὶ κατέμαθον αὐτούς.I assembled them at the river called Theras, and we encamped there three days, and I inspected them.15a I gathered them by the river that runs to Ahava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests,
42καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν τῶν ἱερέων καὶ ἐκ τῶν Λευιτῶν οὐχ εὑρὼν ἐκεῖWhen I found there none of the descendants of the priests or of the Levites,15b I found there none of the descendants of Levi.
43ἀπέστειλα πρὸς Ελεαζαρον καὶ Ιδουηλον καὶ Μαασμαν καὶ Ελναταν καὶ Σαμαιαν καὶ Ιωριβον, Ναθαν, Ενναταν, Ζαχαριαν καὶ Μεσολαμον τοὺς ἡγουμένους καὶ ἐπιστήμοναςI sent word to Eliezar, Iduel, Maasmas, Elnathan, Shemaiah, Jarib, Nathan, Elnathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leaders and men of understanding;16 Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leaders, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were wise,
44καὶ εἶπα αὐτοῖς ἐλθεῖν πρὸς Αδδαιον τὸν ἡγούμενον τὸν ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τοῦ γαζοφυλακίουI told them to go to Iddo, who was the leading man at the place of the treasury,17a and sent them to Iddo, the leader at the place called Casiphia,
45ἐντειλάμενος αὐτοῖς διαλεγῆναι Αδδαιω καὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῖς ἐν τῷ τόπῳ γαζοφύλαξιν ἀποστεῖλαι ἡμῖν τοὺς ἱερατεύσοντας ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν.and ordered them to tell Iddo and his kindred and the treasurers at that place to send us men to serve as priests in the house of our Lord.17b telling them what to say to Iddo and his colleagues the temple servants at Casiphia, namely, to send us ministers for the house of our God.
46καὶ ἤγαγον ἡμῖν κατὰ τὴν κραταιὰν χεῖρα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν ἄνδρας ἐπιστήμονας τῶν υἱῶν Μοολι τοῦ Λευι τοῦ Ισραηλ· Ασεβηβιαν καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφούς, δέκα ὀκτώ·And by the mighty hand of our Lord they brought us competent men of the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebiah with his descendants and kinsmen, eighteen;18 Since the gracious hand of our God was upon us, they brought us a man of discretion, of the descendants of Mahli son of Levi son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and kin, eighteen;
47καὶ Ασεβιαν καὶ Αννουνον καὶ Ωσαιαν ἀδελφὸν ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Χανουναιου καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτῶν, ἄνδρες εἴκοσι·also Hashabiah and Annunus and his brother Jeshaiah, of the descendants of Hananiah, and their descendants, twenty men;19 also Hashabiah and with him Jeshaiah of the descendants of Merari, with his kin and their sons, twenty;
48καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἱεροδούλων, ὧν ἔδωκεν Δαυιδ καὶ οἱ ἡγούμενοι εἰς τὴν ἐργασίαν τῶν Λευιτῶν, ἱερόδουλοι διακόσιοι εἴκοσι· πάντων ἐσημάνθη ἡ ὀνοματογραφία.and of the temple servants, whom David and the leaders had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred twenty temple servants; the list of all their names was reported.20 besides two hundred twenty of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites. These were all mentioned by name.
49καὶ εὐξάμην ἐκεῖ νηστείαν τοῖς νεανίσκοις ἔναντι τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶνThere I proclaimed a fast for the young men before our Lord, 21a Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might deny ourselves before our God,
50ζητῆσαι παρ αὐτοῦ εὐοδίαν ἡμῖν τε καὶ τοῖς συνοῦσιν ἡμῖν τέκνοις ἡμῶν καὶ κτήνεσιν.to seek from him a prosperous journey for ourselves and for our children and the livestock that were with us.21b to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our possessions.
51ἐνετράπην γὰρ αἰτῆσαι τὸν βασιλέα πεζούς τε καὶ ἱππεῖς καὶ προπομπὴν ἕνεκεν ἀσφαλείας τῆς πρὸς τοὺς ἐναντιουμένους ἡμῖν·For I was ashamed to ask the king for foot soldiers and cavalry and an escort to keep us safe from our adversaries;22a For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and cavalry to protect us against the enemy on our way,
52εἴπαμεν γὰρ τῷ βασιλεῖ ὅτι Ἰσχὺς τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν ἔσται μετὰ τῶν ἐπιζητούντων αὐτὸν εἰς πᾶσαν ἐπανόρθωσιν.for we had said to the king, "The power of our Lord will be with those who seek him, and will support them in every way."22b since we had told the king that the hand of our God is gracious to all who seek him, but his power and his wrath are against all who forsake him.
53καὶ πάλιν ἐδεήθημεν τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν κατὰ ταῦτα καὶ εὐιλάτου ἐτύχομεν.And again we prayed to our Lord about these things, and we found him very merciful.23 So we fasted and petitioned our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.
54καὶ ἐχώρισα τῶν φυλάρχων τῶν ἱερέων ἄνδρας δέκα δύο, καὶ Σερεβιαν καὶ Ασαβιαν καὶ μετ αὐτῶν ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτῶν ἄνδρας δέκα,Then I set apart twelve of the leaders of the priests, Sherebiah and Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen with them;24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their kin with them.
55καὶ ἔστησα αὐτοῖς τὸ ἀργύριον καὶ τὸ χρυσίον καὶ τὰ ἱερὰ σκεύη τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν, ἃ αὐτὸς ἐδωρήσατο ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ οἱ σύμβουλοι αὐτοῦ καὶ οἱ μεγιστᾶνες καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ.and I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the holy vessels of the house of our Lord, which the king himself and his counselors and the nobles and all Israel had given.25 And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God that the king, his counselors, his lords, and all Israel there present had offered;
56καὶ στήσας παρέδωκα αὐτοῖς ἀργυρίου τάλαντα ἑξακόσια πεντήκοντα καὶ σκεύη ἀργυρᾶ ταλάντων ἑκατὸν καὶ χρυσίου τάλαντα ἑκατὸν καὶ χρυσώματα εἴκοσι καὶ σκεύη χαλκᾶ ἀπὸ χρηστοῦ χαλκοῦ στίλβοντα χρυσοειδῆ σκεύη δώδεκα.I weighed and gave to them six hundred fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels worth a hundred talents, and a hundred talents of gold, and twenty golden bowls, and twelve bronze vessels of fine bronze that glittered like gold.26 I weighed out into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and one hundred silver vessels worth talents, and one hundred talents of gold, 27 twenty gold bowls worth a thousand darics, and two vessels of fine polished bronze as precious as gold.
57καὶ εἶπα αὐτοῖς Καὶ ὑμεῖς ἅγιοί ἐστε τῷ κυρίῳ, καὶ τὰ σκεύη ἅγια, καὶ τὸ ἀργύριον καὶ τὸ χρυσίον εὐχὴ τῷ κυρίῳ κυρίῳ τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν·And I said to them, "You are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are vowed to the Lord, the Lord of our ancestors.28 And I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your ancestors.
58ἀγρυπνεῖτε καὶ φυλάσσετε ἕως τοῦ παραδοῦναι αὐτὰ ὑμᾶς τοῖς φυλάρχοις τῶν ἱερέων καὶ τῶν Λευιτῶν καὶ τοῖς ἡγουμένοις τῶν πατριῶν τοῦ Ισραηλ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ ἐν τοῖς παστοφορίοις τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν.Be watchful and on guard until you deliver them to the leaders of the priests and the Levites, and to the heads of the ancestral houses of Israel, in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of our Lord."29 Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of families in Israel at Jerusalem, within the chambers of the house of the LORD."
59καὶ οἱ παραλαβόντες οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται τὸ ἀργύριον καὶ τὸ χρυσίον καὶ τὰ σκεύη τὰ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ εἰσήνεγκαν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ κυρίου.So the priests and the Levites who took the silver and the gold and the vessels that had been in Jerusalem carried them to the temple of the Lord.30 So the priests and the Levites took over the silver, the gold, and the vessels as they were weighed out, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.
60Καὶ ἀναζεύξαντες ἀπὸ τοῦ ποταμοῦ Θερα τῇ δωδεκάτῃ τοῦ πρώτου μηνὸς εἰσήλθομεν εἰς Ιερουσαλημ κατὰ τὴν κραταιὰν χεῖρα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν τὴν ἐφ ἡμῖν· καὶ ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς ἐπὶ τῆς εἰσόδου ἀπὸ παντὸς ἐχθροῦ, καὶ ἤλθομεν εἰς Ιερουσαλημ.We left the river Theras on the twelfth day of the first month; and we arrived in Jerusalem by the mighty hand of our Lord, which was upon us; he delivered us from every enemy on the way, and so we came to Jerusalem.31 Then we left the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem; the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes along the way.
61καὶ γενομένης αὐτόθι ἡμέρας τρίτης σταθὲν τὸ ἀργύριον καὶ τὸ χρυσίον παρεδόθη ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Μαρμωθι Ουρια ἱερεῖWhen we had been there three days, the silver and the gold were weighed and delivered in the house of our Lord to the priest Meremoth son of Uriah;32 We came to Jerusalem and remained there three days. 33a On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver, the gold, and the vessels were weighed into the hands of the priest Meremoth son of Uriah,
62– καὶ μετ αὐτοῦ Ελεαζαρ ὁ τοῦ Φινεες, καὶ ἦσαν μετ αὐτῶν Ιωσαβδος Ἰησοῦ καὶ Μωεθ Σαβαννου οἱ Λευῖται – πρὸς ἀριθμὸν καὶ ὁλκὴν ἅπαντα, καὶ ἐγράφη πᾶσα ἡ ὁλκὴ αὐτῶν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ.with him was Eleazar son of Phinehas, and with them were Jozabad son of Jeshua and Moeth son of Binnui, the Levites. The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded at that very time.33b and with him was Eleazar son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. 34 The total was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded.
63οἱ δὲ παραγενόμενοι ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας προσήνεγκαν θυσίας τῷ θεῷ τοῦ Ισραηλ κυρίῳ ταύρους δώδεκα ὑπὲρ παντὸς Ισραηλ, κριοὺς ἐνενήκοντα ἕξ, ἄρνας ἑβδομήκοντα δύο, τράγους ὑπὲρ σωτηρίου δέκα δύο· ἅπαντα θυσίαν τῷ κυρίῳ.And those who had returned from exile offered sacrifices to the Lord, the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-two lambs, and as a thank offering twelve male goats - all as a sacrifice to the Lord.35 At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve male goats; all this was a burnt offering to the LORD.
64καὶ ἀπέδωκαν τὰ προστάγματα τοῦ βασιλέως τοῖς βασιλικοῖς οἰκονόμοις καὶ τοῖς ἐπάρχοις Κοίλης Συρίας καὶ Φοινίκης, καὶ ἐδόξασαν τὸ ἔθνος καὶ τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ κυρίου.They delivered the king's orders to the royal stewards and to the governors of Coelesyria and Phoenicia; and these officials honored the people and the temple of the Lord.36 They also delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps and to the governors of the province Beyond the River; and they supported the people and the house of God.
65Καὶ τούτων τελεσθέντων προσήλθοσάν μοι οἱ ἡγούμενοι λέγοντεςAfter these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said,(Ezra 9) 1a After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said,
66Οὐκ ἐχώρισαν τὸ ἔθνος τοῦ Ισραηλ καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται τὰ ἀλλογενῆ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς καὶ τὰς ἀκαθαρσίας αὐτῶν, Χαναναίων καὶ Χετταίων καὶ Φερεζαίων καὶ Ιεβουσαίων καὶ Μωαβιτῶν καὶ Αἰγυπτίων καὶ Ιδουμαίων·"The people of Israel and the rulers and the priests and the Levites have not put away from themselves the alien peoples of the land and their pollutions, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Edomites.1b "The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
67συνῴκησαν γὰρ μετὰ τῶν θυγατέρων αὐτῶν καὶ αὐτοὶ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπεμίγη τὸ σπέρμα τὸ ἅγιον εἰς τὰ ἀλλογενῆ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς, καὶ μετεῖχον οἱ προηγούμενοι καὶ οἱ μεγιστᾶνες τῆς ἀνομίας ταύτης ἀπὸ τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ πράγματος.For they and their descendants have married the daughters of these people, and the holy race has been mixed with the alien peoples of the land; and from the beginning of this matter the leaders and the nobles have been sharing in this iniquity."2 For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons. Thus the holy seed has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands, and in this faithlessness the officials and leaders have led the way."
68καὶ ἅμα τῷ ἀκοῦσαί με ταῦτα διέρρηξα τὰ ἱμάτια καὶ τὴν ἱερὰν ἐσθῆτα καὶ κατέτιλα τοῦ τριχώματος τῆς κεφαλῆς καὶ τοῦ πώγωνος καὶ ἐκάθισα σύννους καὶ περίλυπος.As soon as I heard these things I tore my garments and my holy mantle, and pulled out hair from my head and beard, and sat down in anxiety and grief.3 When I heard this, I tore my garment and my mantle, and pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat appalled.
69καὶ ἐπισυνήχθησαν πρός με ὅσοι ποτὲ ἐπεκινοῦντο τῷ ῥήματι κυρίου τοῦ Ισραηλ, ἐμοῦ πενθοῦντος ἐπὶ τῇ ἀνομίᾳ, καὶ ἐκαθήμην περίλυπος ἕως τῆς δειλινῆς θυσίας.And all who were ever moved at the word of the Lord of Israel gathered around me, as I mourned over this iniquity, and I sat grief-stricken until the evening sacrifice.4 Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice.
70καὶ ἐξεγερθεὶς ἐκ τῆς νηστείας διερρηγμένα ἔχων τὰ ἱμάτια καὶ τὴν ἱερὰν ἐσθῆτα κάμψας τὰ γόνατα καὶ ἐκτείνας τὰς χεῖρας πρὸς τὸν κύριον ἔλεγονThen I rose from my fast, with my garments and my holy mantle torn, and kneeling down and stretching out my hands to the Lord I said,5 At the evening sacrifice I got up from my fasting, with my garments and my mantle torn, and fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God, 6 and said,
71Κύριε, ᾔσχυμμαι, ἐντέτραμμαι κατὰ πρόσωπόν σου·"O Lord, I am ashamed and confused before your face.6b "O my God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God,
72αἱ γὰρ ἁμαρτίαι ἡμῶν ἐπλεόνασαν ὑπὲρ τὰς κεφαλὰς ἡμῶν, αἱ δὲ ἄγνοιαι ἡμῶν ὑπερήνεγκαν ἕως τοῦ οὐρανοῦFor our sins have risen higher than our heads, and our mistakes have mounted up to heaven6c for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.
73ἀπὸ τῶν χρόνων τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν, καί ἐσμεν ἐν μεγάλῃ ἁμαρτίᾳ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης·from the times of our ancestors, and we are in great sin to this day.7a From the days of our ancestors to this day we have been deep in guilt,
74καὶ διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν καὶ τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν παρεδόθημεν σὺν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ἡμῶν καὶ σὺν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν ἡμῶν καὶ σὺν τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν ἡμῶν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν τῆς γῆς εἰς ῥομφαίαν καὶ αἰχμαλωσίαν καὶ προνομὴν μετὰ αἰσχύνης μέχρι τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας.Because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors, we with our kindred and our kings and our priests were given over to the kings of the earth, to the sword and exile and plundering, in shame until this day.7b and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as is now the case.
75καὶ νῦν κατὰ πόσον τι ἐγενήθη ἡμῖν ἔλεος παρὰ σοῦ, κύριε, καταλειφθῆναι ἡμῖν ῥίζαν καὶ ὄνομα ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τοῦ ἁγιάσματός σουAnd now in some measure mercy has come to us from you, O Lord, to leave to us a root and a name in your holy place,8a But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, who has left us a remnant, and given us a stake in his holy place,.
76καὶ τοῦ ἀνακαλύψαι φωστῆρα ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν δοῦναι ἡμῖν τροφὴν ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τῆς δουλείας ἡμῶν·and to uncover a light for us in the house of the Lord our God, and to give us food in the time of our servitude.8b in order that he may brighten our eyes and grant us a little sustenance in our slavery 9 For we are slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery,
77καὶ ἐν τῷ δουλεύειν ἡμᾶς οὐκ ἐγκατελείφθημεν ὑπὸ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν, ἀλλὰ ἐποίησεν ἡμᾶς ἐν χάριτι ἐνώπιον τῶν βασιλέων ΠερσῶνEven in our bondage we were not forsaken by our Lord, but he brought us into favor with the kings of the Persians, so that they have given us food9b but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to give us new life
78δοῦναι ἡμῖν τροφὴν καὶ δοξάσαι τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν καὶ ἐγεῖραι τὴν ἔρημον Σιων δοῦναι ἡμῖν στερέωμα ἐν τῇ Ιουδαίᾳ καὶ Ιερουσαλημ.and glorified the temple of our Lord, and raised Zion from desolation, to give us a stronghold in Judea and Jerusalem.9c to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judea and Jerusalem.
79καὶ νῦν τί ἐροῦμεν, κύριε, ἔχοντες ταῦτα; παρέβημεν γὰρ τὰ προστάγματά σου, ἃ ἔδωκας ἐν χειρὶ τῶν παίδων σου τῶν προφητῶν λέγων ὅτι"And now, O Lord, what shall we say, when we have these things? For we have transgressed your commandments, which you gave by your servants the prophets, saying,10 "And now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11 which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying,
80Ἡ γῆ, εἰς ἣν εἰσέρχεσθε κληρονομῆσαι, ἔστιν γῆ μεμολυσμένη μολυσμῷ τῶν ἀλλογενῶν τῆς γῆς, καὶ τῆς ἀκαθαρσίας αὐτῶν ἐνέπλησαν αὐτήν·'The land that you are entering to take possession of is a land polluted with the pollution of the aliens of the land, and they have filled it with their uncleanness.11b 'The land that you are entering to possess is a land unclean with the pollutions of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations. They have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness.
81καὶ νῦν τὰς θυγατέρας ὑμῶν μὴ συνοικίσητε τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῶν μὴ λάβητε τοῖς υἱοῖς ὑμῶν·Therefore do not give your daughters in marriage to their descendants, and do not take their daughters for your descendants;12a Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons,
82καὶ οὐ ζητήσετε εἰρηνεῦσαι τὰ πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὸν ἅπαντα χρόνον, ἵνα ἰσχύσαντες φάγητε τὰ ἀγαθὰ τῆς γῆς καὶ κατακληρονομήσητε τοῖς υἱοῖς ὑμῶν ἕως αἰῶνος.do not seek ever to have peace with them, so that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.'12b and never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.'
83καὶ τὰ συμβαίνοντα πάντα ἡμῖν γίγνεται διὰ τὰ ἔργα ἡμῶν τὰ πονηρὰ καὶ τὰς μεγάλας ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν.And all that has happened to us has come about because of our evil deeds and our great sins. 13a After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved
84σὺ γάρ, κύριε, ἐκούφισας τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν καὶ ἔδωκας ἡμῖν τοιαύτην ῥίζαν· πάλιν ἀνεκάμψαμεν παραβῆναι τὸν νόμον σου εἰς τὸ ἐπιμιγῆναι τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ τῶν ἐθνῶν τῆς γῆς.For you, O Lord, lifted the burden of our sins and gave us such a root as this; but we turned back again to transgress your law by mixing with the uncleanness of the peoples of the land.13b and have given us such a remnant as this, 14a shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations?
85οὐχὶ ὠργίσθης ἡμῖν ἀπολέσαι ἡμᾶς ἕως τοῦ μὴ καταλιπεῖν ῥίζαν καὶ σπέρμα καὶ ὄνομα ἡμῶν;Were you not angry enough with us to destroy us without leaving a root or seed or name?14b Would you not be angry with us until you destroy us without remnant or survivor?
86κύριε τοῦ Ισραηλ, ἀληθινὸς εἶ· κατελείφθημεν γὰρ ῥίζα ἐν τῇ σήμερον.O Lord of Israel, you are faithful; for we are left as a root to this day.15a O LORD, God of Israel, you are just, but we have escaped as a remnant, as is now the case.
87ἰδοὺ νῦν ἐσμεν ἐνώπιόν σου ἐν ταῖς ἀνομίαις ἡμῶν· οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν στῆναι ἔτι ἔμπροσθέν σου ἐπὶ τούτοις.See, we are now before you in our iniquities; for we can no longer stand in your presence because of these things."15b Here we are before you in our guilt, though no one can face you because of this."
88Καὶ ὅτε προσευχόμενος Εσδρας ἀνθωμολογεῖτο κλαίων χαμαιπετὴς ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ ἱεροῦ, ἐπισυνήχθησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀπὸ Ιερουσαλημ ὄχλος πολὺς σφόδρα, ἄνδρες καὶ γυναῖκες καὶ νεανίαι· κλαυθμὸς γὰρ ἦν μέγας ἐν τῷ πλήθει.While Ezra was praying and making his confession, weeping and lying on the ground before the temple, there gathered around him a very great crowd of men and women and youths from Jerusalem; for there was great weeping among the multitude.(Ezra 10) 1 While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him out of Israel; the people also wept bitterly.
89καὶ φωνήσας Ιεχονιας Ιεηλου τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ εἶπεν Εσδρα Ἡμεῖς ἡμάρτομεν εἰς τὸν κύριον καὶ συνῳκίσαμεν γυναῖκας ἀλλογενεῖς ἐκ τῶν ἐθνῶν τῆς γῆς· καὶ νῦν ἐστιν ἐλπὶς τῷ Ισραηλ.Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the men of Israel, called out, and said to Ezra, "We have sinned against the Lord, and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; but even now there is hope for Israel.2 Shecaniah son of Jehiel, of the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra, saying, "We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.
90ἐν τούτῳ γενέσθω ἡμῖν ὁρκωμοσία πρὸς τὸν κύριον, ἐκβαλεῖν πάσας τὰς γυναῖκας ἡμῶν τὰς ἐκ τῶν ἀλλογενῶν σὺν τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῶν, ὡς ἐκρίθη σοι καὶ ὅσοι πειθαρχοῦσιν τῷ νόμῳ τοῦ κυρίου.Let us take an oath to the Lord about this, that we will put away all our foreign wives, with their children, as seems good to you and to all who obey the law of the Lord.3 So now let us make a covenant with our God to send away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
91ἀναστὰς ἐπιτέλει· πρὸς σὲ γὰρ τὸ πρᾶγμα, καὶ ἡμεῖς μετὰ σοῦ ἰσχὺν ποιεῖν.Rise up and take action, for it is your task, and we are with you to take strong measures."4 Take action, for it is your duty, and we are with you; be strong, and do it."
92καὶ ἀναστὰς Εσδρας ὥρκισεν τοὺς φυλάρχους τῶν ἱερέων καὶ Λευιτῶν παντὸς τοῦ Ισραηλ ποιῆσαι κατὰ ταῦτα· καὶ ὤμοσαν.Then Ezra rose up and made the leaders of the priests and Levites of all Israel swear that they would do this. And they swore to it.5 Then Ezra stood up and made the leading priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear that they would do as had been said. So they swore.

Chapter 9

1καὶ ἀναστὰς Εσδρας ἀπὸ τῆς αὐλῆς τοῦ ἱεροῦ ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὸ παστοφόριον Ιωαναν τοῦ ΕλιασιβουThen Ezra set out and went from the court of the temple to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib,(Ezra 10) 6a Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God, and went to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib,
2καὶ αὐλισθεὶς ἐκεῖ ἄρτου οὐκ ἐγεύσατο οὐδὲ ὕδωρ ἔπιεν πενθῶν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀνομιῶν τῶν μεγάλων τοῦ πλήθους.and spent the night there; and he did not eat bread or drink water, for he was mourning over the great iniquities of the multitude.6b where he spent the night. He did not eat bread or drink water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles.
3καὶ ἐγένετο κήρυγμα ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ Ιουδαίᾳ καὶ Ιερουσαλημ πᾶσι τοῖς ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας συναχθῆναι εἰς Ιερουσαλημ·And a proclamation was made throughout Judea and Jerusalem to all who had returned from exile that they should assemble at Jerusalem,7 They made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem,
4καὶ ὅσοι ἂν μὴ ἀπαντήσωσιν ἐν δυσὶν ἢ τρισὶν ἡμέραις κατὰ τὸ κρίμα τῶν προκαθημένων πρεσβυτέρων, ἀνιερωθήσονται τὰ κτήνη αὐτῶν, καὶ αὐτὸς ἀλλοτριωθήσεται ἀπὸ τοῦ πλήθους τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας.and that if any did not meet there within two or three days, in accordance with the decision of the ruling elders, their livestock would be seized for sacrifice and the men themselves expelled from the multitude of those who had returned from the captivity.8 and that if any did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all their property should be forfeited, and they themselves banned from the congregation of the exiles.
5Καὶ ἐπισυνήχθησαν οἱ ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς Ιουδα καὶ Βενιαμιν ἐν τρισὶν ἡμέραις εἰς Ιερουσαλημ [οὗτος ὁ μὴν ἔνατος τῇ εἰκάδι τοῦ μηνός],Then the men of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within three days; this was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month.9 Then all the people of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month.
6καὶ συνεκάθισαν πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος ἐν τῇ εὐρυχώρῳ τοῦ ἱεροῦ τρέμοντες διὰ τὸν ἐνεστῶτα χειμῶνα.All the multitude sat in the open square before the temple, shivering because of the bad weather that prevailed.9b All the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain.
7καὶ ἀναστὰς Εσδρας εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ὑμεῖς ἠνομήσατε καὶ συνῳκίσατε γυναῖκας ἀλλογενεῖς τοῦ προσθεῖναι ἁμαρτίαν τῷ Ισραηλ·Then Ezra stood up and said to them, "You have broken the law and married foreign women, and so have increased the sin of Israel.10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have trespassed and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel.
8καὶ νῦν δότε ὁμολογίαν δόξαν τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶνNow then make confession and give glory to the Lord the God of our ancestors,11a Now make confession to the LORD the God of your ancestors,
9καὶ ποιήσατε τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ καὶ χωρίσθητε ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν τῆς γῆς καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν γυναικῶν τῶν ἀλλογενῶν.and do his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from your foreign wives."11b and do his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives."
10καὶ ἐφώνησαν ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος καὶ εἶπον μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ Οὕτως ὡς εἴρηκας ποιήσομεν·Then all the multitude shouted and said with a loud voice, "We will do as you have said.12 Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, "It is so; we must do as you have said.
11ἀλλὰ τὸ πλῆθος πολὺ καὶ ἡ ὥρα χειμερινή, καὶ οὐκ ἰσχύομεν στῆναι αἴθριοι καὶ οὐχ εὕρομεν, καὶ τὸ ἔργον ἡμῖν οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμέρας μιᾶς οὐδὲ δύο· ἐπὶ πλεῖον γὰρ ἡμάρτομεν ἐν τούτοις.But the multitude is great and it is winter, and we are not able to stand in the open air. This is not a work we can do in one day or two, for we have sinned too much in these things.13 But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for many of us have transgressed in this matter.
12στήτωσαν δὲ οἱ προηγούμενοι τοῦ πλήθους, καὶ πάντες οἱ ἐκ τῶν κατοικιῶν ἡμῶν, ὅσοι ἔχουσιν γυναῖκας ἀλλογενεῖς, παραγενηθήτωσαν λαβόντες χρόνον·So let the leaders of the multitude stay, and let all those in our settlements who have foreign wives come at the time appointed,14a Let our officials represent the whole assembly, and let all in our towns who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times,
13καὶ ἑκάστου δὲ τόπου τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους καὶ τοὺς κριτὰς ἕως τοῦ λῦσαι τὴν ὀργὴν τοῦ κυρίου ἀφ ἡμῶν τοῦ πράγματος τούτου.with the elders and judges of each place, until we are freed from the wrath of the Lord over this matter."14b and with them the elders and judges of every town, until the fierce wrath of our God on this account is averted from us."
14Ιωναθας Αζαηλου καὶ Ιεζιας Θοκανου ἐπεδέξαντο κατὰ ταῦτα, καὶ Μοσολλαμος καὶ Λευις καὶ Σαββαταιος συνεβράβευσαν αὐτοῖς.Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah undertook the matter on these terms, and Meshullam and Levi and Shabbethai served with them as judges.15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levites supported them.
15καὶ ἐποίησαν κατὰ πάντα ταῦτα οἱ ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας.And those who had returned from exile acted in accordance with all this.16a Then the returned exiles did so.
16καὶ ἐπελέξατο ἑαυτῷ Εσδρας ὁ ἱερεὺς ἄνδρας ἡγουμένους τῶν πατριῶν αὐτῶν, κατ ὄνομα πάντας, καὶ συνεκάθισαν τῇ νουμηνίᾳ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ δεκάτου ἐτάσαι τὸ πρᾶγμα.Ezra the priest chose for himself the leading men of their ancestral houses, all of them by name; and on the new moon of the tenth month they began their sessions to investigate the matter.16b Ezra the priest selected men, heads of families, according to their families, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter.
17καὶ ἤχθη ἐπὶ πέρας τὰ κατὰ τοὺς ἄνδρας τοὺς ἐπισυνέχοντας γυναῖκας ἀλλογενεῖς ἕως τῆς νουμηνίας τοῦ πρώτου μηνός.And the cases of the men who had foreign wives were brought to an end by the new moon of the first month.17 By the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women.
18Καὶ εὑρέθησαν τῶν ἱερέων οἱ ἐπισυναχθέντες ἀλλογενεῖς γυναῖκας ἔχοντες·Of the priests, those who were brought in and found to have foreign wives were:18a There were found of the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women,
19ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Ιωσεδεκ καὶ τῶν ἀδελφῶν Μασηας καὶ Ελεαζαρος καὶ Ιωριβος καὶ Ιωδανος·of the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his kindred, Maaseiah, Eliezar, Jarib, and Jodan.18b of the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
20καὶ ἐπέβαλον τὰς χεῖρας ἐκβαλεῖν τὰς γυναῖκας αὐτῶν, καὶ εἰς ἐξιλασμὸν κριοὺς ὑπὲρ τῆς ἀγνοίας αὐτῶν.They pledged themselves to put away their wives, and to offer rams in expiation of their error.19 They pledged themselves to send away their wives, and their guilt offering was a ram of the flock for their guilt.
21καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Εμμηρ Ανανιας καὶ Ζαβδαιος καὶ Μανης καὶ Σαμαιος καὶ Ιιηλ καὶ Αζαριας.Of the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah and Maaseiah and Shemaiah and Jehiel and Azariah.20 Of the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. 21 Of the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Φαισουρ Ελιωναις, Μασσιας, Ισμαηλος καὶ Ναθαναηλος καὶ Ωκιδηλος καὶ Σαλθας. –Of the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, and Nathanael, and Gedaliah, and Salthas.22 Of the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23καὶ ἐκ τῶν Λευιτῶν· Ιωζαβδος καὶ Σεμεις καὶ Κωλιος [οὗτος Καλιτας] καὶ Παθαιος καὶ Ωουδας καὶ Ιωανας·And of the Levites: Jozabad and Shimei and Kelaiah, who was Kelita, and Pethahiah and Judah and Jonah.23 Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24ἐκ τῶν ἱεροψαλτῶν Ελιασιβος, Βακχουρος·Of the temple singers: Eliashib and Zaccur.24a Of the singers: Eliashib.
25ἐκ τῶν θυρωρῶν Σαλλουμος καὶ Τολβανης. –Of the gatekeepers: Shallum and Telem.24b Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
26ἐκ τοῦ Ισραηλ· ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Φορος Ιερμας καὶ Ιεζιας καὶ Μελχιας καὶ Μιαμινος καὶ Ελεαζαρος καὶ Ασιβιας καὶ Βανναιας·Of Israel: of the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Asibias, and Benaiah.25 And of Israel: of the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Hashabiah, and Benaiah.
27ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ηλαμ Ματανιας καὶ Ζαχαριας, Ιεζριηλος καὶ Ωβαδιος καὶ Ιερεμωθ καὶ Ηλιας·Of the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah and Zechariah, Jezrielus and Abdi, and Jeremoth and Elijah.26 Of the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
28καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ζαμοθ Ελιαδας, Ελιασιμος, Οθονιας, Ιαριμωθ καὶ Σαβαθος καὶ Ζερδαιας·Of the descendants of Zamoth: Eliadas, Eliashib, Othoniah, Jeremoth, and Zabad and Zerdaiah.27 Of the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
29καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Βηβαι Ιωαννης καὶ Ανανιας καὶ Ζαβδος καὶ Εμαθις·Of the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan and Hananiah and Zabbai and Emathis.28 Of the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
30καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Μανι Ωλαμος, Μαμουχος, Ιεδαιος, Ιασουβος καὶ Ασαηλος καὶ Ιερεμωθ·Of the descendants of Mani: Olamus, Mamuchus, Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal and Jeremoth.29 Of the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
31καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Αδδι Νααθος καὶ Μοοσσιας, Λακκουνος καὶ Ναιδος καὶ Βεσκασπασμυς καὶ Σεσθηλ καὶ Βαλνουος καὶ Μανασσηας·Of the descendants of Addi: Naathus and Moossias, Laccunus and Naidus, and Bescaspasmys and Sesthel, and Belnuus and Manasseas.30 Of the descendants of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
32καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ανναν Ελιωνας καὶ Ασαιας καὶ Μελχιας καὶ Σαββαιας καὶ Σιμων Χοσαμαιος·Of the descendants of Annan, Elionas and Asaias and Melchias and Sabbaias and Simon Chosamaeus.31 Of the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
33καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ασομ Μαλτανναιος καὶ Ματταθιας καὶ Σαβανναιους καὶ Ελιφαλατ καὶ Μανασσης καὶ Σεμει·Of the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai and Mattattah and Zabad and Eliphelet and Manasseh and Shimei.32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah. 33 Of the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Βαανι Ιερεμιας, Μομδιος, Μαηρος, Ιουηλ, Μαμδαι καὶ Πεδιας καὶ Ανως, Καραβασιων καὶ Ελιασιβος καὶ Μαμνιταναιμος, Ελιασις, Βαννους, Ελιαλις, Σομεις, Σελεμιας, Ναθανιας· καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Εζωρα Σεσσις, Εζριλ, Αζαηλος, Σαματος, Ζαμβρις, Ιωσηπος·Of the descendants of Bani: Jeremai, Momdius, Maerus, Joel, Mamdai and Bedeiah and Vaniah, Carabasion and Eliashib and Mamitanemus, Eliasis, Binnui, Elialis, Shimei, Shelemiah, Nethaniah. Of the descendants of Ezora: Shashai, Azarel, Azael, Samatus, Zambris, Joseph.34 Of the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu. 38 Of the descendants of Binnui: Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
35καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Νοομα Μαζιτιας, Ζαβαδαιας, Ηδαις, Ιουηλ, Βαναιας. –Of the descendants of Nooma: Mazitias, Zabad, Iddo, Joel, Benaiah.43 Of the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
36πάντες οὗτοι συνῴκισαν γυναῖκας ἀλλογενεῖς· καὶ ἀπέλυσαν αὐτὰς σὺν τέκνοις.All these had married foreign women, and they put them away together with their children. 44 All these had married foreign women, and they sent them away with their children.
37Καὶ κατῴκησαν οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται καὶ οἱ ἐκ τοῦ Ισραηλ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ καὶ ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ. τῇ νουμηνίᾳ τοῦ ἑβδόμου μηνός – καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ἐν ταῖς κατοικίαις αὐτῶν –The priests and the Levites and the Israelites settled in Jerusalem and in the country. On the new moon of the seventh month, when the people of Israel were in their settlements,(Nehemiah 7) 73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel settled in their towns. When the seventh month came - the people of Israel being settled in their towns
38καὶ συνήχθη πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐπὶ τὸ εὐρύχωρον τοῦ πρὸς ἀνατολὰς τοῦ ἱεροῦ πυλῶνοςthe whole multitude gathered with one accord in the open square before the east gate of the temple;(Nehemiah 8) 1a All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate.
39καὶ εἶπον Εσδρα τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ καὶ ἀναγνώστῃ κομίσαι τὸν νόμον Μωυσέως τὸν παραδοθέντα ὑπὸ τοῦ κυρίου θεοῦ Ισραηλ.they told Ezra the chief priest and reader to bring the law of Moses that had been given by the Lord God of Israel.1b They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel.
40καὶ ἐκόμισεν Εσδρας ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς τὸν νόμον παντὶ τῷ πλήθει ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπου ἕως γυναικὸς καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν ἀκοῦσαι τοῦ νόμου νουμηνίᾳ τοῦ ἑβδόμου μηνός·So Ezra the chief priest brought the law, for all the multitude, men and women, and all the priests to hear the law, on the new moon of the seventh month.2 Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month.
41καὶ ἀνεγίγνωσκεν ἐν τῷ πρὸ τοῦ ἱεροῦ πυλῶνος εὐρυχώρῳ ἀπὸ ὄρθρου ἕως μεσημβρινοῦ ἐνώπιον ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ γυναικῶν, καὶ ἐπέδωκαν πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος τὸν νοῦν εἰς τὸν νόμον.He read aloud in the open square before the gate of the temple from early morning until midday, in the presence of both men and women; and all the multitude gave attention to the law.3 He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.
42καὶ ἔστη Εσδρας ὁ ἱερεὺς καὶ ἀναγνώστης τοῦ νόμου ἐπὶ τοῦ ξυλίνου βήματος τοῦ κατασκευασθέντος,Ezra the priest and reader of the law stood on the wooden platform that had been prepared;4a The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose;
43καὶ ἔστησαν παρ αὐτῷ Ματταθιας, Σαμμους, Ανανιας, Αζαριας, Ουριας, Εζεκιας, Βααλσαμος ἐκ δεξιῶν,and beside him stood Mattathiah, Shema, Ananias, Azariah, Uriah, Hezekiah, and Baalsamus on his right,4b and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand;
44καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων Φαδαιος, Μισαηλ, Μελχιας, Λωθασουβος, Ναβαριας, Ζαχαριας.and on his left Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Lothasubus, Nabariah, and Zechariah.4c and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.
45καὶ ἀναλαβὼν Εσδρας τὸ βιβλίον τοῦ νόμου ἐνώπιον τοῦ πλήθουσ – προεκάθητο γὰρ ἐπιδόξως ἐνώπιον πάντων –Then Ezra took up the book of the law in the sight of the multitude, for he had the place of honor in the presence of all.5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
46καὶ ἐν τῷ λῦσαι τὸν νόμον πάντες ὀρθοὶ ἔστησαν. καὶ εὐλόγησεν Εσδρας τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ ὑψίστῳ θεῷ σαβαωθ παντοκράτορι,When he opened the law, they all stood erect. And Ezra blessed the Lord God Most High, the God of hosts, the Almighty,6a Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God,
47καὶ ἐπεφώνησεν πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος Αμην, καὶ ἄραντες ἄνω τὰς χεῖρας προσπεσόντες ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν προσεκύνησαν τῷ κυρίῳ.and the multitude answered, "Amen." They lifted up their hands, and fell to the ground and worshiped the Lord.6b and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
48Ἰησοῦς καὶ Αννιουθ καὶ Σαραβιας, Ιαδινος, Ιακουβος, Σαββαταιος, Αυταιας, Μαιαννας καὶ Καλιτας, Αζαριας καὶ Ιωζαβδος, Ανανιας, Φαλιας οἱ Λευῖται ἐδίδασκον τὸν νόμον κυρίου καὶ πρὸς τὸ πλῆθος ἀνεγίνωσκον τὸν νόμον τοῦ κυρίου ἐμφυσιοῦντες ἅμα τὴν ἀνάγνωσιν. –Jeshua and Anniuth and Sherebiah, Jadinus, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maiannas and Kelita, Azariah and Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, taught the law of the Lord, at the same time explaining what was read. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. 8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
49καὶ εἶπεν Ατταρατης Εσδρα τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ καὶ ἀναγνώστῃ καὶ τοῖς Λευίταις τοῖς διδάσκουσι τὸ πλῆθος ἐπὶ πάνταςThen Attharates said to Ezra the chief priest and reader, and to the Levites who were teaching the multitude, and to all,9a And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people,
50Ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη ἐστὶν ἁγία τῷ κυρίῳ – καὶ πάντες ἔκλαιον ἐν τῷ ἀκοῦσαι τοῦ νόμου – ·"This day is holy to the Lord" - now they were all weeping as they heard the law -9b "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
51βαδίσαντες οὖν φάγετε λιπάσματα καὶ πίετε γλυκάσματα καὶ ἀποστείλατε ἀποστολὰς τοῖς μὴ ἔχουσιν,"so go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet, and send portions to those who have none;10a Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared,
52ἁγία γὰρ ἡ ἡμέρα τῷ κυρίῳ· καὶ μὴ λυπεῖσθε, ὁ γὰρ κύριος δοξάσει ὑμᾶς.for the day is holy to the Lord; and do not be sorrowful, for the Lord will exalt you."10b for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
53καὶ οἱ Λευῖται ἐκέλευον τῷ δήμῳ παντὶ λέγοντες Ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη ἁγία, μὴ λυπεῖσθε.The Levites commanded all the people, saying, "This day is holy; do not be sorrowful."11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved."
54καὶ ᾤχοντο πάντες φαγεῖν καὶ πιεῖν καὶ εὐφραίνεσθαι καὶ δοῦναι ἀποστολὰς τοῖς μὴ ἔχουσιν καὶ εὐφρανθῆναι μεγάλως,Then they all went their way, to eat and drink and enjoy themselves, and to give portions to those who had none, and to make great rejoicing;12a And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing,
55ὅτι καὶ ἐνεφυσιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς ῥήμασιν, οἷς ἐδιδάχθησαν. – καὶ ἐπισυνήχθησαν.because they were inspired by the words which they had been taught. And they came together. 12b because they had understood the words that were declared to them. 13 On the second day the heads of ancestral houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to the scribe Ezra in order to study the words of the law.

Babylonian empire in the 6th century BC

Babylonian Empire (-605 to -538) at its peak

Persian Empire in the 6th century BC

Persian Empire (- 550 to -330) at its peak

(click on the maps to enlarge them)