The Daily Audio Bible
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14 And from the time that the king gave me charge to be governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes (twelve years), I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15 For the former governors who were before me had laid burdens on the people, and had taken bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver. Yea, and their servants bore rule over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.
16 But rather, I fortified a portion in the work of this wall. And we bought no land. And all my servants came there together to work.
17 Moreover, there were at my table one hundred fifty of the Jews and rulers who came to us from among the heathen who are around us.
18 And an ox was prepared daily, and six chosen sheep. And birds were prepared for me. And every ten days, there was wine for all in abundance. Yet for all this, I did not require the bread of the governor. For the bondage was grievous to this people.
19 Remember me, O my God, in goodness, according to all that I have done for this people.
6 And when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arabian and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall, and that there were no more breaches in it (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates),
2 then Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, so that we may meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono.” And they thought to do me evil.
3 Therefore, I sent messengers to them, saying, “I have a great work to do, and I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?”
4 Still, they sent to me four times in the same way. And I answered them in the same way.
5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before for the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand,
6 in which was written, “It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu has said so, that you and the Jews plan to rebel, for which reason you built the wall. And you will be their king according to these words.
7 “You have also ordained the Prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah.” And now according to these words, it shall come to the king’s ears. Come now, therefore, and let us take counsel together.”
8 Then I sent to him, saying, “Nothing is done according to these words that you speak. For you feign them from your own heart.”
9 For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands shall be weakened from the work, and it shall not be done.” Now, therefore, encourage me.
10 And I came to the house of Shemaiah, the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel. And he was shut up. And he said, “Let us come together into the House of God, in the midst of the Temple, and shut the doors of the Temple. For they will come to kill you. Yea, in the night will they come to kill you.”
11 Then I said, “Should such a man as I flee? Who is he, being as I am, who would go into the Temple to live? I will not go in.”
12 And lo, I perceived that God had not sent him, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me. For Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 Therefore, he was hired so that I might be afraid, and do such, and sin, so that they might have an evil report, so that they might reproach me.
14 My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and Noadiah the prophetess also, and the rest of the prophets who would have put me in fear.
15 Notwithstanding, the wall was finished in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth day of Elul.
16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the heathen who were around us, they were afraid. And their courage failed them. For they knew that this work was done by our God.
17 And in these days, there were many of the princes of Judah whose letters went to Tobiah. And those of Tobiah came to them.
18 For there were many in Judah who had sworn allegiance to him. For he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah, the son of Arah. And his son, Jehohanan, had the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Berechiah.
19 Yea, they spoke his praise before me, and told him my words. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
7 Now after the wall had been built, and I had set up the doors and the gatekeepers and the singers, and the Levites had been appointed,
2 I commanded my brother, Hanani, and Hananiah, the prince of the palace in Jerusalem (for he was doubtless a faithful man and feared God above many).
3 And I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the heat of the Sun. And while they stand guard, let them shut the doors and fasten them. And appoint guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each at his post and each in front of his house.”
4 Now, the city was large and great. But there were few people in it, and the houses were not built.
5 And my God put into my heart to gather the princes and the rulers and the people, to count their genealogies. And I found a book of the genealogy of those who had come up at the beginning. And in it I found:
6 “These are the sons of the province who came up from the captivity that was carried away (whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babel, had carried away). And they returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, each one to his city,
7 those who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah. This is the number of the men of the people of Israel.
8 The sons of Parosh were two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
9 The sons of Shephatiah were three hundred seventy-two.
10 The sons of Arah were six hundred fifty-two.
11 The sons of Pahath-Moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, were two thousand eight hundred eighteen.
12 The sons of Elam were one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
13 The sons of Zattu were eight hundred forty-five.
14 The sons of Zaccai were seven hundred sixty.
15 The sons of Binnui were six hundred forty-eight.
16 The sons of Bebai were six hundred twenty-eight.
17 The sons of Azgad were two thousand three hundred twenty-two.
18 The sons of Adonikam were six hundred sixty-seven.
19 The sons of Bigvai were two thousand sixty-seven.
20 The sons of Adin were six hundred fifty-five.
21 The sons of Ater of Hezekiah were ninety-eight.
22 The sons of Hashum were three hundred twenty-eight.
23 The sons of Bezai were three hundred twenty-four.
24 The sons of Hariph were one hundred twelve.
25 The sons of Gibeon were ninety-five.
26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah were one hundred eighty-eight.
27 The men of Anathoth were one hundred twenty-eight.
28 The men of Beth Azmaveth were forty-two.
29 The men of Kirjath Jearim, Chephirah and Beeroth were seven hundred forty-three.
30 The men of Ramah and Geba were six hundred twenty-one.
31 The men of Michmas were one hundred twenty-two.
32 The men of Bethel and Ai were one hundred twenty-three.
33 The men of the other Nebo were fifty-two.
34 The sons of the other Elam were one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
35 The sons of Harim were three hundred twenty.
36 The sons of Jericho were three hundred forty-five.
37 The sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono were seven hundred twenty-one.
38 The sons of Senaah were three thousand nine hundred thirty.
39 The priests — the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua —were nine hundred seventy-three.
40 The sons of Immer were one thousand fifty-two.
41 The sons of Pashur were one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
42 The sons of Harim were one thousand seventeen.
43 The Levites — the sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the sons of Hodevah — were seventy-four.
44 The singers (the children of Asaph) were one hundred forty-eight.
45 The gatekeepers — the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai — were one hundred thirty-eight.
46 The Nethinim were the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
47 the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon,
48 the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai,
49 the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar,
50 the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda,
51 the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah,
52 the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephishesim,
53 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
54 the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
55 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Tamah,
56 the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha,
57 the sons of Solomon’s servants, the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida,
58 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,
59 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim and the sons of Amon.
60 All the Nethinim, and the sons of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety-two.
61 And these came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer. But they could not make known their father’s house, nor their seed, nor if they were of Israel.
62 The sons of Delaiah — the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda — were six hundred forty-two.
63 And of the priests were the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, and the sons of Barzillai, who took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite as a wife and was named after their name.
64 These sought their writing in the genealogies, but it was not found. Therefore they were cast out from the priesthood.
65 And the Tirshatha told them that they should not eat of the Most Holy until a Priest rose up with Urim and Thummim.
66 All the Congregation together was forty-two thousand, three hundred sixty,
67 besides their servants and their maids, who were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven. And they had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women.
68 Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six, their mules two hundred forty-five.
69 The camels were four hundred thirty-five, with six thousand seven hundred twenty donkeys.
70 And some of the chief fathers gave to the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure: one thousand drams of gold, fifty basins and five hundred thirty priest’s garments.
71 And some of the chief fathers gave to the treasure of the work: twenty thousand drams of gold and two thousand two hundred pieces of silver.
72 And the rest of the people gave twenty thousand drams of gold and two thousand pieces of silver and sixty-seven priest’s garments.
73 And the priests and the Levites and the gatekeepers and the singers and the rest of the people and the Nethinim and all Israel dwelt in their cities. And when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.
8 And concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
2 Now, if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
4 Therefore, concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
5 For though there are those that are called gods, whether in Heaven or on Earth (as there are many gods, and many lords.)
6 Yet to us there is but one God, the Father (from Whom are all things, and we are in Him), and one Lord Jesus Christ, (through Whom are all things, and we are through Him).
7 But not everyone has that knowledge. For some, being conscience of the idol until now, eat as though sacrificing to an idol. And so, their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8 But food does not make us commendable to God. For we are neither more so if we eat it, nor less so if we do not eat it.
9 But take heed, lest by any means this power of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
10 For if anyone sees you, who has knowledge, sit at table in the idols’ temple, shall not his conscience, which is weak, be emboldened to eat those things which are sacrificed to idols?
11 And through your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died.
12 Now when you sin so against the brothers, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
13 So if food offends my brother, I will eat no flesh while the world stands, that I may not offend my brother.
33 Rejoice in the LORD, O righteous! It becomes upright men to be thankful.
2 Praise the LORD with harp! Sing to Him with viol and instrument of ten strings!
3 Sing to Him a new song! Sing cheerfully with a loud voice!
4 For the Word of the LORD is righteous; and all His works are faithful.
5 He loves righteousness and judgment. The Earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
6 By the Word of the LORD were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea together, as upon a heap, and lays up the depths in His treasures.
8 Let all the Earth fear the LORD. Let all those who dwell in the world, fear Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done. He commanded, and it stood.
10 The LORD breaks the counsel of the heathen and brings the devices of the people to nothing.
11 The counsel of the LORD shall stand forever, and the thoughts of His heart throughout all ages.
8 The way of some is perverted and strange. But the pure man’s work is right.
9 It is better to dwell on a corner of the housetop than to share the house with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked wishes evil, and his neighbor has no favor in his eyes.
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