The Daily Audio Bible

¹⁵ And Shallun, the son of Colhozeh, prince of a town of Mizpah, builded the gate of the well; he builded it, and covered it, and he set up the gates thereof, and (the) locks, and bars; and he builded the walls of the cistern of Siloah, unto the orchard of the king, and unto the degrees of the king, which come down from the city of David. (And Shallun, the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah, rebuilt the Fountain Gate; he rebuilt it, and roofed it, or covered it, and he put up its doors, or its gates, with their locks and bars; and he rebuilt the wall by the Pool of Siloah, beside the king’s garden, and unto the steps which came down from the City of David.)

¹⁶ And Nehemiah, the son of Azbuk, prince of the half part of the street of Bethzur, builded after him, unto over against the sepulchre of David, and unto the cistern, that is builded with great work, and unto the house of strong men. (And Nehemiah, the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half of the district of Bethzur, rebuilt after him, to a point opposite David’s tomb, and the pool that was built with great work, and the house for the strong men, that is, the barracks.)

¹⁷ And (the) deacons builded after him; and Rehum, the son of Bani, builded after them. And Hashabiah, the prince of half part of the street of Keilah, builded in his street after him. (And the Levites rebuilt after him; first Rehum, the son of Bani, rebuilt. And after him, Hashabiah, the ruler of half of the district of Keilah, rebuilt in his district.)

¹⁸ The brethren of them, Bavai, the son of Henadad, prince of the half part of Keilah, builded after him. (And their kinsmen rebuilt after him; first Bavai, the son of Henadad, the ruler of the other half of the district of Keilah.)

¹⁹ And Ezer, the son of Jeshua, prince of Mizpah, builded beside him the second measure, (over) against the going up of the strongest corner. (And then Ezer, the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, rebuilt the next section beside him, opposite the ascent, or the going up, of the strongest corner.)

²⁰ And Baruch, the son of Zabbai, builded after him in the hill the second measure, from the corner unto the gate of the house of Eliashib, the great priest. (And Baruch, the son of Zabbai, rebuilt the next section after him, on the hill, from the corner unto the door of the house of the High Priest Eliashib.)

²¹ And Meremoth, the son of Urijah, son of Hakkoz, builded after him the second measure, from the gate [of the house] of Eliashib, as far as the house of Eliashib was stretched forth. (And Meremoth, the son of Urijah, the son of Hakkoz, rebuilt the next section after him, from the door of the house of Eliashib, unto the end of Eliashib’s house.)

²² And [the] priests, men of the field places of Jordan, builded after him. (And the priests, from the area around Jerusalem, rebuilt after him.)

²³ And Benjamin and Hashub builded after him over against their house; and Azariah, the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah, builded after him over against his own house. (And Benjamin and Hashub rebuilt after them, opposite their own houses; and Azariah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, rebuilt after them opposite his own house.)

²⁴ And Binnui, the son of Henadad, builded after him the second measure, from the house of Azariah unto the bowing (of the wall), and unto the corner. (And Binnui, the son of Henadad, rebuilt the next section after him, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, that is, unto the corner.)

²⁵ Palal, the son of Uzai, builded over against the bowing (of the wall), and the tower that standeth forth, from the high house of the king, that is in the large place of the prison; Pedaiah, the son of Parosh, builded after him. (Palal, the son of Uzai, rebuilt from the turning of the wall, opposite the tower that standeth forth from the king’s high house, or his palace, in the courtyard of the guard; and Pedaiah, the son of Parosh, rebuilt after him,)

²⁶ And (the) Nethinims dwelled in Ophel till (over) against the gate of waters at the east, and the tower that appeared (over the others). (to a place on the east, opposite the Water Gate, and the tower that appeared over the others. This was near the part of Jerusalem called Ophel, where the Temple workers lived.)

²⁷ After him men of Tekoa builded the second measure even over against, from the great tower, and appearing unto the wall of the temple. (After him the men of Tekoa rebuilt a second section, from a point opposite the great tower, that appeared over the others, unto the wall of Ophel.)

²⁸ And [the] priests builded above at the gate of horses, each man over against his house. (And the priests rebuilt above the Horse Gate, each man opposite his own house.)

²⁹ And Zadok, the son of Immer, builded over against his house after them. And Shemaiah, the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate, builded after him. (And Zadok, the son of Immer, rebuilt after them, opposite his house. And Shemaiah, the son of Shechaniah, the guard, or the doorkeeper, of the East Gate, rebuilt after him.)

³⁰ Hananiah, the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, builded after him the second measure. Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, builded over against his chamber after him. (Hananiah, the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, rebuilt the next section after him. Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, rebuilt after them, opposite his room.)

³¹ Malchiah, the son of a goldsmith, builded after him unto the house of (the) Nethinims, and of men selling shields, over against the gate of judges, and unto the solar of the corner. (Malchiah, the son of a goldsmith, rebuilt after him unto the house of the Temple workers, and the merchants, opposite the Miphkad Gate, or the Watch Gate, to the room on the top of the corner.)

³² And craftsmen and merchants builded within the solar of the corner, and the gate of the king. (And the craftsmen, and the merchants, rebuilt between the room on the top of the corner, and the Sheep Gate.)

4 And it was done, when Sanballat had heard, that we builded the wall, he was full wroth, and he was stirred greatly, and he scorned the Jews. (And it was done, when Sanballat heard, that we were rebuilding the wall, he was very angry, and was greatly stirred up, and he scorned the Jews.)

² And he said before his brethren, and the multitude of Samaritans, What do the feeble Jews? Whether heathen men shall suffer them? Whether they shall [ful]fill, and make sacrifice in one day? Whether they may build stones of the heaps of the dust, which be burnt? (And he said before his kinsmen, and the multitude of the Samaritans, What do these feeble Jews think they be doing? Do they think they can rebuild the whole city? Do they believe they can just make a sacrifice, and then finish it all in one day? Can they make stones out of heaps of rubble, which be all burned up?)

³ And also Tobiah (the) Ammonite, his neighbour, said, Build they; if a fox go up, he shall over-leap their stone wall. (And Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, Let them build; for if a fox shall go up there, he shall just leap over their stone wall.)

⁴ And Nehemiah said (in prayer), Our God, hear thou, for we be made despising (for we be despised); turn thou the shame upon their own head(s), and give thou them into despising in the land of captivity;

⁵ cover thou not the wickedness of them, and their sins be not done away before thy face; for they scorned the builders.

⁶ Therefore we builded the wall, and joined together all till to the half part, and the heart of the people was excited to work. (And so we rebuilt the wall, and joined it all together, up to half of its height, and the heart of the people was excited to do this work.)

⁷ And it was done when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Arabians, and Ammonites, and men of Ashdod had heard, that the breaking of the wall of Jerusalem was stopped, and that the crazings had begun to be closed together, they were full wroth. (And when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabs, and the Ammonites, and the men of Ashdod had heard, that the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem was progressing, and that the gaps had begun to be closed, they were very angry.)

⁸ And they all were gathered together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cast treasons against it.

⁹ And we prayed the Lord our God, and we setted keepers on the wall day and night against them. (And we prayed to the Lord our God, and we put guards on the wall day and night, to protect against them.)

¹⁰ And Judah said, The strength of the bearer is made feeble, and the earth is full much, and we be not able to build the wall. (But the men of Judah said, The strength of the workers hath become feeble, and there is just too much rubble, and so we cannot rebuild the wall.)

¹¹ And our enemies said, Know they not, and know they not, till we come into the middle of them, and slay them, and make the work to cease. (And our enemies said, Let them know nothing, until we suddenly come into their midst, and kill them all, and stop the work.)

¹² Forsooth it was done, when [the] Jews came, that dwelled beside them, and said to us by ten times, from all places from which they came to us, (And it was done, that the Jews who lived beside them came, and told us ten times, that our enemies would soon be upon us, from all the places from which they had come to us,)

¹³ I ordained the people in order, with their swords, and spears, and bows, in a place behind the wall by compass. (and so I ordained the people in order, with their swords, and spears, and bows, in places all around behind the wall.)

¹⁴ I beheld, and rose, and said to the principal men, and magistrates, and to the other part of the common people, Do not ye dread of their face; but have ye mind of the great Lord, and fearedful, and fight ye for your brothers, and your sons, and your daughters, for your wives, and house(hold)s. (And I looked about, and rose up, and said to the leaders, and the magistrates, and to all the people, Do not ye fear them; but instead, think upon, or remember, the great and fearful Lord, and fight ye for your brothers, and your sons, and your daughters, and your wives, and your families, or your kinsmen.)

¹⁵ And it was done, when our enemies had heard that it was told to us, God destroyed their counsel; and then all we turned again to the walls, each man to his work. (And it was done, that our enemies heard that everything had been told to us, and so God destroyed their plans; and then we all returned to rebuilding the wall, each man to his own work.)

¹⁶ And it was done from that day, the half part of the young men made the work, and the half part was ready to battle; and (held) spears, and shields, and bows, and habergeons, and (the) princes after them, in all the house of men of Judah, (And so it was done from that day on, that half the young men did the work, and the other half were ready for battle, and held spears, and shields, and bows, and breastplates; and the leaders supported all the men of the house of Judah,)

¹⁷ building in the wall, and bearing burdens, and putting on; with their one hand they made the work, and with the other they held their sword. (who were rebuilding the wall. And for those carrying the loads, with their one hand they did the work, and with the other hand they held their sword.)

¹⁸ For each of the builders was girded with a sword upon his reins; and they builded the wall, and they sounded with clarions beside me. (And each of the builders was girded with a sword around his waist, as they rebuilt the wall. And the man who sounded with the trumpet was beside me.)

¹⁹ And I said to the principal men, and (to the) magistrates, and to the other part of the common people, The work is great and broad, and we be separated far in the wall, one from another; (And I said to the leaders, and the magistrates, and the rest of the people, The work is great and broad, or spread out, and we all be separated on the wall, one far from another);

²⁰ therefore in whatever place that ye hear [the] sound of the trump (and so whenever ye hear the sound of the trumpet), run ye together thither to us; for our God shall fight for us.

²¹ And we ourselves shall make the work, and the half of us hold we spears, from the going up of the morrowtide till that [the] stars go out. (And so we did the work, and half of us held spears, from the rising of the morning sun until the stars came out.)

²² And in that time I said to the people, Each man with his servant dwell he in the midst of Jerusalem, and whiles be to us by night, and (the) day to work. (And at that time I said to the people, Each man stay he with his servant in the middle of Jerusalem, and be on guard for us by night, and do the work by day.)

²³ But I, and my brethren, and my keepers, and [my] servants, that were (going) after me, did not (put) off our clothes; each man was made naked only to washing. (And I, and my kinsmen, and my servants, and the men who were protecting me, never took off our clothes; each man was made naked only for washing/each of us kept our right hand on our sword at all times.)

5 And great cry of the people and of their wives was made against their brethren Jews. (And later there came a time when a great cry of the people, both men and women, was made against their fellow Jews.)

² And there were (those) that said, Our sons and our daughters be full many; take we wheat for the price of them, and eat we, and live. (And there were those who said, We have sold our sons and our daughters for corn, or for grain, so that we could eat, and stay alive.)

³ Also there were (others) that said, Set we forth to sale our fields, and vineries, and our houses, and take we wheat to eat in this hunger. (And there were others who said, We have sold our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, so we could get corn, or grain, to eat during this famine.)

⁴ And other men said, Take we money by borrowing, for usury, into the tributes of the king, and give our fields and vineries. (And still others said, We have borrowed money with interest, against our fields and our vineyards, so we could pay the tributes, or the taxes, to the king.)

⁵ And now as the fleshes of our brethren be, so and our fleshes be; and as be the sons of them, so and our sons be; lo! we have made subject our sons and our daughters into servage, and servantesses be (made) of our daughters, and we have not whereof they may be again-bought; and other men have in possession our fields, and our vineries. (And now though our flesh be like the flesh of our kinsmen, and our sons be like their sons; lo! we have subjected our sons and our daughters to servitude, or slavery, and some of our daughters be made slave-girls; and we have not whereof to buy them back, for now others possess our fields, and our vineyards.)

⁶ And I was full wroth, when I had heard the cry of them by these words. (And I was very angry, when I had heard their outcry over these matters.)

⁷ And mine heart thought with(in) me, and I blamed the principal men, and magistrates; and I said to them, Ask ye not usuries, or increase, each man of your brethren (And I thought in my heart within me, and I rebuked the leaders, and the magistrates; and I said to them, Ye should not ask for usury, or unfair interest, from your kinsmen). And I gathered together a great company against them,

⁸ and I said to them, As ye know, we have by our power again-bought our brethren Jews, that were sold to heathen men; and ye now sell your brethren, and shall we again-buy them of you? And they held silence, and found not what they should answer. (and I said to them, As ye know, by our power we have bought back our fellow Jews, who were sold to the heathen; but now your own kinsmen must sell themselves to you, and so now do we have to buy them back from you? And they held their peace, and found not what they should answer.)

⁹ And I said to them, It is not (a) good thing, that ye do; why go ye not in the dread of our God, and reproof be not said to us of heathen men, our enemies? (And I said to them, It is not good what ye have done; why do ye not go in the fear of our God? and then rebuke would not be said to us by our enemies, the heathen.)

¹⁰ Both I, and my brethren, and my servants, have lent to full many men money and wheat; in common, ask we not (for) this again; but forgive we alien money, or usury, which is due to us. (I, and my kinsmen, and my servants, have lent money and corn to a great many people; let us agree together that we shall not ask for any of this back; and let us forget about the interest, which is due to us.)

¹¹ And again yield ye to them to day their fields, and their vineries, their olive places, and their houses; and rather, give ye for them the hundred part of money, and of wheat, of wine, and of oil, which ye were wont to take of them. (And today, give ye back to them their fields, and their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses; and give ye back to them the money, and the corn, the wine, and the oil, which ye were wont to take from them.)

¹² And they said, We shall yield their goods to them, and we shall ask nothing of them; and we shall do so as thou speakest. And I called the priests, and I made them to swear, that they should do after this, that I had said. (And they said, We shall give back their goods to them, and we shall ask nothing from them; and we shall do as thou sayest. And I called for the priests, and I made them swear before the priests, that they would do as they had promised.)

¹³ And furthermore I shook my bosom, and I said, So (may) God shake away each man from his house, and from his travails, that fulfilleth not this word; and be he shaken away, and be he made void. And all the multitude said, Amen; and they praised God. And the people did, as it was said (And all the people/And all the leaders did, as they had promised).

²⁵ But of virgins I have no commandment of God; but I give counsel, as he that hath gotten mercy of the Lord, that I be true.

²⁶ Therefore I guess, that this thing is good for the present need; for it is good to a man to be so [for it is good for a man to be so].

²⁷ Thou art bound to a wife, do not thou seek unbinding; thou art unbound from a wife, do not thou seek a wife.

²⁸ But if thou hast taken a wife, thou hast not sinned; and if a maiden is wedded, she sinned not; nevertheless such shall have tribulation of flesh. But I spare you.

²⁹ Therefore, brethren [And so, brethren], I say this thing, The time is short. Another is this, that they that have wives, be as though they had none;

³⁰ and they that weep, as they wept not; and they that joy, as they joyed not; and they that buy, as they had not;

³¹ and they that use this world, as they that use [it] not. For why the figure of this world passeth.^[a]

³² But I will, that ye be without busyness [Forsooth I will you to be without busyness], for he that is without wife, is busy what things be of the Lord, how he shall please God.

³³ But he that is with a wife, is busy what things be of the world, how he shall please the wife [how he shall please his wife], and he is parted.

³⁴ And a woman unwedded and [a] maiden thinketh what things be of the Lord, that she be holy in body and spirit. But she that is wedded, thinketh what things be of the world, how she shall please the husband [how she shall please her husband].

³⁵ And I say these things to your profit, not that I cast to you a snare, but to that that is seemly, and that giveth easiness, without hindering to make prayers to the Lord. [Soothly I say these things to your profit, not that I cast to you a snare, but to that that is honest, and that giveth facility, or easiness, without letting to beseech to the Lord.]

³⁶ And if any man guesseth himself to be seen foul on his virgin, that she is full waxen [that she is well old], and so it behooveth to be done, do she that that she will^[b]; she sinneth not, if she be wedded^[c].

³⁷ For he that ordained stably in his heart [For why he that ordained stably, or steadfast, in his heart], not having need, but having power of his will, and hath deemed in his heart this thing, to keep his virgin [for to keep his virginity], doeth well.

³⁸ Therefore he that joineth his virgin in matrimony, doeth well; and he that joineth not, doeth better.

³⁹ The woman is bound to the law, as long time as her husband liveth; and if her husband is dead, she is delivered from the law of the husband [she is delivered from the law], be she wedded to whom she will, only in the Lord.

⁴⁰ But she shall be more blessed, if she dwelleth thus [if she shall thus dwell], after my counsel; and I ween, that I have the Spirit of God.

32 Learning to David. [The understanding of David.] Blessed be they, whose wickedness be forgiven; and whose sins be covered. (The teaching of David. Happy be they, whose wickedness be forgiven; and whose sins be covered.)

² Blessed is the man, to whom the Lord areckoned not sin; neither guile is in his spirit. (Happy is the person, to whom the Lord did not reckon any sin; and there is no deceit in his spirit.)

³ For I was still, my bones waxed eld; while I cried all day. (For when I kept silent/For when I did not confess my sins, my bones grew old; while I cried all day long.)

⁴ For by day and night thine hand was made grievous on me (And day and night thy hand was heavy upon me); I am turned in my wretchedness, while the thorn is set in.

⁵ (Then) I made my sin known to thee; and I hid not my unrightfulness. I said, I shall acknowledge against me mine unrightfulness to the Lord; and thou hast forgiven the wickedness of my sin.

⁶ For this thing each holy man shall pray to thee; in covenable time. Nevertheless in the great flood of many waters; they shall not (come) nigh to thee. (For this thing, each holy man shall pray to thee; in his time of need. And then, in the great flood of many troubles, none shall come near him.)

⁷ Thou art my refuge from tribulation, that (en)compassed me; thou, my fully joying, deliver me from them that (en)compass me. (Thou art my refuge, from the troubles that surround me; thou, my full out joy, deliver me from those who surround me.)

⁸ I shall give understanding to thee, and I shall teach thee; in this way in which thou shalt go, I shall make steadfast mine eyes on thee. (And the Lord said, I shall give understanding to thee, and I shall teach thee the way in which thou should go; and I shall put my eyes steadfastly upon thee.)

⁹ Do not ye be made as an horse and mule; to which is none understanding. Lord, constrain thou the cheeks of them with a barnacle and bridle; that (they) nigh not to thee. (Do not ye be made like a horse or a mule; which have no understanding, or reasoning ability. Their mouths must be constrained with a bit and a bridle; so that they finally submit to where they should go.)

¹⁰ Many beatings be of the sinner; but mercy shall (en)compass him that hopeth in the Lord. (Many beatings be to the sinner; but the love of the Lord shall surround those who trust in him.)

¹¹ Ye just men, be glad, and make fully joy in the Lord; and all ye rightful of heart, have glory. (Ye who be righteous be glad, and make full out joy, or rejoice, in the Lord; and all ye with an upright heart, have glory, or shout for joy!)

⁵ The thoughts of a strong man be ever in abundance; but each slow man is ever in neediness. (The thoughts of a strong person be forevermore on abundance, or on plenty; but those of each person in haste be forevermore on neediness./Carefully-made plans shall be successful; but each person in haste shall be forever in need.)

⁶ He that gathereth treasures by the tongue of a lie maker, (or of a liar,) is vain, and without heart; and he shall be hurled to the snares of death.

⁷ The ravens of unpious men shall draw them down; for they would not do doom. (The robberies of the wicked shall pull them down; for what they do is wrong.)