The Daily Audio Bible
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14 Also, from the day that he appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the thirty and second year of Artaxerxes the king -- twelve years -- I, and my brethren, the bread of the governor have not eaten:
15 the former governors who [are] before me have made themselves heavy on the people, and take of them in bread and wine, besides in silver forty shekels; also, their servants have ruled over the people -- and I have not done so, because of the fear of God.
16 And also, in the work of this wall I have done mightily, even a field we have not bought, and all my servants are gathered there for the work;
17 and of the Jews, and of the prefects, a hundred and fifty men, and those coming in unto us of the nations that [are] round about us, [are] at my table;
18 and that which hath been prepared for one day [is] one ox, six fat sheep, also fowls have been prepared for me, and once in ten days of all wines abundantly, and with this, the bread of the governor I have not sought, for heavy is the service on this people.
19 Remember for me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.
6 And it cometh to pass, when it hath been heard by Sanballat, and Tobiah, and by Geshem the Arabian, and by the rest of our enemies, that I have builded the wall, and there hath not been left in it a breach, (also, till that time the doors I had not set up in the gates,)
2 that Sanballat sendeth, also Geshem, unto me, saying, `Come and we meet together in the villages, in the valley of Ono;' and they are thinking to do to me evil.
3 And I send unto them messengers, saying, `A great work I am doing, and I am not able to come down; why doth the work cease when I let it alone, and have come down unto you?'
4 and they send unto me, according to this word, four times, and I return them [word] according to this word.
5 And Sanballat sendeth unto me, according to this word, a fifth time, his servant, and an open letter in his hand;
6 it is written in it, `Among the nations it hath been heard, and Gashmu is saying: Thou and the Jews are thinking to rebel, therefore thou art building the wall, and thou hast been to them for a king -- according to these words!
7 And also, prophets thou hast appointed to call for thee in Jerusalem, saying, A king [is] in Judah, and now it is heard by the king according to these words; and now come, and we take counsel together.'
8 And I send unto him, saying, `It hath not been according to these words that thou art saying, for from thine own heart thou art devising them;'
9 for all of them are making us afraid, saying, `Their hands are too feeble for the work, and it is not done;' and now, strengthen Thou my hands.
10 And I have entered the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabeel -- and he is restrained -- and he saith, `Let us meet at the house of God, at the inside of the temple, and we shut the doors of the temple, for they are coming in to slay thee -- yea, by night they are coming in to slay thee.'
11 And I say, `A man such as I -- doth he flee? and who as I, that doth go in unto the temple, and live? -- I do not go in.'
12 And I discern, and lo, God hath not sent him, for in the prophecy he hath spoken unto me both Tobiah and Sanballat hired him,
13 so that he [is] an hireling, that I may fear and do so, and I had sinned, and it had been to them for an evil name that they may reproach me.
14 Be mindful, O my God, of Tobiah, and of Sanballat, according to these his works, and also, of Noadiah the prophetess, and of the rest of the prophets who have been making me afraid.
15 And the wall is completed in the twenty and fifth of Elul, on the fifty and second day;
16 and it cometh to pass, when all our enemies have heard, and all the nations who are round about us see, that they fall greatly in their own eyes, and know that by our God hath this work been done.
17 Also, in those days the freemen of Judah are multiplying their letters going unto Tobiah, and those of Tobiah are coming in unto them;
18 for many in Judah are sworn to him, for he [is] son-in-law to Shechaniah son of Arah, and Jehohanan his son hath taken the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah;
19 also, his good deeds they have been saying before me, and my words they have been taking out to him; letters hath Tobiah sent to make me afraid.
7 And it cometh to pass, when the wall hath been built, that I set up the doors, and the gatekeepers are appointed, and the singers, and the Levites,
2 and I charge Hanani my brother, and Hananiah head of the palace, concerning Jerusalem -- for he [is] as a man of truth, and fearing God above many --
3 and I say to them, `Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened till the heat of the sun, and while they are standing by let them shut the doors, and fasten, and appoint guards of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each in his guard, and each over-against his house.'
4 And the city [is] broad on both sides, and great, and the people [are] few in its midst, and there are no houses builded;
5 and my God putteth it unto my heart, and I gather the freeman, and the prefects, and the people, for the genealogy, and I find a book of the genealogy of those coming up at the beginning, and I find written in it: --
6 These [are] sons of the province, those coming up of the captives of the removal that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed -- and they turn back to Jerusalem and to Judah, each to his city --
7 who are coming in with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. Number of the men of the people of Israel:
8 Sons of Parosh: two thousand a hundred and seventy and two.
9 Sons of Shephatiah: three hundred seventy and two.
10 Sons of Arah: six hundred fifty and two.
11 Sons of Pahath-Moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab: two thousand and eight hundred [and] eighteen.
12 Sons of Elam: a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
13 Sons of Zattu: eight hundred forty and five.
14 Sons of Zaccai: seven hundred and sixty.
15 Sons of Binnui: six hundred forty and eight.
16 Sons of Bebai: six hundred twenty and eight.
17 Sons of Azgad: two thousand three hundred twenty and two.
18 Sons of Adonikam: six hundred sixty and seven.
19 Sons of Bigvai: two thousand sixty and seven.
20 Sons of Adin: six hundred fifty and five.
21 Sons of Ater of Hezekiah: ninety and eight.
22 Sons of Hashum: three hundred twenty and eight.
23 Sons of Bezai: three hundred twenty and four.
24 Sons of Hariph: a hundred [and] twelve.
25 Sons of Gibeon: ninety and five.
26 Men of Beth-Lehem and Netophah: a hundred eighty and eight.
27 Men of Anathoth: a hundred twenty and eight.
28 Men of Beth-Azmaveth: forty and two.
29 Men of Kirjath-Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth: seven hundred forty and three.
30 Men of Ramah and Gaba: six hundred twenty and one.
31 Men of Michmas: a hundred and twenty and two.
32 Men of Bethel and Ai: a hundred twenty and three.
33 Men of the other Nebo: fifty and two.
34 Sons of the other Elam: a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
35 Sons of Harim: three hundred and twenty.
36 Sons of Jericho: three hundred forty and five.
37 Sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: seven hundred and twenty and one.
38 Sons of Senaah: three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
39 The priests: sons of Jedaiah: of the house of Jeshua: nine hundred seventy and three;
40 sons of Immer: a thousand fifty and two;
41 sons of Pashur: a thousand two hundred forty and seven;
42 sons of Harim: a thousand and seventeen.
43 The Levites: sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel: of sons of Hodevah: seventy and four.
44 The singers: sons of Asaph: a hundred forty and eight.
45 The gatekeepers: sons of Shallum, sons of Ater, sons of Talmon, sons of Akkub, sons of Hatita, sons of Shobai: a hundred thirty and eight.
46 The Nethinim: sons of Ziha, sons of Hasupha, sons of Tabbaoth,
47 sons of Keros, sons of Sia, sons of Padon,
48 sons of Lebanah, sons of Hagaba, sons of Shalmai,
49 sons of Hanan, sons of Giddel, sons of Gahar,
50 sons of Reaiah, sons of Rezin, sons of Nekoda,
51 sons of Gazzam, sons of Uzza, sons of Phaseah,
52 sons of Bezai, sons of Meunim, sons of Nephishesim,
53 sons of Bakbuk, sons of Hakupha, sons of Harhur,
54 sons of Bazlith, sons of Mehida, sons of Harsha,
55 sons of Barkos, sons of Sisera, sons of Tamah,
56 sons of Neziah, sons of Hatipha.
57 Sons of the servants of Solomon: sons of Sotai, sons of Sophereth, sons of Perida,
58 sons of Jaala, sons of Darkon, sons of Giddel,
59 sons of Shephatiah, sons of Hattil, sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, sons of Amon.
60 All the Nethinim and the sons of the servants of Solomon [are] three hundred ninety and two.
61 And these [are] those coming up from Tel-Melah, Tel-Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer -- and they have not been able to declare the house of their fathers, and their seed, whether they [are] of Israel --
62 sons of Delaiah, sons of Tobiah, sons of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.
63 And of the priests: sons of Habaiah sons of Koz, sons of Barzillai, who hath taken from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite a wife, and is called by their name.
64 These have sought their register among those reckoning themselves by genealogy, and it hath not been found, and they are redeemed from the priesthood,
65 and the Tirshatha saith to them that they eat not of the most holy things till the standing up of the priest with Urim and Thummim.
66 All the assembly together [is] four myriads two thousand three hundred and sixty,
67 apart from their servants and their handmaids -- these [are] seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven; and of them [are] singers and songstresses, two hundred forty and five.
68 Their horses [are] seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred [and] forty and five;
69 camels, four hundred thirty and five; asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
70 And from the extremity of the heads of the fathers they have given to the work; the Tirshatha hath given to the treasure, of gold, drams a thousand, bowls fifty, priests' coats thirty and five hundred.
71 And of the heads of the fathers they have given to the treasure of the work, of gold, drams two myriads, and of silver, pounds two thousand and two hundred.
72 And that which the rest of the people have given [is] of gold, drams two myriads, and of silver, pounds two thousand, and of priests coats, sixty and seven.
73 And they dwell -- the priests, and the Levites, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and [some] of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel -- in their cities, and the seventh month cometh, and the sons of Israel [are] in their cities.
8 And concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that we all have knowledge: knowledge puffeth up, but love buildeth up;
2 and if any one doth think to know anything, he hath not yet known anything according as it behoveth [him] to know;
3 and if any one doth love God, this one hath been known by Him.
4 Concerning the eating then of the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that there is no other God except one;
5 for even if there are those called gods, whether in heaven, whether upon earth -- as there are gods many and lords many --
6 yet to us [is] one God, the Father, of whom [are] the all things, and we to Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom [are] the all things, and we through Him;
7 but not in all men [is] the knowledge, and certain with conscience of the idol, till now, as a thing sacrificed to an idol do eat [it], and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8 But victuals do not commend us to God, for neither if we may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind;
9 but see, lest this privilege of yours may become a stumbling-block to the infirm,
10 for if any one may see thee that hast knowledge in an idol's temple reclining at meat -- shall not his conscience -- he being infirm -- be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to idols,
11 and the brother who is infirm shall perish by thy knowledge, because of whom Christ died?
12 and thus sinning in regard to the brethren, and smiting their weak conscience -- in regard to Christ ye sin;
13 wherefore, if victuals cause my brother to stumble, I may eat no flesh -- to the age -- that my brother I may not cause to stumble.
33 Sing, ye righteous, in Jehovah, For upright ones praise [is] comely.
2 Give ye thanks to Jehovah with a harp, With psaltery of ten strings sing praise to Him,
3 Sing ye to Him a new song, Play skilfully with shouting.
4 For upright [is] the word of Jehovah, And all His work [is] in faithfulness.
5 Loving righteousness and judgment, Of the kindness of Jehovah is the earth full.
6 By the word of Jehovah The heavens have been made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
7 Gathering as a heap the waters of the sea, Putting in treasuries the depths.
8 Afraid of Jehovah are all the earth, Of Him are all the inhabitants of the world afraid.
9 For He hath said, and it is, He hath commanded, and it standeth.
10 Jehovah made void the counsel of nations, He disallowed the thoughts of the peoples.
11 The counsel of Jehovah to the age standeth, The thoughts of His heart to all generations.
8 Froward [is] the way of a man who is vile, And the pure -- upright [is] his work.
9 Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions and a house of company.
10 The soul of the wicked hath desired evil, Not gracious in his eyes is his neighbour.