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Nehemiah
(May the Blessings of JEHOVAH and My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be upon the Reading
and Studying of His Word. May the Holy Spirit Guide You and Me in Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding of YHVH'S Word. The
name of the LORD & God; as written in the King James Bible is JEHOVAH. See Exodus 6:3 {KJV})
Chapter 1
1. The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the
twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2. That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and [certain] men of Judah; and
I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3. And they
said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province [are] in great affliction
and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also [is] broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. 4. And it came
to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned [certain] days, and fasted, and prayed before the
God of heaven,
5. And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant
and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: 6. Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that
thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants,
and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.
7. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which
thou commandedst thy servant Moses.
8. Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, [If] ye transgress,
I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 9. But [if] ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there
were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, [yet] will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto
the place that I have chosen to set my name there. 10. Now these [are] thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast
redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. 11. O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer
of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this
day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer .
Chapter 2
1. And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, [that]
wine [was] before him: and I took up the wine, and gave [it] unto the king. Now I had not been [beforetime] sad in his presence.
2. Wherefore the king said unto me, Why [is] thy countenance sad, seeing thou [art] not sick? this [is]
nothing [else] but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, 3. And said unto the king, Let
the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, [lieth]
waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? 4. Then the king said unto me, For what dost
thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5. And I said unto the king, If it please
the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers'
sepulchres, that I may build it.
6. And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and
when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 7. Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over
till I come into Judah; 8. And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams
for the gates of the palace which [appertained] to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall
enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. 9. Then I came to the governors
beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10. When
Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard [of it], it grieved them exceedingly that there was come
a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
11. So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. 12. And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither
told I [any] man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither [was there any] beast with me, save the beast
that I rode upon. 13. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port,
and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. 14. Then I went
on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but [there was] no place for the beast [that was] under me to pass.
15. Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley,
and [so] returned.
16. And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told [it] to the Jews, nor to the priests,
nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work. 17. Then said I unto them, Ye
see the distress that we [are] in, how Jerusalem [lieth] waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let
us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. 18. Then I told them of the hand of my God which
was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and
build. So they strengthened their hands for [this] good [work]. 19. But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the
servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard [it], they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What
[is] this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? 20. Then answered I them, and said unto them, The
God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor
memorial, in Jerusalem.
Chapter 4
1. But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took
great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 2. And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What
do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive
the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? 3. Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he
said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. 4.
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of
captivity: 5. And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked
thee to anger before the builders. 6. So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof:
for the people had a mind to work.
7. But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites,
heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
8. And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. 9. Nevertheless we
made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 10. And Judah said, The
strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
11. And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them,
and slay them, and cause the work to cease. 12. And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they
said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.
13. Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after
their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14. And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and
to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is
great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. 15. And
it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned
all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. 16. And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my
servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons;
and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. 17. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens,
with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held
a weapon.
18. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet
was by me. 19. And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The
work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. 20. In what place therefore
ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us. 21. So we laboured in the
work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. 22. Likewise at the same time
said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they
may be a guard to us, and labour on the day. 23. So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard
which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.
Chapter 5
1. And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2. For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up
corn for them, that we may eat, and live. 3. Some also there were that said, We
have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. 4. There were also
that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage
our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither
is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6. And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 7. Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles,
and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly
against them. 8. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews,
which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they
their peace, and found nothing to answer. 9. Also I said, It is not good that ye do:
ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? 10. I likewise, and
my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and
their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
12. Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as
thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. 13.
Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth
not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen,
and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise. 14. Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be
their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king,
that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15. But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread
and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of
the fear of God. 16. Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were
gathered thither unto the work. 17. Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers,
beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us. 18. Now that which was prepared
for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten
days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy
upon this people. 19. Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
Chapter 6
1. Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our
enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had
not set up the doors upon the gates;) 2. That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us
meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. 3. And
I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why
should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? 4. Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort;
and I answered them after the same manner. 5. Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an
open letter in his hand;
6. Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that
thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these
words. 7. And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah:
and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8. Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them
out of thine own heart. 9. For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from
the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. 10. Afterward I came unto the house
of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet
together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee;
yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.
11. And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am,
would go into the temple to save his life? 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 was he hired,
that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they
might reproach me. 14. My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess
Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear. 15. So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth
day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
16. And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about
us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of
our God. 17. Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah
came unto them. 18. For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah
the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19. Also they reported his
good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
Chapter 8
1. And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was
before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded
to Israel. 2. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with
understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3. And he read therein before the street that was before
the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears
of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
4. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah,
and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael,
and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all
the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: 6. And Ezra blessed the LORD,
the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped
the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7. Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan,
Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. 8. So they
read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 9.
And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said
unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when
they heard the words of the law.
10. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them
for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the
LORD is your strength. 11. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is
holy; neither be ye grieved. 12. And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make
great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
13. And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites,
unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law. 14. And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded
by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month: 15. And that they should publish
and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches,
and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is
written.
16. So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house,
and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the
gate of Ephraim. 17. And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under
the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was
very great gladness. 18. Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And
they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.
This Is
My Family's Color Coded Online Bible Study From The King James Bible Online That Anyone Can Use.Click
This Link, Or The Ones Below To Study The Book of Nehemiah Online
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