Study Desk

He was hired for this reason, that I might become afraid and act accordingly and sin, so that they could give me a bad name in order that they could reproach me.

For many in Judah were sworn by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as a wife.

that I commanded Hanani my brother and Hananiah the commander of the fortress, to be over Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.

Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.

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.

Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites, who provided the people with understanding, said to all the people, "This day is holy to Yahweh your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.

Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength."

So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved."

So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim.

And they rose up in their place and read from the book of the law of Yahweh their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they were confessing and worshiping Yahweh their God.

You found his heart faithful before You,And cut a covenant with himTo give him the land of the Canaanite,Of the Hittite and the Amorite,Of the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite—To give it to his seed.And You have established Your promise,For You are righteous.

Then You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh,Against all his servants and all the people of his land;For You knew that they acted presumptuously toward them,And made a name for Yourself as it is this day.

And with a pillar of cloud You led them by day,And with a pillar of fire by nightTo light for them the wayIn which they were to go.

You gave bread from heaven for them for their hunger,You brought forth water from a rock for them for their thirst,And You said to them to enter in order to possessThe land which You swore to give them.

Even when they made for themselvesA molten calfAnd said, ‘This is your GodWho brought you up from Egypt,'And committed great blasphemies,

But You, in Your abundant compassion,Did not forsake them in the wilderness;The pillar of cloud did not depart from them by day,To lead them on their way,Nor the pillar of fire by night,To light for them the way in which they were to go.

You gave Your good Spirit to give them insight,Your manna You did not withhold from their mouth,And You gave them water for their thirst.

You made their sons numerous as the stars of heaven,And You brought them into the landWhich You had said for their fathers to enter and possess.

They captured fortified cities and a rich land.They took possession of houses full of every good thing,Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves,Trees for food in abundance.So they ate, were filled, and grew fat,And reveled in Your great goodness.

However, You bore with them for many years,And testified to them by Your Spirit by the hand of Your prophets,Yet they would not give ear.So You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.