Study Desk

and his kindred, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and the scribe Ezra went in front of them.

So both companies of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me;

They offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. The joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon.

For in the days of David and Asaph long ago there was a leader of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

On that day they read from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,

because they did not meet the Israelites with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Now before this, the priest Eliashib, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah,

and returned to Jerusalem. I then discovered the wrong that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah, preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.

Then I gave orders and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.

So I remonstrated with the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.

Did not your ancestors act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath."

And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

And I contended with them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair; and I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

Did not King Solomon of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.

Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?"

Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, the covenant of the priests and the Levites.

and I provided for the wood offering, at appointed times, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.