5,683 verses contain “sai” (in the KJV: 5,265, in the BSB: 2,617) — showing 2,301–2,400
King James Bible KJV Bible
Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible
And the LORD
said, Who shall
entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at
Ramoth-
gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
And the LORD
said, ‘Who will
entice Ahab king of Israel to march up and fall at
Ramoth-
gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that.
Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and
said, I will
entice him. And the LORD
said unto him,
Wherewith?
Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and
said, ‘I will
entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.
And he
said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD
said, Thou shalt
entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely
entice him and prevail,’
said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’
Then
Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and
smote Micaiah upon the
cheek, and
said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
Then
Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak with you?”
And Micaiah
said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide
thyself.
Micaiah replied, “You will soon see, on that day when you go and hide in an inner room.”
Then the king of Israel
said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to
Joash the king’s son;
And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to
Joash the king’s son,
And say, Thus
saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of
affliction and with water of
affliction, until I return in peace.
and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”
And Micaiah
said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he
said,
Hearken, all ye people.
But Micaiah replied, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take
heed, all you people!”
And the king of Israel
said unto
Jehoshaphat, I will
disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel
disguised himself; and they went to the battle.
And the king of Israel
said to
Jehoshaphat, “I will
disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel
disguised himself and went into battle.
And it came to pass, when the captains of the
chariots saw
Jehoshaphat, that they
said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but
Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
When the
chariot commanders saw
Jehoshaphat, they
said, “This is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but
Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him.
And a certain man drew a bow at a
venture, and
smote the king of Israel between the joints of the
harness: therefore he
said to his
chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his
armor. So the king
said to his
charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”
And
Jehu the son of Hanani the
seer went out to meet him, and
said to king
Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that
hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
Jehu son of Hanani the
seer went out to
confront him and
said to King
Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who
hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.
And
said to the judges, Take
heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.
Then he said to the judges, “Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment.
And
said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to
withstand thee?
and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.
And he
said,
Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king
Jehoshaphat, Thus
saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
And he
said, “
Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem!
Listen, King
Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God.
And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth,
Jehoshaphat stood and
said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye
prosper.
Early in the morning they got up and left for the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out,
Jehoshaphat stood up and
said, “Hear me, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be
upheld; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.”
And there came a writing to him from
Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus
saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of
Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of
Asa king of Judah,
Then a letter came to Jehoram from
Elijah the prophet, which stated: “This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘You have not walked in the ways of your father
Jehoshaphat or of
Asa king of Judah,
And he sought
Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was
hid in Samaria,) and brought him to
Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because,
said they, he is the son of
Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of
Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.
Then
Jehu looked for
Ahaziah, and
Jehu’s soldiers captured him while he was hiding in Samaria. So
Ahaziah was brought to
Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they
said, “He is the grandson of
Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart.” So no one was left from the house of
Ahaziah with the strength to rule the kingdom.
And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.
the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. “Behold, the king’s son!” said Jehoiada. “He must reign, just as the LORD promised concerning the descendants of David.
Then they brought out the king’s son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons
anointed him, and
said, God save the king.
Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They
anointed him and
shouted, “Long live the king!”
And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his
pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the
trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land
rejoiced, and sounded with
trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then
Athaliah rent her clothes, and
said, Treason, Treason.
And she looked out and saw the king standing by his
pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were
rejoicing and blowing
trumpets, while the singers with musical instruments were leading the praises. Then
Athaliah tore her clothes and
screamed, “Treason, treason!”
Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and
said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and
whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest
said,
Slay her not in the house of the LORD.
And Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, saying, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword
anyone who follows her.” For the priest had
said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”
And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and
said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye
hasten the matter.
Howbeit the Levites
hastened it not.
So he gathered the priests and Levites and
said, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect the money due annually from all Israel, to repair the house of your God. Do it quickly.” The Levites, however, did not make
haste.
And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?
So the king called Jehoiada the high priest and said, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the LORD and by the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?”
And the Spirit of God came upon
Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and
said unto them, Thus
saith God, Why
transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot
prosper? because ye have
forsaken the LORD, he hath also
forsaken you.
Then the Spirit of God came upon
Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and
said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you
transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot
prosper? Because you have
forsaken the LORD, He has
forsaken you.’”
Thus
Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but
slew his son. And when he died, he
said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.
Thus King
Joash failed to remember the kindness that
Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him. Instead,
Joash killed Jehoiada’s son. As he lay dying,
Zechariah said, “May the LORD see this and call you to account.”
But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.
But a man of God came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—not with any of the Ephraimites.
And
Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.
Amaziah asked the man of God, “What should I do about the hundred talents I have given to the army of Israel?” And the man of God replied, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.”
Wherefore the anger of the LORD was
kindled against
Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which
said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?
Therefore the anger of the LORD burned against
Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet, who
said, “Why have you sought this people’s gods, which could not deliver them from your hand?”
And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king
said unto him, Art thou made of the king’s counsel?
forbear; why shouldest thou be
smitten? Then the prophet
forbare, and
said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not
hearkened unto my counsel.
While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the
counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he
said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not
heeded my advice.”
Then
Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to
Joash, the son of
Jehoahaz, the son of
Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.
Then
Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent word to the king of Israel Jehoash son of
Jehoahaz, the son of
Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he
said.
Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast
smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to
boast:
abide now at home; why shouldest thou
meddle to thine
hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
You have
said, ‘Look, I have defeated
Edom,’ and your heart has become proud and
boastful. Now stay at home. Why should you
stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”
And they
withstood Uzziah the king, and
said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast
trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.
They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.”
So Uzziah
slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they
said, He is a
leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his
stead.
And Uzziah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in a field of burial that belonged to the kings; for the people
said, “He was a
leper.” And his son Jotham reigned in his place.
But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was
Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and
said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was
wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a
rage that reacheth up unto heaven.
But a prophet of the LORD named
Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army that returned to Samaria. “Look,” he
said to them, “because of His wrath against Judah, the LORD, the God of your fathers, has delivered them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a
rage that reaches up to heaven.
And
said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the
captives hither: for whereas we have
offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our
trespass: for our
trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
“You must not bring the
captives here,” they
said, “for you are
proposing to bring guilt upon us from the LORD and to add to our sins and our guilt. For our guilt is great, and fierce anger is upon Israel.”
For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which
smote him: and he
said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
Since Damascus had defeated him, he sacrificed to their gods and
said, “Because the gods of the kings of
Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But these gods were the
downfall of
Ahaz and of all Israel.
Then they went in to
Hezekiah the king, and
said, We have
cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the
shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof.
Then they went in to King
Hezekiah and reported, “We have
cleansed the entire house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table of the
showbread with all its utensils.
Then
Hezekiah answered and
said, Now ye have consecrated
yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and
thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and
thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.
Then
Hezekiah said, “Now that you have consecrated
yourselves to the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and
thank offerings to the house of the LORD.” So the assembly brought sacrifices and
thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.
And
Azariah the chief priest of the house of
Zadok answered him, and
said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left
plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.
and
Azariah, the chief priest of the household of
Zadok, answered him, “Since the people began to bring their contributions into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and there is
plenty left over, because the LORD has blessed His people; this great abundance is what is left over.”
So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the
brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
Many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find
plenty of water?” they
said.
“This is what
Sennacherib king of Assyria says: What is the basis of your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege?
Also he built altars in the house of the LORD,
whereof the LORD had
said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had
said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem
forever.”
And he set a carved image, the
idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had
said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
Manasseh even took the carved image he had made and set it up in the house of God, of which God had
said to David and his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will establish My Name
forever.
And Hilkiah answered and
said to Shaphan the
scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.
And Hilkiah
said to Shaphan the
scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan.
And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me,
And Huldah said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Tell the man who sent you
Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:
that this is what the LORD says: I am about to bring
calamity on this place and on its people, according to all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah,
And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to
enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him, Thus
saith the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard;
But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘As for the words that you heard,
Because thine heart was tender, and thou
didst humble
thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst
thyself before me, and
didst rend thy clothes, and
weep before me; I have even heard thee also,
saith the LORD.
because your heart was tender and you humbled
yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and because you have humbled
yourself before Me and you have
torn your clothes and
wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD.
And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,
To the Levites who taught all Israel and were holy to the LORD,
Josiah said: “Put the holy ark in the temple built by Solomon son of David king of Israel. It is not to be carried around on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel.
And the archers shot at king
Josiah; and the king
said to his servants, Have me away; for I am
sore wounded.
There the archers shot King
Josiah, who
said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded!”
Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.
“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.
Whoever among you belongs to His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and may he go up.’”
Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.
And the Tirshatha
said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with
Urim and with
Thummim.
The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to
consult the
Urim and
Thummim.
Then they came to
Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and
said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up
hither.
they approached
Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”
But
Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel,
said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
But
Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”
At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
At that time Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates went to the Jews and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
They also asked, “What are the names of the men who are constructing this building?”
Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?”
And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
and
instructed, ‘Take these articles, put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site.’
And I
said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a
freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.
Then I told them, “You are holy to the LORD, and these articles are holy. The silver and gold are a
freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.
Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the
Canaanites, the
Hittites, the
Perizzites, the Jebusites, the
Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the
Amorites.
After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and
said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the
Canaanites,
Hittites,
Perizzites, Jebusites,
Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and
Amorites.
And
said, O my God, I am
ashamed and
blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our
iniquities are increased over our head, and our
trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
and
said: “O my God, I am
ashamed and
embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our
iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.
And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of
Elam, answered and
said unto
Ezra, We have
trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an
Elamite,
said to
Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel.
Then arose
Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to
swear that they should do according to this word. And they
sware.
So
Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been
said. And they took the oath.
And
Ezra the priest stood up, and
said unto them, Ye have
transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the
trespass of Israel.
Then
Ezra the priest stood up and
said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel.
Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.
And the whole assembly
responded in a loud voice: “Truly we must do as you say!
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.
And they told me, “The
remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”
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:
Then I
said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and
awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments,
Remember, I
beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye
transgress, I will
scatter you abroad among the nations:
Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You
said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will
scatter you among the nations,
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,
so the king
said to me, “Why is your face
sad, though you are not ill? This could only be
sadness of the heart.” I was
overwhelmed with fear
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?
and replied to the king, “May the king live
forever! Why should I not be
sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
Then the king
said unto me, For what
dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
“What is your request?” replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven
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.
and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city where my fathers are buried, so that I may rebuild it.”
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.
Then the king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set a time.
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;
I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors west of the Euphrates, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah.
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.
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.”
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.
I also told them about the
gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had
said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.
But when
Sanballat the Horonite,
Tobiah the
Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they
mocked us and
ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
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.
So I answered them and said, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start rebuilding, but you have no portion, right, or claim in Jerusalem.”
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?
before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of
rubble?”
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.
Then
Tobiah the
Ammonite, who was beside him,
said, “If even a fox were to
climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”
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.
Meanwhile, the people of Judah
said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much
rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.”
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.
And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”
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.
At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”
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.
After I had made an inspection, I stood up and
said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and
awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
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.
Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “The work is great and extensive, and we are spread out far from one another along the wall.
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.
At that time I also
said to the people, “Let every man and his servant
spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.”
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.
Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.”
Some also there were that
said, We have
mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might
buy corn, because of the
dearth.
Others were saying, “We are
mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.”
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.
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.
and after serious thought I
rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting
usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them
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.
and
said, “We have done our best to
buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.
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?
So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?
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.
“We will restore it,” they replied, “and will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised.
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.
I also
shook out the folds of my
robe and
said, “May God likewise
shake out of His house and possession every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be
shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly
said, “
Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
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.
that read: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews are
plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king,
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.
Later, I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his house. He said: “Let us meet at the house of God inside the temple. Let us shut the temple doors because they are coming to kill you— by night they are coming to kill you!”