Nehemiah 4:1-23 The Walls of Jerusalem Are Almost Complete

 

The Walls of Jerusalem Are Almost Complete

Nehemiah 4:1-23          The Book of Nehemiah in [Smaller Chunks]

But it [happened,] that when Sanballat heard we [rebuilt] the wall, he was [angry, disgusted] & mocked the Jews. And he [said] to his brethren & [Samaria’s] army, What [are] these feeble Jews [doing?] Will they [strengthen] themselves?

Will they sacrifice? Will they [complete it] in a day? Will they revive the [burned] stones out of the rubbish heaps, [that] are burned? Now, Tobiah, [a.k.a. Tobias,] the Ammonite, was by him & said, Even [what] they [have built is so weak] that if a fox [went] up, [it] would break down their stone wall.

Hear [us] our God; for we are despised & turn their [disgust back] upon their own [heads & have] them [be like plunder] in the land of captivity. And [don’t] cover their iniquity, or let their sin be blotted out from before You. For they have provoked You to anger before the builders.

So, we [rebuilt] the wall & all the wall was joined together [up to] 1/2 of [it:] for the [people’s minds were focused on this] work. But it [happened,] when, Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites & the Ashdodites heard the walls of Jerusalem were [almost completed & the gaps were almost closed,] they were very [angry.]

And all of them conspired to come & fight against Jerusalem to hinder it, [by causing confusion.] [Still,] we [prayed] to our God, because of them & [put a guard to] watch [for] them [both] day & night.

And Judah said, We [aren’t] able to [finish building] the wall, [because of] the strength of [those who carry heavy loads] is [failing] & there is [so] much [garbage,] so that we aren’t able to [rebuild] the wall. And our [enemies] said, They [won’t] know [or] see [us, until] we come in the midst of them & [kill] them & cause the work to [stop.]

And it [happened,] that when the Jews [who lived near] them came, they [told] us 10 times, From all [the] places [where] you shall return to us, they will be upon you, [from all directions.] Therefore, I [put] the people with their swords, spears & bows, [according to] their families in the lower & higher places behind & on the wall.

And I looked & rose up & said to the nobles, the rulers & to the rest of the people, [Don’t] be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, [Who] Is great & [terribly awesome & fights] for your brethren, your sons, daughters, wives & your houses.

And it [happened,] when our enemies heard that it was known to us & God had [caused] their [advice to be ineffective,] that we all returned, to work on the wall. And it [happened,] from that time [on,] 1/2 of my servants [did] the work & the other 1/2 [wore armor] & held spears, shields & bows.

And the rulers were behind all [of] the house of Judah. [Those who] built on the wall & [those who carried] burdens, with those [who loaded,] everyone did the work with one of his hands & held a weapon with the other hand. For everyone [of] the builders had his sword [strapped] by his side & [also built.]

And he [who] sounded the trumpet, was by me. And I said to the nobles, rulers & to the rest of the people, The work is [enormous] & large & we are separated on the wall, one far from another.

Therefore, in [whatever] place you hear the trumpet sound, [come] here to us. Our God shall fight for us. So, we labored in the work; 1/2 of them held spears from [sunrise until] the stars appeared.

[Also,] at the same time, I said to the people, Let everyone, [including] his servant, lodge within Jerusalem, [so] that [at] night, they may be a guard [for] us & [work during] the day.

So, neither [did] I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men [who] guard &  [follow] me, [take] off our clothes, [except for when] everyone [took] them off for washing.

Nehemiah 3:1-32 Those Who Help Rebuild Jerusalem with Nehemiah

 

Those Who Help Rebuild Jerusalem with Nehemiah

Nehemiah 3:1-32          The Book of Nehemiah in [Smaller Chunks]

Then, Eliashib, the high priest, rose up with his brethren, the priests, & they [rebuilt] the sheep Gate & sanctified it. [They put] up [its] doors, even to the Tower of Meah, [a.k.a. The Tower of the Hundred,] & sanctified it, [all the way] to the Tower of Hananeel, [a.k.a. Hananel.]

The men of Jericho [rebuilt the section] next to him And Zaccur, [a.k.a. Zakkur, Imri’s] son, [rebuilt the section] next to them. But [Hassenaah’s] sons, [rebuilt] The Fish Gate & also laid [its] beams & [put] up [its gate] doors & [its] locks & bars of [it.]

And Meremoth, [Urijah’s] son, [who was] the son of Koz, [a.k.a. Hakoz,] repaired [the section] next to them. And Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, [a.k.a. Berekiah, who was] the son of Meshezabeel, [a.k.a. Meshezbel,] repaired [the section] next to them.

And Zadok, [Baana’s] son, repaired [the section] next to them. And the Tekoites repaired [the section] next to them, but their nobles [wouldn’t agree to do] the work of their Lord.

[Also,] Jehoiada, [a.k.a. Joiada, Paseah’s] son & Meshullam, [Besodeiah’s] son, repaired the Old Gate & laid [its] beams & [put] up [its gate] doors, locks & bars [of it.]

And Melatiah, the Gibeonite; Jadon, the Meronothite; the men of Gibeon & of Mizpah repaired [the section] next to them, [under the authority] of the governor [on] the throne, on this side of the [Euphrates] River.

Uriel, [Harhaiah’s] son of [one] of the goldsmiths, repaired [the section] next to [them.] Also, Hananiah, the son of the [maker of perfumes & medicines,] repaired [the section] next to [them.]

They [restored] Jerusalem [all the way] to the Broad Wall. And Rephaiah, [Hur’s] son & ruler of half of Jerusalem, repaired [the section] next to them. And Jedaiah, [Harumaph’s] son, repaired [the section] next to them, [opposite] to his house.

And Hattush, the son of Hashabniah, [a.k.a. Hashabneiah,] repaired [the section] next to them. Malchijah, [a.k.a. Malkijah, Harim’s] son & Hashub, [a.k.a. Hasshub, Pahath-Moab’s] son, [repaired another section] & The Tower of the Furnaces, [a.k.a. The Tower of the Ovens.]

And Shallum, [Halohesh’s] son, the ruler of [the other] half of Jerusalem, repaired [the section] next to [them,] with [the help of] his daughters. Hanun & [those who inhabited] Zanoah, repaired the Valley Gate & [rebuilt] it & [put] up [its gate] doors, locks & bars [of it.]

[They also repaired] 1,000 cubits [of] the wall [up] to [the garbage gate.] But Malchiah, [a.k.a. Malkijah,] the son of Rechab, [a.k.a. Rekab,] ruler of part of Beth Haccerem, [a.k.a. Beth Hakkerem,] [rebuilt the garbage gate] & [put] up [its gate] doors, locks & bars [of it.]

But Shallum, the son of Colhozeh, [a.k.a. Kol-Hozeh,] ruler of part of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He [rebuilt & roofed] it & [put] up [its gate] doors, locks & bars [of it.] [He also repaired] the wall of the Pool of Siloah, [a.k.a. Siloam,] by the king’s garden [up] to the stairs that go down from the City of David.

After him, Nehemiah, [Azbuk’s] son, the ruler of half of Beth Zur, [repaired next] to him [up] to the place [opposite] to the [tombs] of David & [as far as the man-made] pool & the House of the Mighty, [a.k.a. The House of the Heroes.]

After him, the Levites [under] Rehum, [Bani’s] son, repaired. [Next] to [them.] Hashabiah, ruler of half of Keilah, [made repairs for his district.] After him, their brethren repaired, Bavai, [a.k.a. Binnui, Henadad’s] son, the ruler of the [other] half of Keilah.

And Ezer, the son of Jeshua, [a.k.a. Joshua,] the ruler of Mizpah, repaired [another section] next to [them, facing the way going] up to the armory, [as far as] the [corner] of the wall.

After him, Baruch, [Zabbai’s] son, [was seriously focused &] repaired the other [section] from the [corner] of the wall, to the door of Eliashib, the high [priest’s] house. After him, Meremoth, [Urijah’s] son, [who was] the son of Koz [a.k.a. Hakkoz,] repaired another [section,] from the door of [Eliashib’s] house, even to the end of [Eliashib’s] house.

After him, the priests, [from] the [plains] repaired. After him, Benjamin & Hashub, [a.k.a. Hasshub,] repaired [in front of] their house. After him, Azariah, [Maaseiah’s] son, [who was] the son of Ananiah, repaired by his house.

After him, Binnui, [Henadad’s] son, repaired another [section] from [Azariah’s] house to the corner of the wall, even to the [other] corner. Palal, [Uzai’s] son, [repaired] over [next to the corner] of the wall & the tower that [juts out from] the king’s [upper palace] by the [courtyard] of the prison.

After him, Pedaiah, [Parosh’s] son, [repaired next to] him. [Also,] the Nethinims, [who lived] in Ophel, [repaired] to the place [opposite] the Water Gate, toward the east [side] & the tower that [juts] out.

After them, the Tekoites repaired another [section across from the large] tower that [juts out,] even to the Wall of Ophel. [All] the priests repaired from above the Horse Gate, [in front of their own] house.

After them, Zadok, [a.k.a. Zadock, Immer’s] son, repaired [opposite] to his house. Also, after him, Shemaiah, the son of Shechaniah, [a.k.a. Shekaniah,] the keeper of the [guard at] the East Gate, repaired [next to] him.

After him, Hananiah, [Shelemiah’s] son & Hanun, the 6th son of Zalaph, repaired another [section.] After him, Meshullam,  the son of Berechiah, [a.k.a. Berekiah,] repaired [opposite to] his [living quarters.]

After him, Malchiah, [a.k.a. Malkijah,] the goldsmith’s son, repaired, [as far as the house] of the Nethinims & the merchants, [opposite to] the Gate Miphkad, [a.k.a. The Inspection Gate] & [as far as] to the [room above] at the corner.

The goldsmiths & merchants repaired between [the room above the corner & the Sheep Gate.

Nehemiah 2:1-20 Nehemiah Asks the King to Send Him to Judah to Rebuilt It

 

Nehemiah Asks the King to Send Him to Judah to Rebuilt It

Nehemiah 2:1-20         The Book of Nehemiah in [Smaller Chunks]

And it [happened] in the month [of] Nisan, in the 20th year, king Artaxerxes [ruled, when] wine was [in front of] him. And I, [Nehemiah,] [picked] up the wine & gave it to the king. Now, I had not been sad [before this time] in his presence. [For this reason,] the king said to me, Why [do you look so] sad, [since] you aren’t sick?

This is nothing else, but [heartfelt] sorrow. Then, I was [very] afraid & said to the king, Let the king live forever. Why shouldn’t [I look] sad, when the city, the place of my [forefathers’ tombs] lies [in] waste & [its] gates are [destroyed] with fire?

Then, the king said to me, What is your request? So, I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, If it [pleases] the king & if your servant [has] found favor in your sight, [so] that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my [forefathers’ tombs, so] I may [rebuild] it.

And the king said to me, (the queen, [was] also sitting by him,) For how long will your journey [take?]  And when will you return? So, it pleased the king to send me & I [gave] him a [time frame.]

[Also,] I said to the king, If it [pleases] the king, [may] letters be given to me [for] the governors, beyond the [Euphrates] River, [so] that they may [escort me] over [until] I come into Judah?

And [also,] a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, [so] that he may give me [lumber] to make beams for the gates of the palace, which [pertain] to the [Lord’s] house, the wall of the city & for the house that I shall [stay at.]

And according to the good hand of my God upon me, the king granted [it to] me. Then, I came to the governors beyond the [Euphrates] River & gave them the king’s letters. Now, the king had sent captains of the army & horsemen with me.

When Sanballat, the Horonite & the servant, Tobiah, the Ammonite, heard of it, [they were] exceedingly grieved, that a man [had] come to seek the welfare of the children [people] of Israel.

So, I came to Jerusalem & was there 3 days. And I [got up] in the night, [with] a few men [without telling anyone] what my God had put in my heart to do [in] Jerusalem. Neither was there any [animal with me, [except] the animal] I rode upon.

And [at] night, I [left] by the Valley Gate & even [in front of] the Dragon Well, [a.k.a. The Serpent Well,] [all the way to] the [garbage gate & saw] the walls of Jerusalem, [that] were broken down & [their] gates were [destroyed by] fire.

Then, I went to the Fountain Gate & to the King’s Pool, but there wasn’t a place for the [animal] that [I was riding] to pass [through.] Then, I went up in the night by the brook & [looked at] the wall & turned back & entered [through] the Valley Gate & returned.

And the rulers, [a.k.a. officials didn’t know where] I went or what I did. Neither had I told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the [officials,] or the rest [who] did the work. Then, I said to them, You see the distress we are in & how Jerusalem lies [in ruins] & [its] gates are burned with fire.

Come, let’s [rebuild] the wall of Jerusalem, [so] we are no [longer a disgrace.] Then, I told them, [about] the [gracious] hand of my God, [Who] was upon me [for] good. Also, [about what] the king had spoken to me.

And they said, Let’s rise up & [start rebuilding.] So, they strengthened their hands [to do] this good work. But when Sanballat, the Horonite & the servant, Tobiah, the Ammonite & Geshem, the Arabian, heard it & they laughed [at] us to scorn & despised us.

[They] said, What [are you doing?] Will you rebel against the king? Then, I answered them, The God of heaven, He will [make] us prosper. Therefore, we, His servants, will [rise] up & [rebuild.] But you [don’t have any heritage rights,] nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

[Ezra 4:3 But Zerubbabel & Jeshua & the rest of the [leaders of the forefathers’ families] of Israel, said to them, You have nothing to do with us to [rebuild] a house to our God. But we, ourselves, will [rebuild it] together & will build [it for] the Lord God of Israel, [like] king Cyrus, the king of Persia, has commanded us.]

Nehemiah 1:1-11 Nehemiah’s Prayer for Those Returned from Captivity

 

Nehemiah’s Prayer for Those Returned from Captivity

Nehemiah 1:1-11         The Book of Nehemiah in [Smaller Chunks]

The words of Nehemiah, [Hachaliah’s] son. In the month Chisleu, it [happened] in the 20th year, [while] I was in the palace in Shushan, that Hanani, one of my brethren, came [with some] men of Judah.

I asked them [about] the Jews [who] had escaped, [who] were left [from] the captivity & [about] Jerusalem. And they [told] me, [Those remaining from] captivity, there in the province, are [suffering] great affliction &  [disgrace.]

The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down & [its] gates are burned with fire. And it happened,] when I heard these words, I, [Nehemiah,] sat down & wept, mourned [for some time] & fasted.

And [I] prayed before the God of heaven & said, I [beg] You, O Lord God of heaven, the great & terrible God, [Who] keeps covenant [contract] & mercy for [those who] love Him & [do] His commandments.

Let Your ears, now be attentive & Your eyes open, [so] that You may hear the prayer of your servant, [that] I pray before You now, day & night, for the children [people] of Israel, Your servants.

And [I] confess the sins of the children [people] of Israel, [who] have sinned against You. Both my father’s [family] & I have sinned. We have [acted] very corruptly against You & haven’t kept the commandments, [mandates,] nor judgments, [that] You commanded Your servant, Moses.

I [beg] You, remember [what] You commanded, Your servant, Moses, saying, If you transgress, I will scatter you among the nations. [Acts 7:40-43 Saying to Aaron, Make us gods to go [in front of] us. As for this Moses, [who] brought us out of the land of Egypt, we [don’t know] what has become of him.

And they made a calf in those days & offered sacrifice to the idol & rejoiced in the [work made by] their own hands. Then God turned [away] & gave them up to worship the [stars & constellations] of heaven.

As it is written in the book of the prophets, O you house of Israel, have you offered to Me slain [animals] & sacrifices [over] the space of 40 years in the wilderness? [Yet,] you took up the tabernacle of Moloch & the star of your god, Remphan, figures you made to worship them & I will carry you away beyond Babylon.]

But if you [return] to Me & keep My commandments & do them; [although] there were [some] of you were [thrown] out to the [furthest ends] of heaven, [still] I will gather them from [there] & will bring them to the place that I have chosen to [put] My Name.

Now, these are Your servants & Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power & by Your strong hand. O Lord, I [beg] You, let Your ear now be attentive to the prayer of Your servant & the prayer of your servants, who desire to fear [respect] Your Name & prosper.

I, Your servant, pray [to] You this day, [that You] grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cup-bearer.

Ezra 10:1-44 About Those Returned From Captivity Who Worshiped Their Wife's False gods

 

About Those Returned From Captivity Worshiped Their Wive's False gods

Ezra 10:1-44     The Book of Ezra in [Smaller Chunks]

Now, when Ezra had prayed & confessed & weeping & [had cast] himself down [in front of God's] house & a very [large] congregation of men, women & children assembled [themselves to Ezra,] for the people wept very [much.]

And Shechaniah, [Jehiel's] son, 1 of the sons of Elam, answered & said to Ezra, We have [sinned] against our God & have taken strange wives of the people of the land. [Still,] now there is hope in Israel [about] this thing.

[Ezra 9:1-2 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, the priests & Levites haven’t separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the: Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, the Egyptians & the Amorites. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves & for their sons. So that the Holy Seed  have [mixed] themselves with the people of those lands. [Yes,] the hand of the princes & rulers have been [leaders] in this [sin.]

Therefore, let us now make a covenant [contract] with our God to [send] away all the wives & [those] born [to] them, according to the [advice] of my lord & those [who] tremble at the commandment of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.

Arise, for this matter belongs to you. We also will be with you. Be of good courage & do it. Then, Ezra arose & made the chief priests, the Levites & all Israel swear that they should do according to this word & they [swore.]

Then, [in front of God's] house, Ezra rose up & went into the [room] of Johanan, [Eliashib's] son & when he came [there,] he [didn't] eat [any] bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the [sins of those who] had been carried away.

And they made [a] proclamation throughout Judah & Jerusalem, to all the children [people] of captivity, that they should gather themselves together [in] Jerusalem.

And that [whoever] wouldn't come within 3 days, all his [property] should be forfeited & [he would] be separated from the congregation of those [who] had been carried away, according to the counsel of the princes & elders.

Then, all the men of Judah & Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem, within 3 days. It was the 9th month, on the 12th day of the month, & all the people sat in the street of [God's] house, trembling, because of this matter & the [heavy] rain.

And Ezra, the priest, stood up & said to them, You have [sinned] & have taken strange wives, to increase the [sins] of Israel. [Psalm 106:35-38 But [they] were mingled among the heathen & learned their [deeds.] And they served their idols: which were a snare to them.

[Yet,] they sacrificed their [daughters] to devils & shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons & daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan & the land was polluted, [a.k.a. defiled] with blood.]

Therefore, now, make confession to the Lord God of your [forefathers] & do His [will] & separate yourselves from the people of the land & from the strange wives.

Then, all the congregation answered & said with a loud voice, We must do as you have said. But [there] are many people & it's a time of much rain & we aren't able to stand [outside] & neither is this work [able to] be done in 1 or 2 days: for we, [who] have [done this sinful] thing are many.

Now, let our rulers of all the congregation stand & let all [those] in our cities [who] have taken strange wives, come at [scheduled] times with [their city's] elders & judges, until the fierce [anger] of our God [has] turned [away] from us for this matter.

Only Jonathan, [Asahel's] son & Jahaziah, [Tikvah's] son, were employed [to handle] this matter. And Meshullam & Shabethai, the Levite, helped them. And the children [people] of captivity did [this.]

And Ezra, the priest, with [some leaders of their [forefather's families, according to] their names, were separated & sat down [on] the 1st day, of the 10th month, to examine the matter.

And they [had finished on] the 1st day, of the 1st month, with all the men, [who] had taken strange wives. And [those] found among the sons of the priests, [who] had taken strange wives:

Namely [from the descendants] of Jeshua, [a.k.a. Joshua, Jozadak's] son & his [brothers:] Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib & Gedaliah.  And they [shook] their hands, that they would [send] away their wives. And being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their [sins.]

And [from] the [descendants] of Immer: Hanani & Zebadiah. And [from the descendants] of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel & Uzziah. And [from the descendants] of Pashur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, [a.k.a. Nethanel,] Jozabad & Elasah.

Also, [from] the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah, [a.k.a. Kelita,] Pethahiah, Judah & Eliezer. [From] the singers [& musicians] also: Eliashib. And [from the gatekeepers:] Shallum, Telem & Uri.

[Additionally, from the Israelites:] [From the descendants] of Parosh: Ramiah, Jeziah, [a.k.a. Izziah,] Malchiah, [a.k.a. Malkijah,] Miamin, [a.k.a. Mijamin,] Eleazar, Malchijah, [a.k.a. Malkijah] & Benaiah. And [from the descendants] of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth & Eliah, [a.k.a. Elijah.]

And [from the descendants] of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad & Aziza. Also, [from the descendants] of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai & Athlai.

And [from the descendants] of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, [a.k.a. Malluk,] Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal & Ramoth, [a.k.a. Jeremoth.] And [from the descendants] of Path Moab: Adna, Chelal, [a.k.a. Kelal,] Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, [a.k.a. Bezalel,] Binnui & Manasseh.

And [from the descendants] of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, [a.k.a. Malkijah,] Shemaiah, Shimeon, Benjamin, Malluch, [a.k.a. Malluk,] & Shemariah. [From the descendants] of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattathah [a.k.a. Mattatha & Mattattah,] Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, [a.k.a. Jeremiah,] Manasseh & Shimei.

[From the descendants] of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh, [a.k.a. Cheluhi & Keluhi,] Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Mattenai & Jaasau, [a.k.a. Jaasu & Joissu.]

And [from the descendants] of Bani & Binnui, [a.k.a. Binui:] Shimei, Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, Machnadebai, [a.k.a. Maknadebai,] Shashai, Sharai, Azareel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, Shallum, Amariah & Joseph.

[From the descendants] of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, [a.k.a. Jaddai,] Joel & Benaiah. All these had taken strange wives & some of them had wives by whom they had children.

Ezra 9:1-15 Reportedly, Priests & Levites were Marrying Those Who Worship False gods

 

Reportedly, Priests & Levites were Marrying Those Who Worship False Gods

Ezra 9:1-15          The Book of Ezra in [Smaller Chunks]

Now, when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, the priests & the Levites haven't separated themselves from the people of the [land & stopped from] doing their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians & the Amorites.

[Deuteronomy 12:30-31 [Pay attention] to yourself, that you [aren't] snared by following them, after they [are] destroyed from before you & that you [don't inquire] after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? Even I will do so, likewise. Thou shall not do [this] to the Lord your God. For every abomination to the Lord, [that] He hates, they have done to their gods: for they have even burnt their sons & daughters in the fire to their gods.]

For they have taken of their daughters for themselves & for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands. [Yet] the hand of the princes & rulers have been [the main ones involved] in this [sin.]

When I heard this thing, I [tore] my [clothes & coat] & [pulled out] the hair of my head & beard & sat down [astonished.] then, everyone [who] trembled at the Words of the God of Israel, were assembled to me, because of the [sins] of those [who] had been carried away [captive.]

And I sat [there astonished] until the evening sacrifice. And at the evening sacrifice, I arose from my [fasting] & having [torn] my [clothing & coat] & I fell upon my knees & spread out my hands to the Lord my God.

[I] said, O my God, I'm ashamed & blush to lift up my face to You, my God. For our iniquities have increased over our [heads] & our trespasses [have] grown up to the heavens. [Revelation 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven & God has remembered her iniquities.]

Since the days of our [forefathers,] we have [sinned greatly until] this day. [Because of] our [sins,] we & our kings & priests [have] been delivered into the hand of the kings of the land, to the sword, to captivity & to [be plundered] & to confusion, as it is this day.

And for a [brief moment] now, grace has been [shown] to us from the Lord our God, [Who has left] us [some remaining] to escape & to give us [time] in His Holy Place, [so] that our God may [enlighten] our eyes & [revive] us a little in our bondage. [Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my Light & my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?]

For we were [men in bondage;] yet our God hasn't [abandoned] us in our bondage, but has extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to [revive] us, to [put] up the the house of our God & to repair [its desolate & empty places] & to give us a wall in Judah & in Jerusalem.

And now, what shall we say after this, O our God? For we have [abandoned] Your commandments, which You commanded us [through] Your servants, the prophets, saying, The land [that] you go to possess, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the abominations of the people [who] have filled [the land] from one end to another with their uncleanness.

[Psalm 106:35-38 But were mingled among the heathen & learned their [deeds.] And they served their idols: which were a snare to them. [Yes,] they sacrificed their daughters to [demons] & shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons & daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan & the land was polluted, [a.k.a. defiled,] with blood.]

Therefore, now [don't] give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth, forever. [So] that you may be strong & eat the good of the land & leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.

And after all that [has] come upon us for our evil deeds & our [immense sins,] seeing that You our God has punished us, less than our [sins] deserve & has given us a deliverance; [like] this;

Should we break Your commandments again & join [together] with the people [who do] these abominations? Wouldn't You be angry with us [until] You have [destroyed] us, so that there [are none remaining] nor escaping?

O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous. [Although,] we [still] remain escaped [from captivity, like] it is this day, [see] we are before You in our [sinfulness] & we can't stand before You, because of this.